Page 83 of Lunar Crest University

Imight actually die of a heart attack in Luca’s passenger seat of his car—that’s heading to hismother’shouse. My palms are clammy as I rub them together nervously in my lap, and my hair clings to the back of my neck as it sweats.

Why did I agree to this?

Because I’m in love with a guy who doesn’t love me back.

The thought makes it hard to breathe, and I stare out the window at the trees that whizz by at a nauseating pace to distract myself, but it doesn’t work.

My feelings are undoubtedly stronger than his, that much was obvious at breakfast this morning. Something about his mannerisms told me he was holding back. I could feel the disconnect in my bones, no matter how small it was. Do I doubt he cares for me in some capacity? Of course not. But I know for a fact that the only fool chasing around the person she loves without even so much as a second thought isme.

Wanting me to meet his family, hismother, has to mean something.

No matter how unsure I am about where we stand, that must meansomething.

“Where’d you go?”

My head snaps over to look at Luca, who places his hand on my thigh before giving it a gentle squeeze. He takes one of my clammy hands in his before I can protest, and I wince a little, hoping he doesn’t notice how sweaty my palms are.

“I’m here,” I say, but it doesn’t sound convincing at all.

“You’re nervous.”

I exhale shakily. “Yes.”

It’s not just one woman in his life I’ll be meeting; it’s three. Three of the most important women in his life. That’s enough to send me into another panic, but my entire body freezes as he brings my hand up and kisses my knuckles. Sometimes, he does the sweetest of gestures, and it makes me forget he doesn’t feel the same as I do.

But only for a short moment.

“Mi mamáis one of the warmest people I’ve ever known,” he assures me quietly, resting our intertwined hands in his lap now. “She’ll probably try to feed you too many sweets or show you my baby pictures.”

“And your sisters?” I press.

“Emilia is the middle child. She’ll try to seem intimidating at first, but only because she’s protective of me. She wouldn’t harm a fly.” His lip twitches as he talks about his family, and his eyes crinkle in the corners. He misses them. “Carmen is the youngest. She’s in her first year of college and a duplicate of my mother.”

I swallow down the ball of nerves that threatens to come up in the form of vomit at his words. I’m so nervous, I could start crying, but that’s only because my tear ducts are connected to every emotion I have.

“It’s not too late to change your mind,” I joke, but my taut laugh falters.

“About bringing you?”

I hum in agreement.

Much to my dismay, itisactually too late, because he slows down to turn onto a gravel road surrounded by trees. It’s like a sea of oranges and reds from the leaves that speckle the branches and fall to the ground in the autumn breeze. It’s a beautiful scene, and my anxiety dwindles just a fraction as I stare out of the windshield at the long, winding road.

I clear my throat. “Spoke too soon.”

“I wasn’t going to change my mind anyway.” His thumb rubs over my knuckles. Back and forth, back and forth, over and over. “I want you here, Finley. Besides, my mother already knows you’re coming. She’d kill me if I didn’t follow through.”

“Do you think they’ll like me?” I ask feebly, peeking over at him as he drives. He immediately catches my gaze, dropping my hand and reaching over to brush my hair back from my face instead. His finger lingers on my cheekbone.

“Sí. They’ll love you.”

The house finally comes into view, and I’m stunned. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t a beautiful, dark brick home shrouded in colorful flowers and greenery along the riverbank. My mouth pops open as I stare at the house, which gets bigger and bigger the closer we get to it. It’s a dream house.Mydream house. The bay windows are vast, and the view is incredible. I would never leave if I lived somewhere like this.

He needs money, but his family lives in this huge house?

“This is…” I trail off, shaking my head. “Beautiful. It might be the prettiest house I’ve ever seen.”

“My mother’s dream house.”

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