He’s dressed in his signature look—a black shirt and black pants. Given that it’s the middle of the night, I thought he might show up in something more casual. For a moment, there’s an awkward pause; his expression unreadable as he looks away, seemingly ignoring the scene, then moves toward us. I quickly stand up, straightening myself, trying to gauge his reaction, but he stays composed, his expression closed. I can’t quite explain how I feel seeing him. I should be relieved, even glad, but I don’t feel any of that. My heart hasn’t skipped a beat at his presence; the only reason it’s racing is because he walked in on me and Luca in an awkward position.
“Give us a moment,” he tells Luca, who nervously clears his throat, nods, and walks away. Now it’s just the two of us, and the tension in
