Bab 79: Chapter 79: Under the Covers
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Around 8 PM, Luca opened the door to his apartment on 43rd Street in downtown Manhattan.
These past few days, Kate had been flying around for her book signing events, leaving the 76th Street apartment empty and quiet. Since the place was too big and lonely for just one person, Luca had temporarily moved to Lima's place, beginning their cohabitation.
He took off his sneakers, hung up his trench coat, and quietly pushed open the bedroom door.
The main light in the bedroom wasn't on, only the soft orange glow of the bedside lamp filled the room, casting a warm and cozy atmosphere.
Under the light, Lima was leaning against two pillows, intensely focused on playing a video game.
Hearing him come in, she lifted her head in surprise, her expression changing slightly. "Haha, honey, you're back!" she said while discreetly slipping the game console under the covers.
Luca smirked, "What are you hiding?"
"Nothing!"
Lima pulled her hands out from under the covers and patted the bed, trying to appear innocent but with a hint of impatience.
"Humph, you're always playing games. Watch out or you'll ruin your eyes," Luca teased.
"Oh, I know, I know, you nag too much!" Lima rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed. Suddenly, she grabbed his sleeve and sniffed, her expression changing.
"Luca, why do you smell like women's perfume? Be honest!"
She reached for a baseball bat.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Luca laughed helplessly. "I told you over the phone this afternoon. The crew had a gathering at the concert hall tonight. That place is always crowded. Isn't it normal to pick up a little perfume scent?"
"Really? Hmm, yeah, I think you did say that. Sorry, I forgot."
Lima scratched her head, then pushed him away, fanning her nose. "Coming back from a place like that, why didn't you shower before coming in? You smell terrible, you know?"
"I know," Luca replied.
"Then why didn't you take a shower?"
"Because if I came back all clean, you'd definitely suspect that I did something wrong and cleaned up to cover it up."
"Don't be ridiculous! Do you think I'm that petty?"
Lima blushed slightly and waved her hand dismissively. "Enough with the excuses. Go take a shower. You're not getting into bed without one."
"Fine, fine!"
Luca turned to leave, but after a few steps, he looked back. "And no more playing games!"
"I got it, I got it!" Lima quickly pulled her hands back out from under the covers.
After he closed the door, Lima stared at it for three seconds, then sighed and pulled out her game console.
"Ugh, damn it! I have to start over again."
Grumbling, Lima fiddled with the game console. If she had known a boyfriend would get in the way of her gaming progress, she would have never gotten one.
After playing a round of Street Fighter, Luca finished his shower and joined her. They played a few rounds of a more adult game together.
Around 10 PM, the moon outside was round and full, silently spilling its silver light. It layered the frost-covered windows, adding a romantic glow to the room.
"Luca..." Lima lay on his shoulder, her face flushed, speaking in a melancholic tone. "I... I might have to leave you."
"Mhm~" Luca lazily responded with his eyes half-closed.
"Luca, I said I might have to leave you!" Lima pinched his chest muscles, raising her voice.
Luca chuckled, "Okay, where are you going?"
"Ugh, I said I'm leaving you! Why aren't you nervous at all?" Lima asked, displeased.
"Haha, you? A lazy, clumsy woman like you? Even if I left you on the street, no one would take you. Where could you go without me?"
"Ugh, you're horrible! Luca, get up! I'm going to fight you!"
Lima sat up, her brown hair cascading around her, ready to fight for three hundred rounds.
"Stop it, it's freezing," Luca pulled her wrist and tucked her back under the covers.
The silly girl shivered under the blanket, hugging him and humming softly. "I've noticed, ever since Britney showed up, you've been caring less and less about me, boo hoo~"
Smack! Luca gave her a playful swat.
"Spit it out. Don't act like you've eaten a lemon. That's not like you."
Lima grinned and snuggled into his arms, secretly laughing for a while before lazily speaking again.
"Honey, the Paris and London Fashion Weeks are about to start in a few days. I'll be heading to Europe for about two weeks."
"Oh?" Luca remembered that Fashion Week had both Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer seasons. This year, New York and Milan were earlier, while Paris and London were in March.
"Honey, I'm going to miss you so much." Lima hugged his neck tightly.
"I'll miss you too," Luca said.
"I'll miss you more," Lima switched into romance mode.
Luca smirked. "Will you really miss me?"
"Of course!"
"Then, can you leave the game console behind?"
"Luca, you're such a jerk! I just said I'll miss you more, and you're talking about the game console? You know I love gaming just as much as I love you—no, wait, I love you and gaming. I can't bring you to Europe, so if I don't have games, how will I survive?!"
Lima pouted and lightly hit his chest.
"Okay, okay, I was just joking."
Luca quickly apologized and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Lima, have you ever thought about quitting the fashion industry?"
"I've thought about it. Do you think I actually enjoy walking the runway? Practicing catwalks and taking photos every day cuts into my game ti—uh, I mean, it takes time away from missing you. But if I stop being a model, what would I do?"
"I could take care of you."
"You?" Lima poked his chin playfully. "You're just a male model yourself, still relying on Kate. Can you really support me?"
Luca laughed. "Nonsense! I have two endorsement deals worth over a million, plus I write scripts, books, and act in movies. I can earn a lot of money!"
"Well, I don't want you to take care of me. The person I am now is the real me—the one you love. If you support me, that wouldn't be me anymore, and you wouldn't love that version of me. I don't want to become someone you'd hate."
Lima murmured in his arms, her tone sincere.
Luca sighed. Having an independent girlfriend was sometimes a real headache.
"Lima, I've saved up some money. How about we start a business together? Do you like fashion? We could create a clothing brand, or maybe start a modeling school or an agency?"
"Emmm~ No, not for now. We don't have the money, the experience, or the connections. It's all just a pipe dream. Maybe in a couple of years."
Before he could say anything else, Lima gave him a quick kiss on the corner of his lips and smiled. "Honey, I know what you're worried about. You don't want me to keep modeling because you're afraid I'll cheat on you, right?"
Luca smirked. That time they went shopping in Hearst Plaza, he explained to her what "wearing the green hat" meant. He hadn't expected her to still remember.
"I'm not. Do you really think I'm that insecure?"
"Hmph, what do you think?" Lima teased, nuzzling her forehead against his chin. "I know you're possessive. Lately, I've turned down a lot of private parties and private runway shows, and I've been rejecting some of the more revealing jobs. From now on, I'll only do big-name shows. And when I go to events, I'll always have an assistant with me. Does that make you feel better?"
"Emmm~ Fine!"
Maybe he should hire her a bodyguard when he got the chance.
"Hah! You said you weren't possessive just now. Look at you!" Lima smirked up at him, her lips curved playfully and her blue-gray eyes filled with mischief.
"Whatever. Let's just sleep," Luca said, pulling the blanket over both of them.
"Ah, stop it~ Your back!"
"It's fine now!"
Night deepened, silence fell, and the moon grew fuller. When the morning star rose, it would be a new day.
(End of Chapter)
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