Page 15 of Weaponized

For the first time, I wish I had someone other than Rowan to talk to about how I’m feeling. In fact, I wonder what Elizabeth would say if I told her about my encounter with Luca. We had a couple fun lunches, chatting about our worst professors and favorite TV shows. What would it be like to go deeper? Could she help me work out why I get so frazzled whenever I’m in Luca’s presence? Because how I’m feeling makes absolutely no sense.

I know better than to really want him. After all, he is a target. I need to channel Luca’s lust. Use it. And, despite my brother’s concerns, I know I can make this work. Maybe I should go back to my plan to win “the stable brother,” but the simple truth is: I don’t want to. Seamus has already left me a voicemail to remind me that I needed to find my mark this week, because apparently my father couldn’t be bothered to call me himself. As I head to my classroom chair, I notice that Matteo is already seated in the same place as Monday. I slide into the desk in front of him then turn to look over my shoulder. “Good morning.”

“That it is,” he replies. “You should know my brother nearly killed Gianni Abruzzi last night.”

I stiffen. Matteo amazes me with his ability to cut right to the chase. “Oh.”

“Yeah.Oh.”

“I told him that Gianni didn’t hurt me.” I don’t feel guilty about whatever happened, because Gianni is a total asshole who assaults women. At the same time, I remember my brother’s comments, and I don’t want to be the cause of any trouble.

“But hedidtouch you.” Matteo states this as a fact. He is studying me as though he’s piecing something together himself. His right hand is twirling a pen while his left drums fingers on his desk. It’s as though he needs something to occupy himself while he has this conversation. It’s making me antsy.

“Unfortunately.” I shrug, watching for any reaction.

“Yes. Itwasunfortunate.” His tone is flat. Final.

I’m saved from responding when the hurricane that is Elizabeth flies into the room and nearly topples her desk as she wedges herself into her seat. “Hi!” Her brown hair is pulled back today, and I might be mistaken, but she appears to be wearing a bit more makeup than the last couple of times I’ve seen her.

I’ve enjoyed getting to know Elizabeth, and I am curious to learn even more. She’s bright and funny but also obviously insecure. Today, she’s in a kelly green dress that really brings out her eyes. “You look great in that color,” I tell her honestly and she sits up straighter.

She blushes. “Oh, wow. Um, thanks.”

I’m about to ask her if we’re meeting for lunch today when our professor breezes into the room. I have to wait until we finish conjugating a ridiculous number of verbs in the present perfect tense before I can talk to her again.

“Lunch later?” I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s nice to have someone to chat with. I guess St. A’s is full of surprises.

She nods vigorously.

“I’m also planning to hit the library a little later if you want to come,” I say. “If I study alone in my apartment, I’ll find too many things to distract me.” Mainly, I’ll obsess over Luca and get nothing done.

Elizabeth is blinking at me now. I’ll get to the bottom of why she is so shy at some point. I’m no prize of a friend,so I hate that she has some elevated impression of me. We make plans to meet, and Matteo stops me by putting his hand on my shoulder as we walk out the door.

“We’re having a party on Saturday night. You guys should come.”

I grin at him. “I thought you guys have a party every night.”

“Yeah, well, Luca says we aren’t doing that shit this year, so beginning tonight, I’ll be turning people away. He was willing to compromise on the weekends.”

“Generous guy, your brother,” I tease. I’m full-on smiling now. Matteo isn’t.

“He is the most generous guy I know.” There is such a conviction behind his words that the smile falls from my face.

“Good to know. I appreciate the invitation.”

Matteo nods once and then takes off in a different direction. I’m not really sure what that was all about, but I’m hoping when I see Luca tomorrow thatheasks me to this party, or to lunch or, hell, to go absolutely anywhere with him.

If I’m being real, I kind of expected to see him this morning outside of my Spanish class since he knows I have the course with his brother. I’m used to being pursued, but Luca isn’t following the normal script. Worse, I was a little let down when he wasn’t there. Nothing with him is what I’m used to.

* * *

Waiting until Thursday isn’t easy. I see Luca in the same seat as last time—apparently they’ve replaced the tray table—and make my way up the auditorium aisle toward him. His eyes track me the entire way. Liam hasn’t arrived yet,so I’m spared any commentary as I take my seat next to Luca.

“Hi,” I say softly, taking in his dark blue eyes and how his T-shirt stretches across his broad chest. He simply nods in return, a serious expression on his face.

We sit and stare at each other in complete silence for the next few minutes. It should be uncomfortable how we are openly checking each other out. It doesn’t stop us. The air around us is thick with awareness in our own little bubble.

“So you twoaretogether?” Ah. Liam McGuiness has arrived.

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