I don't do dates
Aria's POV
So... This wasn't exactly how I had planned it to be.
Well, I didn't plan it, but it wasn't how I thought it would turn out.
I mean... Luca had permitted me to leave the mansion. Just for a few hours... Maybe because I have promised to be back.
And that night, I dreamed of freedom.
Without having to constantly look behind... And the crazy thing was, Luca's death or imprisonment wasn't attached to the dream like my usual ones were.
I guess I was still floating in that dreamy bubble up until this morning when this car stopped in front of me. Luca came out of it, that was when the bubble popped.
What else would I expect?
If he just let me go like that, he would be a complete idiot... And that was one thing he wasn't.
"Why are you so quiet?" Luca suddenly spoke, bringing us out of my surprisingly not awkward moment.
I was too busy with my thoughts to feel how weird it should have been to be in the car with him.
I turned to look at him, a brow raised. His gaze was also on me.
"You were like this the last time too." He added.
Last time?
It took a second, but it came back to me. That day... That party.
Yeah... I was quiet too.
"That time is different," I answered, my lips forming a small smile as I remember that day.
Nothing really funny happened. At least it wasn't funny to me that day... But thinking back at it...
I was a bit delusional.
"...I was seated at the front seat, I was still very mad at you, and... You did make me leave the house dressed in pajamas."
Argh.... That disgrace was going to stick with me for a very long time.
Even after my plan has been accomplished. Except maybe if I never return to that gathering again, which would probably be the case.
All those who stood and watched as I was humiliated. They didn't care to know that I was forcefully taken away from my father... On my wedding day.
My father...
My smile disappeared as I thought of that cruel man.
He completely forgot me. Even when I stood in front of him and called out my name, he didn't know who I was.
I was still deep in my thoughts when I suddenly felt warm air on my neck. The hairs on my hair stood up instantly, and I froze.
Luca.
My breathing hitched.
What was he doing?
"So..." He breathed on my neck. "You're not mad at me again?"
I gulped.
Luca was so fucking close to me. What was he doing?
Thankfully, there were a few inches to the left of the door, so I shifted, creating space between myself and Luca before turning around. He had a small smirk on his face.
Almost as though he had expected me to distance myself.
Stabilizing my breath... I scoffed, trying to sound unaffected by what he was doing to me a few seconds ago.
"You wish." I gulped down again. My voice shook slightly, but I hid it well.
I think.
"I don't think I can ever not be mad at you," I said it jokingly, but I meant that statement. There was no way in this world I could ever forgive Luca for what he did to me. For what he had done to other people - Noel's mother, Marcus... And lots more
Never.
Not even if my heart feels as though it wants to jump out of my chest whenever I'm with him.
Not even if my emotions get conflicted, and my body responds to his every action.
No.
I will never forgive him.
Luca's smirk slowly disappeared, his lips forming a straight smile. He could sense how serious my statement was.
Good.
He stared at me for a few seconds... No, rather we stared at each other without saying a word. I wanted to look away from him, but it was as though his gaze had me locked.
Those black eyes of his I used to think held no emotions now had multiple emotions swimming through them.
One of which I could name was pain.
My words hurt him?
Suddenly, he blinked, and it felt as though hr hold he had on me was gone. Luca then turned to the window, staring at it.
I thought we were going to return to the silence... Peaceful ride we had before... Not like that was possible after what I said and how he reacted to it.
But we could try.
Instead, Luca spoke again. "Where do you want to go?" He asked.
Where did I want to go?
I also turned to the other window, staring outside just like Luca.
But...
I was just noticing this. The windows were tinted. It didn't look that way from afar until I went close. It was then that I noticed that I couldn't see what was going on outside.
And.. I turned to look at Luca who was still staring at the window.
Neither could he.
So what was he staring at?
Was he that intent on not letting me know the part of the world that the mansion was in?
I rolled my eyes. "But it does beats wearing a sack over my head," I mumbled to myself.
"What?" Luca turned to me, his face looked a bit confused.
"Nothing." I shook my head.
He wasn't meant to hear that.
And from the looks of it, he didn't hear.
"I asked where you want to go." He repeated.
I still hadn't gotten any answer to that question yet in my head, so I answered honestly.
"I don't know," I said with a small shrug. "I was only thinking of leaving your mansion, I didn't really think of where I want to go."
"Okay, the mansion was that suffocating?" Luca smirked, raising his brows. I nodded almost immediately. "You have no idea."
Luca chuckled.
His pearly whites peeped from under my mouth.
I was a bit mesmerized by his look.
Everything I fully looked at him, I couldn't help but admit how good-looking he was.
Especially when he laughed.
But no. I shook my head, shaking the thoughts of Luca being gorgeous out.
'Get hold of yourself Aria.'
I shut my eyes for a second, casting the thoughts out before opening them again.
'You cannot fall for his face, Aria, you can't!' my subcompact reminded me, and I mentally nodded, agreeing to it.
It took almost a minute, but I got over his looks... Or maybe it was because he had stopped laughing and was now looking at me as though I was a crazy person.
"So." I cleared my throat loudly to gain his attention. "Where do you take your dates to?"
"I don't do dates, neither do I do dating." Came Luca's honest answer.
I scoffed.
Classic mafia rich billionaire guy.
Of course, they don't do dates. Why date one person when you can sleep with ten at once!
"Alright. Em... " I pressed my lips, thinking.
We couldn't keep driving around now, could we?
Where do I want to go?
Yes!
An idea struck me.
My lips curved to form a smile. "How about the mall?"