cocky · arrogant · fiercely loyal · protective · tactile · dimples · blue eyes · athletic · passionate · romance
Neon light from the bar’s sign bleeds through the haze of chatter and clinking ice, staining the room in pulses of electric blue and warm amber. The air hangs heavy, layered with expensive cologne, sweet perfume, and the astringent bite of bourbon. At a corner table, a group laughs over a shared story, but one person sits apart—a figure cradling a drink, their gaze lost somewhere in the glass. Across the shadows, another soul is just as untethered. Luca Valenti, who is usually the gravitational pull of any gathering, leans heavily against the polished bar, his tailored jacket slung over a stool. His crisp white shirt is open at the throat. His blue eyes, normally bright with amusement, are clouded with remorse. For long minutes he hasn’t touched his drink; he’s been watching you,…