“I’m sorry.” She rolled onto her back, putting some distance between us. “I know I’m making things hard for you.”
Grabbing her, I pulled her back against my side. “I’m always hard when you’re beside me.” I pressed my nose into her hair, enjoying her scent. “I’m used to it by now. I don’t mind having blue balls if I get to hold you.”
“Luca.” She tried to push me away. “Neither of us will be able to sleep if we’re this close. All I’ll think about is how much I want you.”
“Good. Think about it. Dream about me.” I wrapped my arms and legs around her, locking her in place. “But I’m not passing up the chance to fall asleep with you in my arms. Now, close those beautiful eyes. We have to see your dad in the morning, and I don’t want him thinking I kept you up all night.”
“But I’m…”
“Me too,” I murmured, kissing her cheek. “We’ll suffer together.”
Chapter 17
Violet
Dad came home from the hospital a few days later, but Uncle Drake had to stay for two more weeks. That meant he was still in there for Christmas, but that didn’t stop anyone from celebrating the holiday.
Instead of having Aunt Emmie’s normal Christmas Eve party at her house, we held it in the hospital and invited everyone on the floor to join us. Aunt Emmie supplied every nurse and other staff member with bags full of hundreds of dollars’ worth of gift cards for coffee, dinner, trips to the movies, and countless other places.
A tree was put up in Uncle Drake’s room, and a catered dinner was placed on tables in the hall outside his room. Christmas music echoed off the walls, and everyone was smiling by the end of the night. Just before midnight, Luca pulled me into the stairwell.
As soon as the door closed behind him, I jumped into his arms and kissed him. With the new year quickly approaching, I felt like time was getting away from us. It wouldn’t be long before he was in Alabama for school, and I wouldn’t be able to kiss him for months at a time.
The kiss went on for several minutes before he lifted his head. “I didn’t bring you in here for that,” he said with a grin. “But I’m not going to complain, babe.”
I pouted up at him then licked my kiss-swollen lips. “Then why did you bring me in here?”
“For this.” Setting me carefully on my feet, he pulled something out of his pants pocket.
Seeing the small velvet box, I covered my mouth with my fingers to hold back my gasp. “Luca.”
“Shh,” he murmured. “It’s not an engagement ring. Your dad would kill me if I asked you to marry me right now. You have to finish high school, and then I’ll ask him for permission to marry you.” Opening the box, he showed me a thin band with diamonds in an infinity symbol. It wasn’t flashy, but it sparkled in the overhead light, mesmerizing me just as easily as his eyes did.
Grasping my right hand, he slipped it onto my ring finger. “I love you, Violet. I promise to love, cherish, and protect you. No matter what. You are my soul, the reason my heart beats. Wear this ring, and show the world that you are mine.”
“The world already knows,” I whispered, blinking back tears. “But I’ll never take it off.”
Bending his head, he kissed the ring on my finger then my lips. “The next few years are going to be hell. I’m not even going to pretend they won’t be. Being away from you is going to be the worst kind of torture, but I swear, in the end it will be worth it. When it’s over, no one can keep us apart. Not some stupid law. Not your dad or mine. We will have everything we ever dreamed about.”
“I’m willing to go through anything because no matter what, I’ll get to be yours at the end of it.” I leaned into him, my fingers brushing over his hair.
“You’re already mine,” he breathed at my ear. “My Violet. My forever.”
The sound of the door opening had him slowly lifting his head. Turning, we found Mom in the doorway. “Time to go, I’m afraid,” she said with a smile. “Dad’s ready to head home.”
“Two more minutes?” I begged shamelessly.
She glanced behind her, then nodded. “But hurry. I’ll push the guys toward the elevator.”
As soon as she was gone, I threw my arms around Luca’s neck and kissed him. “In a few years, I’ll be waking up with you beside me on Christmas morning, not having to steal a kiss so my dad doesn’t kill you.” One more kiss, and then I stepped back. “I love you.”
He rubbed his thumb over my bottom lip. “I love you too.”
He walked me to the elevators where Mom and Dad were waiting with Mason. The lights reflected off my promise ring, catching Dad’s eye. “What’s this?”
“My pr
omise to love Violet until the end of time,” Luca told him when their gazes locked.