- Luca -
The car felt smaller the longer we drove.
The air between us turned thick and suffocating. It was getting hard to breathe.
The city lights were just a blur of white and gold against the glass. I was miles away, barely even seeing them.
My hands stayed locked on the steering wheel, my knuckles tight enough to ache.
Aria sat beside me, turned toward the window, her shoulders squared like she was bracing for impact.
I hated that posture.
I cleared my throat. “I need to explain.”
She didn't even give me a look. Just stone-cold silence until she let it out. "You already did."
“I didn’t explain everything.”
That got her little attention. Her fingers shifted on her lap.
“Ivy and I go way back,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “We grew up together. Same
