Charmaine's POV
I gently shift Lily's sleeping form in my arms, careful not to wake her. We're standing at the front doorstep, and I turn to Luca with a smile. "Thank you for escorting me to my doorstep," I say, my voice soft. Luca's eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles back at me. "Anything for you, Charmaine," he replies, his voice low and gentle.
We stand there for a moment, smiling nervously at each other. The tension between us is palpable, and I can feel my heart beating just a little bit faster. Luca takes a step forward, and I think he's going to shake my hand, but instead, he opens his arms for a hug. I laugh and try to shake his hand instead, but he playfully resists, pulling me into a gentle hug.
We both laugh again, the sound a little louder than I intended. I shush him,
