Page 85 of Luca & Luna

It didn’t take long to explain to Alve the basics of what had happened and that I didn’t feel safe in the building anymore. Sweetheart that he was, he promised to get everything rolling for the security upgrades the moment he hung up. I’d been skeptical when I’d first moved in that an alpha would take it upon himself to develop an apartment catering to omegas without some nefarious purpose, but finding out two of his sisters were my neighbors had cleared up his motivation. Even if he didn’t necessarily care about the rest of us, he cared about them.

When I came down about ten minutes later, I slumped onto one of the stools and accepted a cup of tea from Luca.

“How’d it go?”

“Alve’s having a company come by today to replace the locks and distribute codes. Everyone will get an individual one to access their unit and a main one to access the building.”

“It’s great that he’s getting on it so fast.”

“Yeah, he’s pretty awesome when it comes to omega safety. You were right. I should’ve said something right away. Rodney still has a key to get into the building and he could hurt someone even if he can’t get into their suite.” I dropped my forehead to the counter. “Fuck. I hate all of this. Thank you for putting up with me.”

“Not what I’m doing, but you’re welcome. I’m so proud of you for still taking steps to remedy the situation. I know it’s hard for you.”

It would have been so easy to assume he was being patronizing, but Luca was so fucking sincere that I had to accept he meant it.

“It really fucking is, but I’m trying. I want to do better even though it feels like I’m trying to climb a mud slope every time. I think I was fooling myself into believing that the way I was doing things was working.”

“You and me both.” Luca scooped up my free hand and I let him hold it, squeezing tighter as he continued. “It’s like, I knew I was stagnant before, but I never realized how suffocated I felt by it, or how much I was doing to drown out that feeling.”

I abandoned my tea and snuggled myself into his arms, immediately gratified when his arms wrapped around me. It occurred to me that I wasn’t used to feeling safe like this…like it might actually be unconditional.

Not only did Luca know things that I hadn’t even felt comfortable telling my friends and family about, but it seemed like every time I needed him to step up, whether it was big or small, he was right there, ready to do it.

Luca didn’t need me to take care of him. I wasn’t even sure if he wanted me to. Maybe that wouldn’t stay true forever, but for now it was a weight off my shoulders, knowing that whatever I couldn’t carry myself he would pick up and carry for me.

It was dangerous to get used to that.

I was too tired to worry about it right now.

“You know, I used to wonder what I had done in the past life to be punished with so much bullshit, but you’re making me second-guess that.”

He squeezed me tighter and kissed the top of my head. “I think free will has a lot more to do with it than anything else. Reincarnation is cool and all, but I don’t know if it takes into account that some people are fucking assholes.”

I laughed in his arms.

“What time are Sidney and Allie expecting you?”

“Not for a few more hours.”

“Then I vote we head over to Nest is Best and get you something ridiculously soft.”

“Well, I can’t argue with that logic.”

“Good. Then let’s go.”

The nesting store chain was nearby, and a huge chunk of my nesting supplies came from there. While Allie’s place had a guest bedroom, she didn’t have a second nest kicking around. I deserved a little extra comfort and if I couldn’t shove Luca in my temporary nest, I could make do with some extra pillows.

I still wasn’t sure how Allie would react to finding out about Luca and me. I knew she would be happy, as much as I knew that that happiness would feel like an anvil on my head, and I didn’t want to take the chance that my fucked-up panicking anxiety brain would ruin what Luca and I had right now.

We were under no pressure right now.

I could only manage things if there was no obligation, no expectation, no nothing that forced me into a little box.

“You have your overthinking face on again,” Luca said as we pulled to a stop in front of the store. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No. It’s nothing new. My brain is an endless cycle of worrying.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s the inside of Nicky’s head too.”

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