Page 37 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

The one walking the streets with her.

The only one whose thoughts actually mattered in this moment.

She bumped her shoulder lightly into his as they walked. “You dodged that question.”

“I didn’t dodge,” he said. “I strategically retreated.”

“Coward.”

“You betcha.”

She laughed. “Fine. I’ll let it go. For now.”

“That’s generous of you.”

“I have my moments.” She slowed near a crosswalk, waiting for the light. “So what happens now?”

He glanced at her. “Are you asking me or the universe? Or just trying to find out what store I need to look into next?”

“All of them apply.”

He smiled. “Fair. I need a suit for this fundraiser. I’m assuming it’s suit and tie?”

Shit. She hadn’t thought he wouldn’t have one.

“Didn’t they have events for you to attend before at your last job?”

“Yep. But, you know, I had a house fire,” he said, his voice low. “I’ve had an excuse to escape things in the past two years.”

It was the last thing she wanted to do. Bring up something depressing or upsetting when they were enjoying themselves.

“You don’t have to go with me,” she argued.

“Nonsense. I need a new suit. Maybe two, but one will do for now. I don’t remember my measurements and I’m a bit smaller.”

“Smaller?” she asked. “Did you lose weight?”

She couldn’t imagine him being heavy, but she didn’t know either.

“I don’t know if it was weight or bulk. I’ve spent a lot more time working out than I used to.”

That made more sense in a way. Maybe that was another form of his hiding, but he wouldn’t admit it and she wasn’t going to ask.

“Then let’s go get you a suit if you really want to.”

“I don’t do much I don’t want to,” he said firmly.

Just another side to him. He was fun, and it seemed easy, but maybe it wasn’t as easy as it was to her.

She hooked her arm through his, and they walked two more streets over and into a menswear store.

“Blue, black, or gray?”

“You tell me,” he said. “What do women like?”

Now he was being funny because she’d asked that also.

“Are you going to need shoes too? These are important questions. I’m not sure how much you want to buy.”