Page 170 of Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Interesting.

I like it.

Luca: No need for drama overnothing.

Nothing?

I laugh, a full, belly-deep laugh, not sure if I should be insulted by his insinuation that matching with me amounts to, well–nothing. The dog glances over at me, ears twitching, before deciding he’s not interested in whatever has me so amused.

Me: NOTHING? Wow. I’m SO flattered.

The dots pop up again, and I can practically feel his hesitation through the screen.

Luca: That’s not what I meant. You know that.

Me: Do I? Because it kinda feels like you’re saying matching with me is no big deal.

Another pause, longer this time.

Then,

Luca: It’s a big enough deal that I’m risking Gio’s wrath to talk to you behind his back. How’s that for flattery?

I bite my lip, trying not to smile too hard. Damn him for being smooth.

Me: Not bad. But you’re still on thin ice.

Luca: Good thing I’m used to skating on it.

I groan, equal parts annoyed and charmed. “Terrible,” I mutter under my breath, shaking my head.

So why is flirting with him making me tingle all over?

Guh!

Luca: Honestly, I’m surprised to see you on here. You’re way too pretty to be single.

Me: What makes you think I’m single?

Luca: You’re on a fucking dating app?

Oh. Good point.

And that mouth of his…

Who would’ve known? Luca looks like a choir boy—clean-cut, polite, the kind of guy who probably thanks the refs after every game—but apparently, there’s a little edge to him.

He follows up his previous text with:

Are you on this app to flirt or to find a serious relationship?

I blink at the question, taken aback by how straightforward it is. I nibble on the inside of my cheek.

Me: For a relationship. I’m tired of being single. You?

Luca: I want kids and a family and I’m not getting any younger.

I exit out of our chat to give his profile another glance—gawking at his shirtless photograph, seeing him as if seeing him for the first time.

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