LUCA
I had my swimwear brand signing event at the event center of one of the biggest restaurants in the city, it had glass walls, soft gold lighting, and a hum of money and importance in the air. My name was stretched across a white backdrop behind me in bold lettering, my logo repeated so many times it almost felt like I owned the place. Cameras flashed nonstop. Music played low and upbeat. Laughter rolled through the space like waves.
I smiled until my cheeks hurt, but it was an easy and familiar smile that I had practiced for a long time. This part of my life was effortless.
Fans lined up in neat rows, clutching swimsuits, notebooks, phones, and even napkins. I signed everything they pushed toward me.
“Oh my God, Luca, I swam competitively in high school because of you,” a young gi
