Smoke

CHAPTER 19

I am sitting on the couch, nervously bouncing my leg while I wait for Luca to arrive. Lily had left about ten minutes prior to go meet up with Zach. She is going to be spending yet another night with him, but at least I'll have my privacy for whatever secret conversation I am about to have. My mind is reeling, trying to make heads or tails of what had him so nervous back at the shop.

As if the universe could sense my spiraling, I hear a sharp knocking sound, echo throughout the apartment, signaling Luca's arrival. I jump up and make my way to the door, taking a deep breath before opening it to greet him.

"Hey Luca."

"Hey," he almost whispers as he steps inside, shutting the door behind him.

I walk over to the kitchen counter where I had placed his jacket and grab it, awkwardly handing it over. "I think this belongs to you," I laugh nervously.

He reaches out to grab it from me, and his fingers brush over mine, lingering for just a moment before finally retracting. "Thanks."

I pivot on my feet anxiously and wrap my arms around my torso in a protective manner. Then I ask, "Sooo...what is it that you wanted to talk to me about? Why was Charlie staring at you like a child who just got reprimanded back at the bookstore?"

He motions us over to the couch to sit, to which I follow, slowly shuffling my feet behind him. We end up sitting next to each other, but my body is turned to face him. I cross my legs to get comfortable and motion my hand out toward him to continue.

"He is just trying to make sure I don't piss off Dawson – well, more-so anyway. I work with him and he's not really the person whose bad side you want to be on." His statement causes me to tilt my head in confusion.

"What do you mean by that? How did you piss him off?" I question.

"Well...you." He takes a deep breath, "There are things about him you don't know, but it's not my place to tell you. Just believe me when I say that 'Angry Dawson' is not someone you want to mess with."

"Me? What about me? Dawson and I haven't even been on speaking terms for the last two weeks, so I'm not sure why he would be pissed off." I take a second to run my fingers through the ends of my hair, in attempt to calm my thoughts. Then I add, "Is there a reason I should be scared of him?"

He shakes his head, "You really don't get it do you? In his eyes, you are his. Just because you guys fought, doesn't mean that he hasn't staked his claim. And when Dawson wants something...or in this case, someone – that means everyone is a threat. Even me." He avoids my second question, but I decide not to push it, knowing that he isn't going to tell me.

"First off, I belong to no one. I have made that clear to him since day one. I. Don't. Date." I take a deep breath, trying to gather my emotions as I grow increasingly irritated. "Second, what does this have to do with you? You helped me when I needed someone. He should be thanking you, not pissed off."

Luca rubs both of his hands over his face, taking a shaky breath, clearly uncomfortable talking about all of this. "I mean he does have a reason. The night at the pub, when we were talking...I was drawn to you. I saw a fighter in you. Not just regarding the attack, but a fighter in life. I knew that I wanted to know you and that I wanted to be the one to protect you."

I sit here, frozen, unsure of how to respond next. My mouth opens in attempt to say something, but I just fall short, and close it once more.

Thankfully he senses my loss of words and continues, "Dawson confronted me about the jacket later that day, but he clearly saw something he didn't like the next morning while I was making breakfast and cornered me again after we left. He said he saw something between us...or just me...I don't know. I saw you and the marks on your body, and I-I just wanted to be the one to comfort you. I wanted to hold you and take care of you."

I can't even comprehend everything that I'm hearing right now. I find it so hard to believe that Luca was feeling this way towards me and I didn't see it. But I also feel a sense of guilt because Dawson was right about Luca, and I fought him on it. What Luca feels exactly, I'm still not 100% sure on yet. Regardless, that didn't give Dawson the right to talk to me the way he did or claim me like I'm his property. But still, he wasn't totally off base.

"Luca, what exactly are you trying to tell me right now?" This may seem like a stupid question, but I want to be clear and know that I have all the facts before I can even try to fathom a response.

"I'm saying that...fuck I don't even know. All I know is I like you. I want to get to know you. I know that comes with time, but even just being your friend seems like a good place to start." He pushes his fingers through his hair before he reaches out and grabs both of my hands. "Look, I'm not trying to get in between you and Dawson. That's the last thing I want to do. I also know you don't date and I'm sure there's a good reason behind that. I just want to be in your life, and I want to be someone who you can always turn to and count on. If things evolve, then we can cross that bridge when we come to it. If they turn into a friendship, then I am fine with that too. I just want to know if you're okay with what I'm proposing."

Honestly, I'm shell shocked...flabbergasted...dumbstruck. I can't even explain it, but I trust Luca. I believe every word he's saying right now, without any whisper of a doubt in my mind. Maybe it's because he's giving me all of the power to either reject him or accept him. But maybe that's enough for me – knowing that this is completely my decision. That makes my choice all the easier to make.

"I would love to try. With a friendship that is. You have been there for me since day one and you didn't need to be. You didn't even know me. You had no responsibility to fight for me that night, but you did anyway. If that isn't proof enough that I can trust you at your word, then I don't know what is." I squeeze his hands gently, a small smile forming on my lips before he pulls me into an unsuspected hug. I relax and melt into his embrace easily, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"You can always count on me," he whispers into the crook of my neck, sending chills down my spine. "No matter what it is or when you need me, I will always be here for you Austyn. I will respect your boundaries and never push you into anything you're uncomfortable with. I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you. I truly hope you believe me when I say that."

I wrap my arms tighter around him, drawing him impossibly closer, and sigh at the overwhelmingly sudden ease I feel being in Luca's arms. I pull back, pressing my forehead against his and murmur lowly, "I believe you."

I really do.

>>

Friday night rolls around, and Luca decides that after the month I have had, that I deserve a damn drink. What better way to commemorate getting to know someone, than to go back to the pub where all of this s**t started? We have been here about 20 minutes and I am inescapably spotted by Clairah, the server; who instantly takes over our table from our original greeter.

Luca is kicked back in his booth, obviously entertained by the fact that she is trying to get me to go to Stonewall, a gay bar, with her and a couple of her friends. I eventually agree that I will go in a week or so, when my life decides to give me a break and slow down a bit.

Fingers f*****g crossed.

She grabs my phone to add her number, and texts herself so that she can have mine. When I look over toward Luca, he has his head propped up on his palm as he looks at me coyly, a s**t eating grin plastered to his handsomely smug face. I shoot him a glare in attempt to halt the silent mocking he is throwing my way; not even trying to hide his expression. It's clear that he's doing everything he can, to not start cracking jokes right here and now, with her hovering over me like a hawk does its prey.

Once she walks away from the table, he starts letting them fly.

"That girl is clearly a pillow princess. Did you see those talons on her nails?" a guttural laugh falls from his lips as he sits up and leans forward, his elbows now supporting all of his weight.

I quickly cover my mouth with my fingers, trying to muffle my laugh, "Dude, the only thing those claws are good for are to pick her nose. I wouldn't let those things near me with a ten foot pole."

"By the way that girl is looking at you from across the room, she clearly has a U-Haul sitting in the back, waiting for you to propose." He shakes his head and takes a large gulp of his beer, then adds, "I have never met a girl who is a bigger player than all of my friends combined."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I laugh, throwing back a shot of tequila, swaying in my seat happily as I feel the warmth wash over me.

"I love when you do that," he smiles.

"Do what? And don't avoid my question," I push, prompting him to explain himself further.

"When you do that little happy dance when you taste something that brings you joy. It's cute," he smiles shyly before continuing. "But what I mean is all you have to do is look at someone and you have them bowing at your f*****g feet. You have a hefty list of admirers that just keeps on growing the longer I know you. All of Dawson's group included. Even Avery was talking about how Theo basically stares you down in class."

This causes me to choke on my margarita, just as I was beginning to take a sip. I feel the heat begin to rise up my neck, my cheeks surely turning a fiery red color. "My professor? I'm his student! And he's Dawson's brother." I all but shouted. "I don't know why all of you guys seem to think I'm this alluring hot commodity. I'm nothing special. I literally moved here to disappear in the crowd, not be some trophy that everyone is lusting over."

His eyebrows raise, obviously amused by my little outburst. "That has never stopped Theo before. Being a student or being Dawson's girl. Hell, that'll just be more of an incentive for him to make a move on you," he laughs. "Kol and his friends are just infatuated with you because you're insanely beautiful and a complete f*****g mystery. Trust me when I say this, but you are far from blending in. It's quite the opposite actually."

"Is it really so crazy that a person doesn't disclose all of their personal information to a random group of strangers immediately upon introduction?" I ask, sidestepping the conversation regarding Professor King. I don't even feel comfortable thinking about it, let alone believing it to be true.

Luca chuckles, resting his hand over mine, causing me to blush further. It makes mine look child-sized in comparison. "You'd be surprised the secrets that are revealed before one-night stands. You threw all of us for a loop that first night. No one has dodged Dawson like that before. Ever."

"So, you all clearly have a type, I see. Chatty and desperately throwing themselves at you. And then I just had to come in and blow up everything you've ever known, huh?" I joke sarcastically. A small smirk pulling at the corners of my lips, my free thumb running over the condensation buildup on my glass absentmindedly as I await his response.

His other hand trails over his facial hair, while his lips mold into a tight line before saying, "I think I can confidently speak for everyone, that you successfully made us question some of our life decisions in the hookup department." His confession makes me smile, as a faint flutter swarms in my chest.

Before I can respond, I catch a figure approaching us from the corner of my eye. As I turn my attention toward the person, my eyes widen in surprise, and I reflexively jerk my hand out from underneath Luca's warm grasp.

Kol. 

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A big thank you to everyone who has read up to this point! If you are liking the story so far, please give the chapters a like and leave a comment. I always love reading your feedback! :)

A special thanks to Paygehamann for the unwavering support since the very beginning! Your weekly comments bring so much joy to my heart and always keep me motivated!