I woke up slowly, the heaviness of sleep still clinging to me, but the first thing I noticed wasn’t the morning light—it was warmth. A deep, steady warmth that wrapped around me and made me feel safe in a way I hadn’t felt in so long. My cheek was pressed against something firm but soft at the same time, and it only took a moment for me to realize I was lying on Luca’s chest.

For a second, I just stayed still, not moving, almost afraid that if I shifted too much this moment would vanish ...