Jimmy woke Luca up the next morning, but Luca was struggling. "Damn, I can't even wake up on time. If I were back on the island, I'd have been up at dawn." Jimmy just chuckled. "Come on, let's join the others. Sarah made breakfast."
Downstairs, things were still awkward. Sarah eventually pulled Jimmy aside, demanding an explanation. To stop her from panicking about the werewolves, Jimmy leaned in and kissed her. He didn't see Luca passing the door, his heart breaking at the sight. Luca tried to leave with Amy, but Jimmy and Sarah tracked them down at a convenience store and brought them back.
The next day, while the girls were out, Jimmy took Luca to his family's massive mansion. Luca was stunned by the wealth, even asking if Jimmy was a prince. After a lunch of Luca's favorite beef, Jimmy took him to a club. After three shots of alcohol, the sheltered werewolf was completely wasted.
Jimmy eventually found a drunk Luca in a bathroom with a guy trying to take advantage of him. After punching the guy, Jimmy took Luca to a nearby room. Luca was stumbling, his heart on his sleeve. "Don't I look cute?" Luca whispered, his eyes glassy with tears. "Why don't you love me? Why did you kiss her in front of me? I was so jealous... I loved you so much, but you don't seem to cherish it."
Jimmy looked at the crying boy. "Silly boy," he whispered. "I hope you don't forget every word you've spoken today." Jimmy kissed him softly before bathing him and putting him to bed.
When Luca woke up the next day, his memory was a total blank. "What was that stuff you gave me? I can't remember anything after going on the stage."
Jimmy chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh, you didn't do much. Except... who was that guy you kissed yesterday?"
Luca's eyes went wide. "Me? Kissed a guy? No way. I don't remember doing that!"
They drove back to Sarah's house, where Amy was buzzing with excitement. Sarah had taught her how to cook "human" food, and she proudly served up a feast. "It's so good, Amy," Luca said, genuinely impressed.
In the middle of the meal, Sarah dropped a bombshell. "Jimmy, I'm back with my ex."
"Really?" Jimmy asked, surprised.
Amy nodded happily. "Yes! We met him at the store. Isn't it good news?"
"When he hurts you, don't come crying to me," Jimmy joked, but Luca didn't hear him. Luca was internally dancing. The rival was gone.
Later that night, the house settled into a peaceful quiet. Jimmy found Luca in the guest room, looking happier than he'd ever seen him. "Why have you been so happy all day?" Jimmy asked.
"Nothing! I just feel like being happy. I've never been to a place like that club. I want to go out again!"
"No way," Jimmy laughed. "You can't even hold your alcohol. No thank you."
Luca lay down, ready for sleep. Jimmy looked at him. "So... you really don't remember kissing anyone at the club?"
"No," Luca said firmly. "Goodnight."
Jimmy watched him drift off and sighed to himself. "What a fool. I thought you would remember." Later that night, Jimmy went downstairs for water. When he returned, he found himself standing over the bed, staring at Luca's sleeping face with an intensity that surprised him. Damn, what is wrong with me? he thought, trying to shake the feeling. Focus, jimmy left the room
That night, back at Sarah's, the air felt thick enough to choke on. Jimmy lay on the sofa in the living room, staring at the ceiling, but his ears were tuned to the guest room where Luca was sleeping. Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle of the sheets felt like a physical pull on Jimmy's heart.
He couldn't get the image of Luca in the hotel room out of his head. He kept replaying the way Luca had looked up at him. vulnerable, messy, and completely honest. "Why don't you love me?" The question echoed in the quiet house, making Jimmy's skin itch with a desperate need. He was starving for that honesty again. He wanted to feel the weight of Luca's hands on him, the heat of a kiss that Luca would actually remember.
Jimmy sat up, running his hands through his hair. He felt like a caged animal. He was the one who knew the truth, and it was eating him alive. He wanted to walk into that guest room, crawl onto that bed, and finish what they had started. but he couldn't. Not while Luca was sober and clueless. It felt like a delicious, agonizing torture.
The next morning, the kitchen was small and crowded. Luca was already there, leaning against the counter as he waited for Amy and Sarah to finish making tea. He looked so effortless, his hair messy from sleep, wearing one of Jimmy's old t-shirts that was just a bit too tight across his shoulders.
Jimmy walked in and froze. The scent of the woods and the rain. Luca's scent hit him instantly. He felt a sharp pang of desire so strong it made his stomach flip. He wanted to reach out and touch the bare skin of Luca's arm just to see if he was as warm as he remembered.
"Morning, Jimmy," Luca said, giving him a small, innocent smile. "You look like you didn't sleep at all. Are the sofas here that bad?"
"I'm fine," Jimmy rasped, his voice sounding tight and strained. He avoided Luca's eyes, focusing instead on pouring a glass of water, but his hands were trembling slightly.
"You're acting weird again," Luca said, stepping closer. Because the kitchen was small, Luca was suddenly right in his space. "Did I really do something that bad at the club? You've been looking at me like you're... I don't know, angry? Or like you're looking for something."
Jimmy set the glass down with a loud clack. He turned to face Luca, his gaze dropping to Luca's lips for a split second before snapping back up. The "hunger" was screaming in his ears. He wanted to pin Luca against the counter and remind him exactly why he was looking at him that way.
"I'm not angry, Luca," Jimmy whispered, his eyes dark and intense. He reached out, his hand hovering near Luca's neck, his fingers itching to dive into that thick hair. He let his knuckles brush against Luca's jawline, just a ghost of a touch, but it felt like an electric shock to Jimmy's system.
Luca's breath hitched. He didn't pull away; instead, his eyes searched Jimmy's, a look of confused heat beginning to cloud his expression. For a moment, the kitchen, the tea, and the girls in the next room didn't exist. There was only the sound of their breathing.
"Then what is it?" Luca whispered, his voice low.
"You'll figure it out," Jimmy said, his voice thick with a yearning he could barely contain. He pulled his hand back, clenching it into a fist to stop the shaking. "I'm going out for a walk. I need some air."
He practically bolted out the back door, leaving a stunned and breathless Luca standing alone in the kitchen. Jimmy leaned against the outside wall, closing his eyes as he took in the cold morning air. He was starving, and he didn't know how much longer he could keep himself from taking a bite. He wish he could hold Luca and kiss him at that moment.