Page 104 of Spotlight Hearts

Her words stab into me, digging at all of my insecurities, but I keep my face neutral. Luca starts to sit up, anger radiating off of him. But I put a hand on his thigh, stopping him.

“Whitney,” Beth gasps, her hand flying to her chest, while Dax leans forward looking like he’s ready to intercede. “You can’t come into my home and treat a guest that way. What has gotten into you?”

Whitney’s gaze snaps to Beth, then back to me. Her voice cracks with raw hurt. “I’m sorry, Beth. I really am. But I’ve known Luca since we were kids. I was there through everything. And now he’s parading this…this replacement around like it’s real. Like I never mattered.”

Luca’s voice is low and tense. “You mattered, Whit. But we’re over. We’ve been over. This isn’t about replacing you. This is about me and Kai. And it is real.”

She laughs, and it comes out bitter. “Real? Please. You two have been faking it for months. The whole world knows it. I know it. And deep down, Kai knows it, too. He’s just convenient right now. A place to stick your dick.”

“Whitney, you need to leave. Now!” Beth moves toward her, taking her by the arm and leading her back the way she came. “You’re not welcome in my home with that behavior.”

Luca stands up slowly, his arm sliding away from my shoulders. His voice cuts through the tension, calm but ice-cold.

“No. Let her hear this.”

Beth pauses, still holding Whitney’s arm.

Luca steps forward, eyes locked on Whitney. His tone is flat, final.

“You don’t get to talk about him like that. Ever. Kai isn’t convenient. He isn’t a placeholder. He’s the person I choose. The one I want to be with. And if you can’t handle that, then you need to stay the hell away from both of us.”

Whitney’s mouth opens, but Luca keeps going, voice steady and unrelenting.

“We were over long before Kai and I got together. You know that. I told you that. Multiple times. So stop pretending this is about me replacing you. This is about you not being able to let go. And I’m done letting you make Kai feel like he’s less because of it.”

He glances at me for a second, eyes softening just a fraction, then looks back at her.

“You were important to me once. But that’s done. Kai is my boyfriend. He’s not going anywhere. And if you can’t respect that, then you don’t belong here.”

Whitney stands frozen, face pale, eyes glassy with hurt and anger. For a moment, she looks like she might argue, but something in Luca’s expression must stop her.

Beth gently but firmly guides her the rest of the way to the gate.

The moment the gate clicks shut behind them, the patio falls quiet again.

Luca exhales and sits back down, immediately pulling me against his side like he needs the contact.

“You okay?” he asks, voice softer now.

I nod, leaning into him. The sting of Whitney’s words is still there, but it feels smaller with Luca’s arm around me and his quiet defense still ringing in my ears.

“Yeah,” I say. “I’m good.”

He presses a kiss to the top of my head, lingering for a second.

“She’s wrong,” he murmurs. “You’re not convenient. You’re mine. And I’m yours.”

I close my eyes and let the words settle all of the slowly healing parts of my soul.

THIRTY-TWO

LUCA

Morning comes slowly.

It’s a gray morning, but Kai is still asleep in my arms, curled against my chest like he belongs there, and that’s all I need. He’s still asleep, if his breathing is any indication, one leg thrown over mine holding me in place, while his hand rests loosely on my stomach.

The sheets are tangled around us, and the faint scent of last night’s shower and sex still clings to us both.