Jimmy eventually walked back inside, his expression calm again, though the restless darkness in his eyes hadn't completely faded. Luca was sitting on the couch scrolling through his phone, humming softly to himself.
"I'm going out to meet a friend," Jimmy said, grabbing his jacket from the chair. His tone was casual, but there was a slight sharpness underneath. "Do you want to tag along?"
Luca looked up immediately. His bright eyes widened a little, and then he nodded.
"Sure," he said. Then he hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "But promise you won't get angry at me if I come back acting the way I have been lately."
Jimmy raised an eyebrow.
"Why would I be angry?"
Luca shrugged lightly. "I don't know. I've just been… weird lately."
Jimmy chuckled under his breath and turned toward the door.
Clueless boy.
If only you knew what was really going on inside my head.
"Come on," Jimmy said. "Let's go."
They arrived at Jimmy's friend's place about thirty minutes later. The house was lively, music drifting through the open windows and laughter spilling out into the night air.
Inside, a small group of people were gathered around a table cluttered with drinks and snacks. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, and for a while, the mood felt surprisingly light.
Amy waved excitedly when she spotted them.
"Luca! Over here!"
Luca smiled and walked over while Jimmy followed more slowly behind him.
Luca sat down and signaled the waiter walking past their table.
"Can I get some water?" he asked politely.
The waiter nodded and hurried away.
But when the drink arrived, Luca stared at it in confusion.
Instead of water, a small glass of clear liquid sat in front of him.
Gin.
Luca blinked.
"Oh… uh…"
Amy laughed beside him.
"Well, if it's already here, might as well drink it."
Luca hesitated for a moment before shrugging lightly.
"Okay…"
He took a cautious sip.
The burning sensation made his eyes widen.
But then he took another.
And another.
Soon, the warmth of the alcohol spread through his body, loosening his movements and making his cheeks flush pink.
Across the table, Jimmy watched him carefully.
Too carefully.
By the time Luca finished his second drink, he was already leaning back in his chair, giggling at something Amy said.
Amy herself wasn't doing much better. She had already had several drinks and was laughing loudly at nearly everything.
Jimmy sighed quietly.
"Sarah," he called.
Sarah looked over.
"Take Amy home. She's had too much."
Sarah nodded, standing up and gently helping Amy out of her seat.
"Come on, troublemaker."
Amy protested weakly but allowed herself to be dragged away.
Jimmy turned his attention back to Luca.
The younger man was now staring at the ceiling with a dreamy expression.
"Jimmy," Luca mumbled. "The lights look funny."
Jimmy rubbed his forehead.
Great.
Outside, the cool night air hit them immediately.
But it didn't seem to help Luca at all.
He was still talking nonstop, his words tumbling together as he rambled about random things.
"And then the dog looked at me like he knew my secrets," Luca said very seriously.
Jimmy stared at him.
"What dog?"
"I don't know," Luca admitted.
Jimmy sighed again.
Before Luca could continue his rambling, Jimmy stepped closer and gently pressed his lips against Luca's.
The kiss was soft.
Quiet.
Almost desperate.
Luca immediately went silent.
When Jimmy pulled back, Luca's expression had changed completely.
His eyes were glassy.
And then, suddenly, tears began to spill down his cheeks.
Jimmy froze.
"Why… why did you kiss me?" Luca whispered.
Jimmy felt his chest tighten.
"What if Jimmy saw us?" Luca continued miserably. "He wouldn't like me anymore…"
Jimmy stared at him.
The irony almost hurt.
Luca was crying about Jimmy…
while Jimmy was standing right in front of him.
Guilt twisted in Jimmy's stomach.
"Come on," he muttered quietly.
He guided the unsteady wolf toward the nearest hotel.
The hotel room was quiet and dimly lit.
Luca immediately flopped onto the bed, still mumbling to himself.
Jimmy ran a hand through his hair.
"You're a mess," he muttered.
Luca blinked up at him.
"Jimmy?"
Jimmy paused.
"Yes?"
Luca smiled sleepily.
"You're very handsome."
Jimmy looked away quickly.
"Go to sleep."
But first, he dragged Luca into the bathroom.
"You smell like a distillery," Jimmy said.
Luca giggled.
Cleaning Luca up was harder than expected.
The drunken wolf kept swaying and leaning against him, his soft hair brushing Jimmy's cheek.
Jimmy's heart was pounding.
Watching Luca like this,vulnerable, flushed, trusting, felt like pure torture.
At one point, Luca looked up at him with half-lidded eyes.
Jimmy leaned down without thinking.
Their lips met again.
This time, Luca didn't pull away.
Instead, he leaned closer.
Jimmy's hands tightened at his sides.
Every part of him wanted to deepen the moment.
But the rational voice in his head screamed at him.
He stepped back suddenly.
"Enough," Jimmy muttered.
He carried Luca to the bed and laid him down gently.
Luca fell asleep almost instantly.
Jimmy stood there for a long moment, staring at him.
Then he retreated to the bathroom.
He splashed cold water on his face.
But the frustration inside him refused to disappear.
Eventually, he sat down on the floor and pulled out his phone.
Photos of Luca filled the screen.
Smiling.
Laughing.
Looking up at him with those bright eyes.
Jimmy let out a quiet breath.
"You're going to destroy me," he murmured.
Morning sunlight spilled softly into the room.
Luca stirred slowly.
Something felt… warm.
And heavy.
His eyes fluttered open.
Then he froze.
His arms and legs were tangled tightly around Jimmy.
His face was pressed against Jimmy's chest.
Luca's brain stopped working.
Am I dreaming?
His face turned bright red.
I need to wake up.
Before he could move, Jimmy's voice spoke.
"You're awake."
The low, gravelly sound sent a shiver down Luca's spine.
"How was your night?" Jimmy asked lazily.
Luca immediately untangled himself and jumped away.
"I, I'm going to take a bath!" he blurted.
Jimmy watched him rush into the bathroom with an amused smirk.
Inside the bathroom, Luca leaned against the door.
His face was still burning.
Fragments of the previous night floated through his mind.
Drinks.
Laughing.
And…
A kiss.
Maybe two.
His eyes widened.
"No way…"
He groaned.
"I need to ask Amy what happened."
When Luca came back out, he noticed the clothes Jimmy had left for him on the bed.
They were huge.
The hoodie alone looked like it could swallow him.
Still, he put it on.
It hung almost to his knees.
He stared at himself in the mirror.
"I look ridiculous."
But he went downstairs anyway.
Jimmy was already sitting at the dining table.
The moment Luca walked in, Jimmy's gaze locked onto him.
"Luca," he said calmly. "Come sit here and have breakfast."
Luca walked over, tugging at the sleeves.
"Jimmy, you have to get me new clothes," he complained. "These don't fit at all."
Jimmy leaned back in his chair.
"Stop talking and come closer."
Luca sat down.
He had barely started eating when Jimmy suddenly grabbed his chair and pulled it closer.
Before Luca could react, Jimmy leaned forward and kissed him firmly.
Luca froze.
"I told you to stop talking," Jimmy murmured against his lips. "You wouldn't listen."
For a moment, Luca was too stunned to move.
Then slowly…
He kissed Jimmy back.
The warmth between them flared instantly.
Jimmy felt it like electricity running through his body.
His breathing grew uneven.
This was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
He pulled away suddenly, standing up.
Luca blinked in confusion.
Jimmy ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself.
If he stayed any closer…
If Luca kept looking at him like that…
He knew he would lose control.
And once that happened
There would be no going back