Page 84 of Lunar Crest University

“Mine too,” I whisper faintly as I gawk up at it.

He unbuckles my seatbelt for me, placing a chaste kiss on my temple. “You’ll get along just fine then.”

There’s a weighing dread in my stomach as we climb out of the car, and it’s not because I’m about to meet his family. It’s because I’m about to meet his family and I’ve never metanyone’sfamily before. I always thought it would be special, that it would be mypersonwhose family I’d be staying with for little trips. And while I have no doubt that Luca may be my person, I don’t think he feels like I could be his.

I’m about to meet these women and get attached—I’m going to like them, and it’s going to make everything ten times harder.

Luca grabs my hand as he leads me toward the front door, and I think my heart plummets to my stomach as well. I feel his eyes on me as we stand there on the steps for a moment, but I can’t bring myself to look up at him. The next few seconds,minutes, are imperative, and I need to put every ounce of energy I have into these greetings. The last thing I want is to come off as some awkward girl who can’t even keep small talk because of how nervous she is.

The breath catches in my throat as he lifts his hand and raps his knuckles against the door. I swear I can’t hear anything but my heartbeat thumping in my ears, and for a second, I think I might have a panic attack.

“Take a deep breath,Princesa.”

His voice washes over me, warm and comforting.

Before I can respond or take a second to peek up at him for one last reassuring smile, the door opens. The nervousness that had been weighing me down for the past hour disappears as my eyes fall on Luca’s mother. He can say he doesn’t look like her, but I immediately see every single similarity between the two of them. While her brown eyes aren’t as dark as his, they’re the same shape, and they have the same little crinkles when they smile—like she’s doing now.

Their hair is the same color, and hers is in a loose braid down her back, with some strands framing her round cheeks. She’sshort, even shorter than I am, so Luca has to bend to press a kiss to the top of her head. My heart squeezes as I watch them together, at the way her eyes soften exponentially as she looks up at her son.

I miss my parents. So, so much.

“Mijo. I’m so happy you’re here.”

“It’s good to see you,mamá.” He pulls away from her and grabs my hand again, which she immediately catches with another warm smile.

“Finley,” she says to me, reaching her hands out and putting them on my shoulders as she looks me over. “I’m so glad to finally meet you. I didn’t thinkmi hijowould ever bring you to see me.”

Howlonghas she known about me?

I’m at a loss for words as I tentatively peek up at Luca, and I’m even more stunned to see his cheeks have the slightest tint to them as he shakes his head.

“I’m so happy to finally meet you too,” I manage to get out as I look back at her, smiling feebly before she pulls me into a hug. “Your home is beautiful. Thank you for letting me stay.”

“You’re always welcome here.” She steps back and to the side as she waves a hand, motioning for us to come inside. “Let’s get you inside and out of this cold,sí? Come.”

As we step into the entryway, I’m even more amazed by the interior of the house. The dark walls and cabinets match the dark brick from the outside, almost black in color, with golden oak-colored wooden accents. There’s a giant marble island in the center of the kitchen and low-hanging brass lamps that illuminate the room. The floors are the same color of wood as all the accents around the home, and it’s just…beautiful.

“Emilia and Carmen aren’t here yet, but they’ll be here shortly.”

Luca seems to physically relax at that, sliding my coat from my shoulders as he hangs it on the coat rack just inside the entryway. His fingers caress my neck just faintly, but it’s a whisper of a touch before they’re gone, taking off his own coat.

“Their boyfriends will be joining us for dinner too.” His mother rounds the marble island as she tends to whatever is cooking on the stovetop, smelling delicious and making my mouth water. “So, on your best behavior, Luca.”

“I’m always on my best behavior.”

I bite my lip to hide the smile that tugs at the corners of my mouth as I watch her give him a pointed look. His jaw clenches as he stares right back at her, sighing loudly as he gives in first and pinches the bridge of his nose underneath his glasses. It’s a silent battle she just won, and she gives me a knowing smile before clasping her hands together.

“Luca has never brought a girl home to us before,” she says. “I thought my son was going to be alone forever.”

“Mamá,” he hisses tiredly. “Spare me, please.”

She snickers. “Es cierto. My heart was worried for you.”

“Ignore her,” he tells me, pulling out a bar stool at the island for me to take a seat as his nostrils flare. “Please.”

Batting my lashes at him, I walk around the waiting chair and head toward his mother instead. He gives me a pained look, his eyebrows knitting as he cocks his head pleadingly, but I give him a tiny wink as I leave him standing there. She’s stirring food and pulling plates from the cabinets at the same time as I approach her, rubbing my clammy palms on my pants and tucking my hair behind my ears as I clear my throat.

“Do you need any help, Mrs. Serrano?” I offer.

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