I packed the last of my freshly laundered clothes into my bag as well as the rest of my belongings. "All packed?" My mom asked, running her hands up and down her jeans. She seemed anxious as she bobbed around the entrance of my bedroom door.

I zipped up my bag and paused for a second. "What's wrong?" Her jittery nervous behavior was putting me on edge.

She sighed. "Let's talk," she said and fear was my first instinct. Talk there were a million things that one word could have meant.

She closed the room door before sitting at the edge of my bed and tapping the space next to her.

I sat down next to her. "Am I in trouble?" I couldn't help the humor in my voice. I was nineteen and living on my own. Could I still get grounded even if I was in trouble?

"No, and yes," she laughed. I had a feeling I knew what it was about and that made me tense. "Why didn't you ever tell me about your boyfriend?" She asked confirming my thoughts. "I thought I was a cool mom now Aubrey is saying I just ain't down with the kids." She swung her arm around me and I laughed.

Boyfriend. It was still strange to my ears. The word didn't seem to sum up what he'd come to mean to me. "Mom it's not like that. There wasn't a label on our relationship," I explained and could see I was failing miserably by the look on her face.

"I think it's pretty serious for him to come all this way here. But I can tell that he is a good boy and that he loves you so much and it scares me a little to see my little girl all grown up. It's like the time flew Lizzy and I wasn't always there-" I put my arms around her giving her shoulders a gentle squeeze. She would start to feel guilty about the drinking.

I understood that my mother was only human and prone to making human mistakes. She didn't know how to cope with the loss and neither did I. But her reaction to my father's death slowed my possible reaction. It distracted me because I knew she needed me to take care of her. I knew that I had to be strong for her.

My mother was still adjusting to being without him. She just handled her grief differently now but I knew she still cried. The morning after Christmas showed the evidence that she still cried when I saw her in the kitchen with dark circles under her slightly pink, watery eyes.

At that moment I felt like staying home and never leaving her again but she stopped me before I could even get half the thought out of my mouth. I wouldn't even have to think twice about staying. Of course, I'd miss my friends and Luca but if my mother needed me I'd be here. 

"You're a good mom," I soothed, "it was hard for the both of us." She rubbed my back tears brimming her eyes.

"Well," she cleared her throat. "I came up here to tell you that I'm happy that you are happy peanut." I smiled and she smiled back a small tear escaping her glistening eyes. I wiped it away with the pad of my thumb. "Also you better not make me a grandmother. I'm still too young for a grandchild."

"Mom!" I gasped.

"Lizzy honey you're an adult and working while you attend college and you have a bright future ahead of you. Now if you need some advice on contraceptives..."

"No no and no." I covered my ears. "Mom please I really don't want to talk about this."

A knock came on my bedroom door saving me from a pending brief-up talk about the birds and the bees.   "Luca seriously dear. Can't I have just one minute with my daughter?" my mother's voice was teasing and Luca popped his head into the room with a broad smile on his face.

"Sorry for interrupting," he said and I wanted to scream thank you for interrupting. "I just wanted to know if she was ready." Luca's politeness this past week was surprising. It proved that he wasn't just swear words and angry scowls.

It made me wonder which was which. Was Dr. Jekyll genuine and Mr. Hyde fickle. Who was the original personality when it came to Luca. This week he proved to be more like Dr. Jekyll.

My mother stood, her face serious as she walked over to him and he caught my eye before turning to her. I wondered what was going through his mind as he watched her cautiously. "Take care of my baby girl. She's the only reason I'm breathing," my mother told him and he nodded.

"Always Ms. Blaine." She patted his shoulder. "You're a good kid," she told him and he smiled warmly at her before she walked out of the room.

Luca turned to me and I easily forgot my earlier mortification.  "Got everything. Cell phone, laptop, monkey?" He teased. At first, he thought the monkey was creepy but when I explained to him the reason I clung to it all insults about how ghastly the thing truly is stopped.

"He was the first thing in the bag," I grinned.

"If only I was stuffed and had one eye I'd get the same amount of love," he sighed and picked up the bag.

I rolled my eyes. "If only," I laughed and he glared playfully at me. Another knock came on my open door and I looked to see James.

"Well shake a leg plane leaves at ten," he informed. We walked out of my bedroom and I took one last look around the place. This time I wasn't less terrified of leaving but I was looking forward to it since I now also had a life in New York.

Luca and James took the stairs down fast and I met my mother, aunt, and Andrew outside. Percy had left for New York the day after Christmas because of work. The zoo was planning on opening a new enclosure and Percy was going to be taking the lead on the project.

I hugged my mother and then moved to hug my aunt. "Take care of yourself," my aunt told me and I nodded.

I hugged Andrew. "I'll see you in a few weeks?" I asked and he nodded a small smile cracking on his face as he patted my back.

Andrew was considering switching universities. He got accepted into NYU and hid it from my aunt. He didn't want to leave her but when she was cleaning his room she found the acceptance letter and she got angry with him for hiding it. Their father left when Andrew was still a baby. Percy and Andrew hated leaving their mother alone.

From the corner of my eye, I saw my mother and aunt both hug Luca and James. "See you boys next Christmas?" My aunt implied and both Luca and James looked at each other with smirks on their faces.

"Why don't you come home to our house next year?" Luca smiled and my mother looked short of words.

"Christmas in New York it's been a while." She looked at me briefly before turning back to him.

"New York?" Luca repeated. "I meant England."

My mother's eyes widened. "Oh... That sounds lovely dear. We'll see."

They were making plans for next year while I stood idly by. "And what if I don't want to go to England." I folded my arms like a child.

Luca shrugged. "It's fine I'll just tell mum you said you had other plans. Poor Steph. She was looking forward to it though." I punched his arm glaring and a smug smile formed on his face. He knew what he was doing. He knew I couldn't refuse Charlotte and Stephanie. I loved them to bits and of course, I wanted to go back to England.

Steph had phoned me at five in the evening on Christmas day to wish me a happy Christmas. She apologized for the late call but she and Christian were working, trying to recover the time they lost, and also she didn't know the appropriate time to call considering the time difference from America to Italy. Also, the fact that the US had multiple time zones just made it even more confusing for her.

Charlotte had called after her, waiting for the right moment in hopes of not intruding on my evening with my family. I missed them both so much and I was relieved and happy that I would get to see them again.

Luca opened the car door for me and I sat at the back feeling like I had two bodyguards. I waved at my family from the car's window as James pulled out of the driveway.

Luca's phone began to vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out and stared at the screen in confusion. "Hi mum," he answered.

"Luca Hendricks!" Charlotte's voice boomed from the opposite end of the line and I'm sure Luca was glad that he was thousands of miles away now. He held the phone away from his ear and James sniggered as Charlotte fired away. "Arrested! You got arrested," she repeated and now it was my turn to look confused.

James gulped and both men stared at each other. "Ur- mum how'd you find out?" Luca asked.

"Amelia was driving me to book club when an officer pulled us over thinking it was you!"

Luca looked up at the roof of the car and shook his head in disbelief. "Who arrives at a book club in a mustang?" Luca laughed and I couldn't help the smile on my face. Even James couldn't help the grin on his face.

"Luca I'm being serious how could you not tell me!"

"Well, there was nothing to tell mother. I'm certainly not in prison right now am I. " Luca caught James's eye and it's as if they were communicating silently with each other.

"Don't give me your lip!"

Luca ran a hand through his hair. His face filled with childlike mischief. I could see what a rebellious teenager he once was. Charlotte was still irate and Luca sighed.  "Okay I apologize mother but I assure you I handled it. If you still wish to scream at me I'll call you later we heading to the airport now," Luca told her.

"Is Lizzy there?" She asked. Her voice calm now.

"Yes," he answered meeting my eyes in the rear-view mirror.

"Let me speak to her I'm done talking to you," Charlotte told him.

"As you wish mother." He handed the phone over to me and Charlotte and I spoke. She was calmer with me over the phone and she didn't touch on what Luca got arrested for and I was curious to know what he did.

All too soon we hung up and before I handed Luca back his phone his wallpaper caught my eye. It was a picture of me and him at Stephanie's night before. He was standing behind me with his arms around my waist and his face in my hair while I blushed.

The picture looked like we were in love with each other. It showed the emotions and words we couldn't express at that time.

I looked up and his eyes met mine in the rear-view mirror. I leaned over to the front seat and handed him his phone and quickly kissed his cheek. His eyes widened being caught off guard and he cleared his throat as he looked everywhere in the car but at the mirror. I sat back down in my seat, still blushing at my boldness in front of James.

"So what did you get arrested for?" I asked and he bit his bottom lip.

"Ur- racing," he shrugged and James snorted.

"I'm warning you mate," Luca's voice wasn't threatening but humorous as he looked at James.

"Are you seriously going to lie to her?"

"It's not a lie. Technically. "

James rolled his eyes. "He got arrested because he failed a breathalyzer test."

"You were drinking and driving?" I gasped and he shook his head.

"No the previous night into early hours of the morning. I just had too much and then it showed up in the test."

I nodded. "But why were you racing?" This time James's face was in a broad smirk.

"Yes, Luca why?" James smiled knowingly.

Luca glared at him. "I hate you." James chuckled and then Luca looked up at me through the car's mirror again. Something distraught in his eyes. "It was the day you left England. I was coming after you."

"Oh." I felt extremely guilty that he got arrested because he was coming after me. "I'm sorry," I told him.

"It's not your fault you couldn't have known I'd come after you or that I'd get arrested."

James parked the car in the airport's parking lot and we rushed out. The airport was dreadfully busy. We had less than an hour to sort out our flight details and board the plane.

We rushed into the airport and Luca went straight to check our details. I sat down at the chairs with James as he stared off into space, seemingly lost in thought as his brows knitted in deep concentration.

"Penny for your thoughts Jameson," I smiled, nudging him with my shoulder and he looked up breaking concentration.

"I'm just thinking about the move back to England," he breathed. He looked tired and stressed.

My eyebrows scrunched. "What do you mean?"

"I'm going to New York to pack all my stuff up. I quit working for Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks."

"Oh," I said looking down at the ground. Luca didn't tell me."Will we ever see each other again?" I didn't want to say goodbye to James forever.

"Of course Lizzy. Like I told your boyfriend. I quit my job and not being his friend." He nudged me with his shoulder playfully. "He's your problem now," he chuckled and I grinned at him.

"Do you have any tips?" I laughed.

"Well, he loves sweets. Especially baked treats. Give him a biscuit when he gets uncontrollable and he'll calm down," James laughed and it was hearty. "I'm also leaving because I want to get married, Liz. I'm a thirty-year-old man. My mum's in a real tiff that I'm not married. The woman drills me every time she calls."

"Marriage," I repeated with a smile. I had a very good idea of who James was talking about. "Have you asked her yet?" A slight blush tinted his cheeks. It was the first time I'd ever seen James blush.

He cleared his throat. "Don't tell her please," he said looking away from me and I chuckled.

"You kept my secret it's only fair I keep yours. It is Amy you are asking to marry though isn't it?" I had to ensure it was her and not someone else.

"Yes only her." James bit his bottom lip to keep from blushing.

Luca walked over to us and eyed us both suspiciously. "Why are you two grinning like ninnies in the middle of the airport?"

James laughed and rolled his eyes. It was funny how left out Luca would feel when James and I had our private conversations. "I was telling Liz you her problem now."

Luca nodded a smug look forming on his face as he turned to me."Is that so?" Luca put his arm around my shoulders as he stared down at me. "And what has she said?" He was so confident.

"Oh she's begging me not to go," James laughed causing me to laugh as well and Luca glared at the both of us.

Our flight was called and we boarded the plane. I sat in the middle of James and Luca. James put on his headset and went to sleep as soon as the plane took off. "Does James not like flying?" I whispered to Luca.

I remembered him sleeping the entire flight to England the last time. "He's afraid the plane will crash so he takes sleeping pills to sleep through it."

I put my head on Luca's shoulder and he kissed my forehead while he ran a hand through my hair. I stifled a yawn. There was something magical about Luca whenever I rested my head on him I couldn't resist the comfort that would inevitably lead to sleep.

********
The airports were a nightmare as people were going and coming back. It was only two days till the new year and I wouldn't want to imagine what it would be like on New Year's Eve.

Luca held onto my hand tightly. It was different now that I didn't have to make excuses whenever he did things like hold my hand. In this instant, if nothing between us changed I would say he was keeping up the pretense because James was here.

It was easier to deny my feelings when I believed Luca had none for me. But now that I knew how he felt I was done for. It was like I was playing a game of poker with him. He called my bluff and now all my cards were on the table for him to see and he had won.

"Sofia my baby." Luca let go of my hand and ran over to his sparkling Mercedes.

"If only I had rims and tinted windows," I sighed and he looked up at me.

"If only." He winked.

I didn't know that I was pouting till James laughed. "Don't take it personal Lizzy."

Of course, I didn't take it personally. But I was fully rested and I wanted to scare Luca out of his skin a little. "Hand over the keys Hendricks." I smiled deviously remembering what he once promised.

"Ur-"

"Nope," I cut him off, "you remember our little deal in England. You said if I drove the mustang and didn't smash it you would let me drive your car."

The words clicked in his head and he nodded. "I'm very well aware of what I'd said love," he laughed and held out the keys to me. "By all means, I'm a man of my word." I eyed the stretched out car keys and Luca's face showed no sign of anxiety. "Just be gentle."

"Well go take it from him," James encouraged. "He doesn't even let me drive the thing."

I smiled as I saw the smirk on Luca's face. The airport was packed with cars and I didn't want that much pressure. New York was a terrible place for inexperienced drivers. "On second thought. Maybe next time. I do have a bit of jetlag."

"Whatever you want love," he smiled and then opened the passenger's side door for me. I got into the car and he closed the door after me.

As Luca hit the freeway I prepared myself mentally for what was going to come. A serious discussion with Beckett. I couldn't help the feeling that I was going to be losing my best friend by the time the sunset on the day.

I imagined every possible scenario on how it would go. Beckett could take it bad. He would be angry with me for keeping this from him. But I would fight my case it was the holiday season and I wasn't about to tell him I had no feelings beyond the depths of friendship for him over the phone.

Or the second scenario he could understand and he could be happy for me and still be my friend. But was I selfish for hoping that he wouldn't be mad. I couldn't help putting myself in his situation. I'd be peeved if the roles were reversed.

Luca picked up my hand that was on my lap and gave it a small squeeze. I looked up at him to see that his eyes were focused on the busy road.

After an hour he pulled up at my campus housing. My heart was in my throat and my palms began to sweat. I wondered if Beckett was already inside. I hoped he wasn't.

As I looked up I saw James's reflection in the rear-view mirror. "Is this goodbye?" I had to know. I wished James didn't have to go. I knew it affected Luca more than he would let me know that he wasn't going to have his best friend around as often.

"I'm afraid it is for a while," he smiled and I reached over to the backseat and he met me with a hug. "It's only for a little while. You of course are invited to the wedding if she says yes."

I pulled back to look at him. "She will say yes," I reassured him and he smiled.

"I've been telling him that ever since he told me. He's too chicken. Want me to ask her for you mate," Luca laughed and I nudged him with my elbow.

"Don't be insensitive."

"You one to talk mate. Deep will call deep," James rolled his eyes. I looked at him in confusion. "The pot just called the kettle black," he clarified.

"That's different."

"Sure it is," James smiled.

After one last goodbye to James, I walked up to the house with Luca carrying my bags. I walked into the house and Blaire and Himari shot up from the couch. Blaire almost running me over as she gripped me in a hug. "I missed you too Blaire," I chuckled and Himari came over and hugged me too.

Himari always controlled her emotions well. She was happy that I was home but she didn't put any pressure on hugging me as Blaire did. She was careful.

Both of their attention turned immediately to Luca who stood behind me. "Good evening," he greeted and they both stared at me before staring at each other.

I could see the conversation they had with their eyes and I could foresee that it was going to be a long night with Blaire trying to get every last detail out of me on why Luca was the one to bring me home. But before they knew Beckett had to know first.

"I'll be back. I'm just going to freshen up," I told them and went up the stairs, my second shadow following closely behind me. I opened my room door and walked in and Luca came in after me leaving my bags on the bed.

It felt harder to breathe now that the time of confrontation was coming up. Maybe I'd faint halfway through the conversation. I just needed to breathe.

One, two, three-

"Liz," Luca came over to me and put his arms around me. He placed one hand under my chin tilting my head so that I looked up at him. "What's wrong love?"

"It's just that I'm afraid of Beckett's reaction when I tell him. I don't want to lose him as a friend."

It was true how could I just forget Beckett, who would hang out with me and watch frozen just because I wanted to, take me to arenas and fairs. Who I'd laugh myself silly with and most importantly was my first guy friend after a very long time even though he didn't have to be given my introverted self closed behavior. But he was patient and stuck around waiting.

Luca's arms around me tightened and my head fell to his chest. He inhaled deeply and kissed my hair. "You care about him. I know."

"You aren't going to get freaky jealous on me again are you?" I asked. I looked up at him and he smiled.

"What's the point when you already belong to me." He smiled. "He's your friend. I'll accept that. It was hard at first because I wasn't sure how you felt about me and then him always calling," Luca sighed. "I'm okay now." He rubbed circles on my back comfortingly and I stood on my toes to kiss him. He met me halfway pressing his lips gently on mine. My heart warmed at the brief contact. "I love you."

"And I you." I smiled up at him.

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers brushing my cheek."If he takes it badly and makes you cry I'll break his jaw." I smacked him across his chest which only encouraged his laughter.

"I'd probably deserve whatever insult he throws my way. He truly is a very understanding person."

"Should I stay?" He asked. "I can tell James he could take the car back to the apartment."

"No that's okay. Once he sees you he would already be suspicious."

Luca sighed and placed a kiss on my forehead. "Okay. Call if you need me."

He let go of me and I walked him downstairs to the door. Just as he walked to his car I saw Beckett and Callum walk up the street.

Beckett completely ignored Luca's presence and ran up to me engulfing me in a hug and picking me up off the ground causing me to laugh. From behind him, I could see Luca's jaw clench as he turned away to look anywhere else. I patted Beckett's shoulder for him to put me down and he did.

"Hey Luca," Callum greeted.

"Hey Cal," Luca turned and changed his facial expression to a friendlier one to greet his friend.

"New years eve party tomorrow night man. Are you game?"

Luca smiled that devious smile whenever he had something sinister running through his mind. "Try and stop me."

"Alright," Callum was now grinning while Luca's eyes focused on me.

Luca got into his car and it started with a raw. Beckett turned to me again. "What did he want?"

Oh, this was going to be hard.

**********************************************

A/N

Two chapters and one epilogue remaining. 😪

I hope you guys enjoyed it. Tell me what you think. I know it's a bit of a long chapter. Smash those stars, leave a comment and recommend to your fellow wattpadians!

💜P. A