Once Upon a Grad Night #4
I can see why Luca is totally smitten with them. The band is really talented, and their music is fun. His eyes are twinkling with admiration as they perform. While he’s singing along to every word, I make up for not knowing the lyrics with enthusiasm, dancing, and clapping.
During one particularly upbeat song, Luca teaches me a dance the crowd already seems to know. I mess it up the first two times, but when I eventually get the moves right on the final chorus, Luca actually cheers.
“This is fun!” I shout to him over the music. “I’m so glad I’m here with you.”
“I’m glad you’re here with me, too,” he shouts back.
He bumps his shoulder against mine. I expect him to move away quickly, just like with the pinkie promise. But he doesn’t. And his shoulder against mine distracts me all through the next song.
It’s dark now, stars winking at us from above. I’ve hardly memorized a lyric but remind myself there won’t be a test. I’m here to have a good time. And I am.
I want this night to last forever. I want adventure. I want mystery. I want fun. I want boldness. I want connection. I want…Luca. I want to blurt out how much this night has meant to me. To reach for him. To hold his hand for real this time. To kiss him.
The opening chords for the next song ring out, this one slower than the others. Luca bends so his face is near mine.
“Hey.” The feeling of his breath on my neck gives me goose bumps. “Come with me.”
“What? Where?” I ask. “The show’s not done.”
“Don’t worry, you won’t miss any of the set.”
Luca leads me toward the beach, a little ways from the stage—far enough away that we have some privacy, close enough that we can still hear the music.
“Having fun?” he asks.
“You have no idea. This has been amazing.”
“See, I think so, too.” He stops walking and turns to me.
“And this song they’re playing is actually one of my favorites.
” I sense that Luca’s being playful, leading me to something, but I don’t know what.
“The thing is, it’s slow, you know? Not quite a dance-alone type of song.
More like a dance-with-someone-else song. Don’t you agree?”
I arch an eyebrow at him. “I suppose that’s true.”
“Yeah. It’s too bad I don’t have someone to dance with me.” Then he snaps his fingers dramatically. “Wait a minute. You’re a someone. And you dance.”
I laugh a little. “Are you asking me to dance with you?”
“Um, it actually sounds like you’re asking me to dance with you. That’s a little forward of you, but you did mention you missed your prom and all, so what kind of guy would I be if I said no?” He holds out a hand for me to take. “Deja Castillo, I accept your invitation for this dance.”
My pulse quickens.
“But I haven’t danced with anyone before,” I blurt.
He smiles. “I assumed as much. But you asked—what with you being so forward and all. So let’s do it anyway.”
With shaky hands, I reach for him. His fingers clasp around mine. When he pulls me to him, my whole body floods with warmth.
He leads, and we gently sway to the music. My heart is pounding so fast, I worry Luca can feel it. Maybe that would be okay, though. I rest my cheek against his shoulder. He smells like an intoxicating mix of mint and something spicy.
On this beach, under the moon, Luca is giving me my yearned-for prom moment.
I think it might be even better than if I’d gotten the real thing.
Being this close to him, feeling his body on mine, hands intertwined, the breeze in our hair, it’s as if something in me has cracked wide open.
I don’t want to be the girl who lets others plot out her entire life.
I want to live as I go, bending to the will of whatever calls to me—my way, for me.
“Luca,” I say quietly.
“Yeah?”
“Since I’m being forward tonight, I should tell you I’ve also never kissed anyone before.”
He laughs a little. “That’s okay.”
My insides tremble as I pull my face away from his shoulder and look up to meet his gaze. “Good. Because you should know I might not be very good at it before you answer this next question.”
“Oh yeah?” he murmurs, and I know he knows what I’m going to ask. Still, he’s coy. “What’s the question?”
“Luca Cavill, can I…kiss you?”
It feels like an eternity between the moment I ask and what Luca says next. “I would like that very much. Yes.”
I cup my hands on either side of his face, lifting myself to him on my tiptoes. Luca leans down to me, and I close my eyes. Our lips meet, gently at first, then we deepen the kiss. This time, my whole body lights up with electricity.
When I pull back for air, Luca lets out a happy sigh. He leans his forehead against mine.
“For the record, that was a very good first kiss,” he whispers.
“You know how I like to get things right. So, personally, I think we should keep practicing,” I whisper back. “Maybe after the concert?”
Luca shakes his head. “Maybe right now.”
He leans into me again, and I can’t fight my smile.
If tonight has taught me anything, it’s that sometimes it’s okay to let go of the ship’s helm and get lost in the current.