CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Ginny
Watching Them Fall
I watched Luca and Liana from the doorway of the living room.
They were sitting on the couch, close but not touching. Liana was reading, and Luca was pretending to work on his laptop, but I could see him glancing at her every few seconds.
It was sweet. And a little heartbreaking.
Because I could see how much he cared about her. And I could see how much she was starting to care about him.
But I could also see the fear in her eyes. The hesitation.
She wasn't ready. Not yet.
"They're good together," Deangelo said, coming up behind me.
"They are. But she's still healing."
"I know. But maybe he's part of that healing."
"Maybe."
I watched as Liana laughed at something Luca said, her whole face lighting up.
It was the first time I'd seen her laugh like that. Without the shadow of pain behind it.
"She's getting better," I said.
"Thanks to him."
"Thanks to all of us. But yeah. Mostly him."
Deangelo wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me back against his chest. "You did good, bringing her into the fold."
"She needed us. And we needed her."
"How do you figure?"
"Luca needed someone to care about. Someone to protect. It's given him purpose."
"He already had purpose."
"Not like this. This is different."
Deangelo kissed my temple. "You're a romantic."
"And you love me for it."
"I do."
We stood there, watching Luca and Liana, and I felt hopeful.
Hopeful that she would heal. That they would find their way to each other.
That love could bloom even in the darkest places.