I kissed him.
Again.
Which means that at this point I should probably accept that my ability to make rational decisions around Luca Hayes has completely disappeared.
Because Luca Hayes is exactly the type of person I promised myself I would stay away from. The mysterious ones. The ones who look at you like they already know how the story ends.
And yet here I am.
Standing in the back stairwell of the school with my hands still gripping the front of his hoodie like I need it to stay upright.
His hands are still resting on my waist.
Neither of us has moved.
The hallway outside is quiet, the faint hum of voices drifting from distant classrooms, but inside the stairwell everything feels suspended in this strange pocket of stillness.
My heart is racing so fast I'm half convinced he can hear it.
Luca watches me for a moment before speaking, his voice low and almost amused.
"You realize," he says slowly, "this is starting to become a pattern."
I swallow, my fingers tightening slightly in the fabric of his hoodie.
"What is?"
"You kissing me."
My eyes narrow.
"That is not fair," I reply immediately. "You kissed me first."
"Once."
"Are you seriously keeping score right now?"
His mouth tilts slightly at the corner, that small half-smile that always looks like he knows something I don't.
"Maybe."
I roll my eyes dramatically, but the truth is I still haven't let go of him.
Which he absolutely notices.
His thumbs shift slightly against my waist, brushing the fabric of my sweater in a way that sends a slow warmth spreading through my chest.
"Autumn," he says softly.
The way he says my name makes my stomach tighten in a way that feels both thrilling and slightly terrifying.
"What?" I ask.
"You should probably step back."
I blink at him.
"Why?"
His jaw tightens just slightly.
"Because if you don't," he murmurs, "I'm going to kiss you again."
My pulse spikes.
"And that would be bad?"
He hesitates.
And for the first time since I've known him, Luca Hayes actually looks conflicted. I could see the pull in his eyes. The restraint he was fighting.
"It could be."
I study his face carefully, trying to understand what's happening behind those dark eyes.
"Luca," I say slowly.
"What?"
"Why do you keep acting like getting close to me is a bad idea?"
He doesn't answer right away.
Instead his gaze drifts across my face like he's memorizing something.
Then he finally says quietly,
"Because you deserve someone simpler."
A laugh escapes me before I can stop it.
"That is the worst non-answer I have ever heard."
"It's the truth."
"Maybe," I say, meeting his gaze steadily, "I don't want simple."
Something flashes in his eyes then.
Something darker.
And suddenly whatever restraint he was holding onto snaps.
His hand slides up to the back of my neck.
And then he kisses me.