Page 33 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

“I don’t hand it out lightly. There’s a certificate. Possibly even a ribbon.”

“I feel robbed,” he said, shaking his head. “I didn’t even get a participation trophy. Doesn’t everyone get one of them now?”

She smiled. “You stole my fries. That can be your prize.”

“Totally worth it,” he said. “They were excellent fries.”

“Of course they were. I have refined tastes.” She tipped her head, studying him. “See? That’s me being picky again.”

He laughed, the tension she hadn’t realized was in his shoulders seemed to relax. “I’m starting to think picky just means you know what you like.”

“Exactly. I don’t waste calories or time.”

“Two very important things. Guess I should know that moving forward.”

Interesting. She didn’t know if it meant moving forward with her or another woman.

Probably another woman. That would be smart on both their parts.

She leaned back. “So tell me something safe. Favorite awful movie. Or embarrassing habit. Funny situation. Something that doesn’t come with emotional whiplash.”

He considered it. “I like to line my food up by amount left over in the cabinet.”

“That’s not embarrassing,” she said. “A little anal, but not embarrassing. I guess it makes some sense. You know, this way you finish what is opened before it gets shoved in the back and goes stale or rotten.”

“See, you get it.”

Her hand went up. “I’ll make allowances, only if you tell me you’re not one of these guys who leaves like one cookie in the bag forever. Like you’re afraid to finish it.”

“Who the hell would do that? Then it gets stale and you throw it out anyway. That defeats the purpose of me lining them up by how much is left.”

She wiped her hand across her forehead when he smirked at her. “Phew. Okay. Now you’re just quirky, not OCD.”

“Good to know that too. See?” he said. “I still have some normal left.”

“You do,” she said gently. “And for the record, you’re allowed to carry the past without letting it sit between us. I’m not going to judge you.”

He met her gaze, something soft settling in the pit of her stomach like he was assessing her. Maybe questioning some more of what he’d said. “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” she said, sticking her fork into his potato salad. “Now don’t get territorial. I’m just gettingmyprize.”

He shook his head, smiling. “You mean time with me wasn’t enough of one?”

“Shit,” she said, shaking her head, the smile tugging hard at her lips. “Luca, whether or not you know it, when you’re ready, you’re going to be one hell of a catch.”

She just wished it didn’t look like he only wanted her as a friend.

11

TOO MUCH OF A LEAP

Somehow Luca was on the ferry Friday morning and going to Boston for the day with Gabriela.

It wasn’t as if he had anything else to do. He wanted to return to the mainland to get a few things, and she’d offered.

Actually, she’d said she needed to get a few things from her apartment and asked if he wanted to join her.

Maybe it felt awesome being thought of as a good catch. He always thought he was, in his twenties.