Array
(
[text] =>

Luca hated surprises.

Not because he didn't like nice things—he did.

Not because he was ungrateful—he wasn't.

It was just that Damien's definition of a "surprise" usually meant some dramatic, over-the-top nonsense that made Luca want to both swoon and punch him in the face.

So when Damien refused to tell him where they were going, simply dragging him into the car with a smug look, Luca knew he was in for some bullshit.

"Are we going to die?" Luca asked flatly.

Damien, eyes still on the road, grinned.

"Not today, sweetheart."

Luca groaned.

After forty minutes of driving (and Luca aggressively questioning him), Damien finally pulled into a secluded property.

It was beautiful—tall trees lined the entrance, the path winding through a private garden filled with twinkling fairy lights.

Luca narrowed his eyes.

"What is this?"

Damien turned to him, smirk still in place. "You'll see."

Luca followed him inside, stomach twisting with nerves—until he stepped through the doors and stopped.

His breath hitched.

"Oh my god."

It was a glass-ceiling observatory.

A massive, stunning space, open to the night sky, with candle-lit tables and a private dinner set up just for them.

Soft music played in the background, the warm glow of fairy lights making the entire place feel dreamlike.

Luca blinked rapidly.

"You—" He turned to Damien, still processing. "You did all this?"

Damien tilted his head, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

"Is that a swoon?"

Luca scowled. "It's not a swoon."

Damien leaned closer, voice dropping to a low murmur.

"Are you sure?"

Luca absolutely refused to shiver.

"I—Shut up."

Damien laughed, grabbing Luca's hand and pulling him toward the table.

Luca wasn't stupid.

He knew Damien was trying to make him melt.

And, goddammit, it was working.

The food was his favorites. Every single dish had been personally selected for him.

Luca picked up his fork, chewing carefully. "This is suspiciously good."

Damien smirked. "So you're saying I did a great job?"

Luca, despite himself, smiled.

"...Maybe."

Damien's grin widened.

"Damn. Almost got a swoon."

Luca threw a napkin at him.

Halfway through the meal, Damien leaned back, watching him.

Luca, raising a brow, paused. "What?"

Damien reached into his pocket.

And pulled out a small box.

Luca's heart stopped.

"Wait—"

Damien flicked it open.

Inside was a gold bracelet.

Simple, elegant, with a tiny charm shaped like a star.

Luca stared.

Damien's voice was soft.

"I saw this and thought of you."

Luca's throat tightened.

"...Damien."

"I know you don't like flashy things," Damien murmured, carefully sliding the bracelet onto Luca's wrist. "But I wanted you to have something from me. Something you'd wear every day."

Luca swallowed. Hard.

"You—You absolute bastard."

Damien smirked. "That a swoon?"

Luca glared.

Then promptly hid his face in his hands.

"I hate you."

Damien only laughed.

"Love you too, sweetheart."

And, yeah.

Luca was definitely swooning.

[text_hash] => aba083a5
)