Chapter 28
Tilly
The house is quiet when I slip into the kitchen.
The girls are still dead asleep, their snores echoing faintly through the walls.
I’m pouring myself coffee when I feel a pair of arms wrap around my waist.
Warm, familiar, and steady.
“Good morning, Luca,” I say softly, smiling before I even turn.
“Hi,” he murmurs against my neck, voice still heavy with sleep. “What’re you doing up so early?”
“Couldn’t sleep.” I stir the coffee lazily. “Zara’s snoring like she’s auditioning for a tractor commercial.”
He laughs that low, sleepy laugh that always makes my stomach twist in the best way.
He moves beside me, reaching for the cereal, and the air feels fuzzy.
Everything about him just calms the noise inside my head.
Everything seems to go slowly with him around.
“I told the girls about my nights yesterday,” I tell him quietly, pouring a second cup for him.
He looks up. “Yeah? How’d that go?”
I shrug, handing him the mug. “Better than I expected. I guess,” I smile a little. “I guess I’m kinda loveable.”
He grins.“You guess?” He nudges my shoulder. “I know you are.”
We carry our coffee to the couch, and Luca throws a blanket over both of us before I can protest. His arm slides around me automatically, and I curl into him, resting my head on his chest.
His heartbeat is slow and steady — the safest rhythm I’ve ever known.
“What are we watching?” he asks, his voice rumbling against my ear.
I tilt my head up and smile. “We Were Liars?”
He gives me that look, telling me I’m totally winning. “You and your sad movies…”
“Please?” I pout, widening my eyes until he groans. “Last time we watched Up!”
“Fine,” he sighs dramatically. “But if you start crying, I’m not handing you tissues this time.”
“I have your shirt…” I tease.
“You have my everything, T.”
I feel slightly dizzy.
While he scrolls for the series, I stare at him — the way the morning light hits his face, how his hair is sticking up on one side, the tiny half-smile that tugs at his lips.
I run my fingers through his hair just because I can.
Just because I want to.
He looks so effortlessly himself.
“Can you believe it’s already been two months since the water park?” I ask quietly.
“That’s insane,” he says. “Feels like yesterday… and also forever ago.”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “Forever sounds right.”
We sit there under the blanket, eating cereal and sharing coffee, watching the world wake up through the window.
I feel at home.
I feel the home swirl around me. Each quality,y like a watercolor line circling the couch Luca and I are sitting on.
Yellow joy.
Green peace.
Pink love.
Orange safety.
All the colors are bright, and any gray that could be swirling in the waves is gone.
“I forgot to ask you,” Luca says casually, “but there’s this event in Paris coming up, and I thought maybe I could take you with me. Our first trip together.”
For a second, I freeze.
“Wait. Paris?” I whisper, trying not to squeal, because the clock on the oven said 6:07 a.m. and everyone is still dead asleep.
He grins at me, eyes sparkling in a sleepy, golden way. “Yeah. The flight’s in three days.”
Three. Days.
“Oh my God, yes. Yes! I’ve always wanted to go to Paris.”
I’m already picturing it — the Eiffel Tower at night, tiny cafés, rain on cobblestones. “But promise me something,” I add, eyes wide. “We have to go to Disneyland. Please. We didn’t get to go to America, and it would be so perfect.”
He laughs, the sound warm and deep. “You and your Disney obsession.”
“Don’t judge me.” I jab his side gently. “You’ll thank me when you’re eating a Mickey-shaped waffle in front of the castle.”
He leans his head back, smiling like I’m the funniest person alive. “Fine. Disneyland it is. I’ll even wear the ears if it makes you happy.”
“Promise?” I grin, trying not to giggle.
He holds out his pinky. “Promise.”
I hook mine with his, heart fluttering stupidly. “How long are we staying?”
“Nine days,” he says. “Plenty of time to get tired of me.”
I look up at him. “Impossible.”
“The event’s only a few days, but I thought we could stay longer.” He shrugs, soft smile tugging at his lips.
My chest feels warm, like someone has lit a candle inside. “Nine days in Paris,” I murmur. “That’s movie-level romantic, Luca.”
“Guess I’m your lead man now.”
“I couldn’t be more thankful.”
“What’s the first thing you wanna do when we get there?” he asks.
“Eat something ridiculous and overpriced,” I say instantly. “Preferably with a view of the Eiffel Tower.”
He grin. “Done.” He leans forward, brushing a kiss against my temple. “You have no idea how excited I am for this.”
I melt into him.“It feels unreal. Like we’re living in someone else’s love story.”
He chuckles. “Nope. This one’s very much ours.”
***
“Paris!” Yana shrieks at breakfast, practically flinging her fork into the air. “That is so cute. You must take a billion pictures and then make a photobook to show your grandchildren.”
I laugh, nearly spilling my coffee. “I don’t think we’re thinking that far ahead yet.”
Total lie.
“Actually, scratch that,” she says, leaning across the table with a mischievous grin. “Take me with you. I’m fine with third-wheeling. I’ll be your photographer. Professional quality, obviously.”
I roll my eyes. “Sure, Yana, your relentless paparazzi skills are exactly what we need.”
“I told you,” Zara pipes up, smirking, “he’s totally your Peter Kavinsky.”
“Peter who?” Luca’s face goes from sleepy to horrified in a split second. “Who is that ? ”
I giggle. “Calm down, he’s just a guy from a romance movie. We were watching it yesterday. Nothing to be jealous of, I promise.”
“Here, don’t tell me you don’t recognize him,” Yana says, pulling out her phone. She shoves a photo of Noah Centineo in front of Luca.
He squints at it. “Nope. Still looks like some guy.”
“What! You literally bought me the books in America!”
He looks annoyed at himself, and I hate the flutters in my stomach. “You are totally watching the movies with me.”
“You guys could do a movie night in Paris and binge-watch all the movies!” Yana adds, eyes sparkling. “Eiffel Tower in the background, croissants in hand. Very aesthetic.”
“I’m also clueless,” Matt says around a mouthful of eggs, “but… You want to have a movie night with me, too?”
“Sure, but I pick the movies.” Yana smiles.
“Deal. You have great movie taste,” he winks at her.
Zara leans back, smirking at the two of us. “You know, Paris sounds way more romantic than my room right now, but I wouldn’t trade this chaos for the world.”
“Yeah,” I said softly, glancing at Luca. “It’s kind of perfect, isn’t it?”
“Perfect.”
I smile, feeling a warmth that has nothing to do with the sun pouring through the window.
Paris is waiting.
***
Yana practically barrels into my room, dragging a huge tote behind her.
“Okay, Tilly, mission pack the cutest Paris wardrobe ever is officially on,” she announces, flopping onto my bed. “Your travel outfit will be his hoodie because you have to be comfortable.”
“Duh.” I laugh.
She walks up to my wardrobe like she did when we were going to New York and gets to work.
“Here, this is essential. This scarf. You cannot go to Paris without one. It’s the law.”
I drape the scarf around my neck, walking like I’m in a fashion show. “Okay, I like it.”
Yana plopped down on the floor beside me, dramatically crossing her legs. “I am helping you achieve greatness, Tilly. It’s my job as your fashion advisor-slash-bestie. Also, let’s be honest, I want Luca to gag when he sees you every morning, looking stunning as always.”
I laugh, tugging on a pair of jeans. “I don’t know if he’s even going to notice anything but my face.”
“I promise I’ll kill him for you if he doesn’t compliment you every second,” she says, smirking.
“Would you actually kill him, though?” I look at her, unconvinced, because we all love each other in a way.
“Well, no, but I can promise all I want because I know he will. Luca’s a lost man already, so I don’t have to worry about anything.”
I groan, rolling my eyes but smiling. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
“I can,” she says. “And you love it, because talking about him is your favorite sport at this point.”
I look at her, feeling slightly shy. “Okay… yeah, maybe.”
“See? I knew it.” She leans closer, whispering conspiratorially, “Honestly, Tilly, you have to take full advantage of your situation. He’s your boyfriend, and I know for a fact he would find a way to float on the ocean and let you walk on him if you asked. Don’t let him go. Not now, not ever.”
My chest warms, and I fiddle with a pair of socks. “Come on, I have to be fair.”
Yana smirks, nudging me with her elbow. “You do you, but if I had a man like that, I wouldn’t hold back. Definitely not about a silly compliment.”
I smile, because it’s true. He would find a way to let me walk on top of this earth if I asked him to.
“Anyway, back to packing.”
We stay in my room for ages, acting like she’s my own stylist and I’m about to walk the catwalk.
I am so excited I can’t put it into words.
This year is my year, apparently, because I’m casually ticking off my whole travel list.
“I am so happy for you, Tilly-bean. You look so happy with him.”
I smile, tucking my favorite hoodie into my bag. “I am happy, and I feel so grateful. Everything is going right, and I could not be more obliged.”
She looks at me, absolutely thrilled, and I get a warm feeling in my heart.
“I think we’re done for now.”
“For now,” she says, sitting up. “But remember, Tilly, don’t ever let him underappreciate you. You deserve the world and absolutely nothing less.”