Chapter 58: Come Bearing Gifts
I whipped my head toward him and raised my switchblade, ready to fucking stab him.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Ease up on the blade, will ya? You’ll take someone’s ass—I mean eye out."
This double idiot was smirking.
The sound of soft meows made me freeze instantly. I turned toward my ragdolls poking around the bag Luca came with.
"No, no, no! Don’t do that!" I scurried to them, dropping to my knees.
Boba pushed out the sweater with his paws. Sweater?
Checking the bag, I found many others in there, all their sizes, at least most of them were, like it was sorted out for all options.
"I told you I came bearing gifts."
I veered my eyes to Luca, bewilderment plastered all over my face.
Is this why he came here?
"So! How about you tell me what the other cutie’s name is... or should I guess?" He got up, and my heartbeat raced.
The urge to charge at him with my switchblade bordered on me, not until he sat on the floor and scooped Coco up in his arms. "Coco?"
My lips parted, but words didn’t reach me.
"Seems like I’m right. I think I have something in there." He turned the bag upside down, and more shirts and sweaters, along with treats, fell out. Lots of them.
"There!" He smiled. "There’s more from where that comes from."
"Why are you doing this?" I asked sternly.
"What?" He looked genuinely confused to the point that it made me the weird one.
"Here in my room... bringing clothes, treats, and holding my baby."
I’m scared out of my mind at that thought right now because it was almost as if he was gonna squish him and turn him into a pile of blood.
"Because I love them."
Horror gripped me as I snatched Coco away from him.
"Y-You threatened to break my legs."
"Oh, that..." He scratched the back of his head. "My bad. Won’t happen again, I promise."
I didn’t even know if I should believe him or punch him in the face. That day was still heavily ingrained in my head. I was literally traumatized.
"Now... lemme rephrase the question." He gave me a goofy smile. "What got you worked up? I know it’s not me because you could’ve stabbed me with that the first chance you got."
"Yes, I could’ve stabbed you because you broke into my room. Make sense?"
"You didn’t answer, and I was worried."
"Worried? You—"
My stomach growled. Fuck! I haven’t had anything to eat.
"Do you have a wild animal here?"
I shot him a look, and he raised his hands defensively. "Just saying... can’t blame me if it sounds like one."
I rolled my eyes, standing to my feet as I carried Coco to their spot.
"Come Boba..."
He followed, and I tucked them in their house, packed up the stuff Luca brought before I headed for the door.
"You... out."
He did as he was told, and I locked the door.
"Where are we going?" he asked, literally pouting. "I was hoping I could spend more time with Coco and Boba. Is it okay if I have a favorite? I love Coco more; he’s like a fluffy chocolate."
I raised my key at him, my patience at its edge, but what exactly am I gonna do about that? For all I knew, he could easily snap me like a twig if he wanted, but that didn’t stop me.
"If this door hadn’t locked? I would’ve shoved this right up your dick."
"Ooo, scary! Good thing I’m safe then, sis."
"Get lost."
I walked, and he followed despite my attempts to get him away. I don’t get him at all. What’s his deal?
This was a complete contrast to the same person from weeks ago; now I barely recognize him as one of the terror twins the rumors talked about beating their victims to death.
Luca kept close to me all the way to the kitchen like some three-month-old puppy. Even when I started prepping myself something to eat, he casually sat on the stool, engaging in all kinds of conversation.
Asking why I love blue so much, my favorite movie... he stuck with that end when I didn’t reply to him and kept listing all kinds to grab my attention.
"What’s your problem?" I got fed up and asked. "If you’re doing this to see Coco and Boba, again... the answer is no."
"Aww, come on! I brought treats. I was thinking about spending quality time with them, you know. I have a lot of free time today."
"Shouldn’t you be with your brother or something?"
Luca shrugged. "Not today."
I let out a sigh, finishing up with cooking. I may have made too much, and against my better judgment, I served two plates of my special garlic butter pasta, with slices of chicken arranged on the side.
"Damn! That smells yummy. What did you make?"
I walked back to the counter and slid his plate to him. He paused for a while as if he didn’t expect me to.
Well, champ, neither did I.
"What? I didn’t wanna waste food."
I took my fork and began eating while he just sat there, staring at the food like it was an otherworldly thing.
"I’ll just keep it for Cynthia then."
"I never said I didn’t want it..." He swooped the plate away before I could reach for it.
"Thought so..." I went back to eating, but with little bites, eyeing as Luca fished out his phone and took a photo.
What’s he gonna do with it? Put it up at a museum or something? He was obviously beaming with that look.
Finally, he took a fork and ate, moaning as he closed his eyes.
"I have spent years in this manor eating anything the cooks make, but this...?" He pointed the fork at this dish. "This is fucking awesome!"
Heat rushed to my face, forcing me to turn away.
Cooking has been one of the things I loved doing aside from ballet. The main reason I did it was for Jacob, yet he never complimented me like this and simply told me it’s good, and I would beam with joy anyway.
Any glimpse of appreciation meant the world to me, no matter how little it was. But seeing Luca like this? Eating as if he couldn’t get enough, as he just kept praising me.
It was a strange feeling. I don’t think I have ever been this appreciated.
Wait... Where did that come from?
"S-Shut up, it’s just food," I grumbled, avoiding his gaze.
