Sofia
Half of the rooftop has always been the pool and wet bar, and the other half has a fireplace and pit with lounge seating and tiki torches. But at some point, the part of the roof dedicated to the fireplace and lounge has been transformed.
The fireplace is lit, crackling merrily, and all of the seating has been removed. Instead, there’s a thick rug spread out over the wood surface of the deck, with an iron café-style table and two chairs set on it. There are candles in the center and place settings ready for the guests to sit. All around the fireplace and surrounding the edge of the deck, planter boxes full of flowers have been brought in so that there’s an explosion of color. The air is full of the scent of them, the entire scene lit up by twinkling fairy lights strung all around. It looks like the pictures I’ve seen of outdoor Parisian cafes, except this one is just for us.
Just for Luca and me.
He’s standing by the fireplace, dressed immaculately in a bespoke suit, and I can hear string music playing faintly from somewhere. He smiles as I manage, somehow, to start walking towards him despite my utter shock.
I was right, after all. This is the most ridiculous, fairytale-like, over-the-top date I could possibly have imagined. It’s not dinner and a movie, for sure. But I don’t care. I feel completely blown away, and when I stop in front of Luca, all I can do is stare up at him.
“You did all of this?” I manage finally, my voice a whisper. “For a—date?”
“Well, I had someone come in and do it,” Luca says, the corners of his eyes crinkling in a smile. “But yes. I told them what I wanted. Do you like it? And the dress?”
“Yes—yes, of course,” I manage. His green eyes are holding mine, an expression in them almost as if he’s hoping for my approval—which feels insane. Why would Luca care about whether or not I like any of this? He’s always seemed to be the kind of man who goes through life assuming that everyone around him is happy with everything he does. “It’s beautiful. The dress is beautiful.”
“Good.” Luca smiles and reaches for me, pulling me into his arms. I breathe in as I feel them go around me, pulling me up against his strong, hard body, and as he bends down to kiss me, my heart races in my chest.
His lips on mine feel electric, like a million sparks dancing over my skin, and I can’t help myself. I lean up, my arms sliding around his neck, all of my fears and doubts vanishing for the moment. I know they’ll come back, I know that nothing can change how wrong we are for each other, but at this moment, it’s impossible to stop. The smell of flowers and woodsmoke fills my nose, twinkling lights surrounding us as Luca’s hands smooth over the silk of my dress, and I can feel my blood heating with desire as his tongue traces over my lower lip, urging me to open my mouth and let him kiss me more deeply.
I’m gasping by the time he pulls back, the taste of his mouth still on my lips as I look up at him in a daze.
“Dinner will be served in a minute,” Luca says, taking my hand. I can feel my engagement ring pressing into his palm as he leads me towards the small table, the chairs situated so that we’re sitting next to each other instead of across from one another as we take our seats. I look around and catch a glimpse of a black-suited server discreetly across the deck by the wet bar, where he must be keeping the food.
Sure enough, as soon as we sit down, the server brings two small plates and sets them in front of us, along with a bottle of red wine. “Salad with spring greens, goat cheese, prosciutto, and a mustard vinaigrette,” he says in such a serious voice that I almost want to laugh, holding out the wine cork for Luca to sniff.
It’s every bit a five-star restaurant experience—but on a private rooftop, all to ourselves. “This is just like the outdoor restaurants I wanted to go to in Paris,” I say softly as I pick up my fork. “It’s like something out of a movie or a fairy tale.”
“I know,” Luca says, glancing over at me. “I asked Ana what an ideal date for you would be, considering our—limitations right now. What I could possibly do without leaving the apartment. And she told me about your plans to go to Paris after graduation. Plans which, of course, our marriage ruined.”
He sounds almost apologetic. I can’t quite wrap my head around it as he pours the wine for us, the lights glinting off of the glass as he hands it to me. “So you tried to bring Paris to me?” It sounds ridiculous, but after all, why not? Luca has more money than God. He can do anything he wants. And for some reason, after everything, he decided he wanted to do this for me.
“Yes.” Luca watches me for a moment. “I’ve never done this before, you know.”
I blink at him, momentarily confused. “Have dinner on a rooftop?”
“No.” Luca laughs. “Go on a date.”
“What?” To be fair, I’ve only ever been on a few, but I know Luca’s past. He’s slept with more women than an army of men, and he’s never been on a date? “How is that possible?”
“I don’t date,” he says simply. “I know you don’t want to hear about all the women I’ve been with. I’m not saying this to rub that in your face. But all of those women were ones I picked up. Someone I saw at a gala, who caught my eye at a bar, who sat across from me at the theater. I never had any trouble finding women who wanted to go out with me, but I’ve never taken one out on a date.”
“Not to dinner? Not out to drinks?” I can’t wrap my head around it. “This is seriously the first date you’ve ever been on?”
“Yes.”
Of all the things I’d thought he might say to me tonight, that hadn’t been one of them. “You know this isn’t exactly a normal date, right?”
“I guessed as much,” Luca smirks. “But I’m not a normal man.”
“I know.”Boy, do I ever.“So I was a virgin, and you were a virgin at—dating?” I laugh then. I can’t help it. “What a pair we make.”
“It could be worse.” Luca’s mouth twitches as he pushes my wine glass towards me. “Whatdoyou consider a normal date?”
“Dinner somewhere that isn’t too expensive. Burgers, maybe. A movie. Or depending on where the relationship is, pizza at home and watching something on tv. Or playing a board game, maybe.” I shrug. “At least, that’s what I’ve seen with Ana and her boyfriends. I’ve only ever been on a few dates. I’m not exactly an expert either.”
“Well. Maybe we can learn together.” Luca picks up his glass. “What should we toast to on our first date?”