36 New Rules

Emma.

I could not believe my eyes. Had Aldo somehow called Luca after our discussion? I did not know how to feel or what to say. All kinds of emotions ran through me, and I was speechless.

"Emma," he said, breaking the silence, and I just stared in shock. He walked up to me. His eyes looked lost and tormented. He had beards now. He did not look like someone who was taking care of himself. His eyes were sunken as if he had not slept in days. The light that used to sparkle in his eyes was gone.

"Hello, Luca," I said, and he hugged me tightly.

"Emma," he breathed, taking in my scent; tears welled up in my eyes. I was angry. I pushed him off me. I did not mean to, but that was how my body reacted at that moment. I looked around, and it was just the three of us. Me, him and Katya. Somehow I suspected Aldo planned this.

"Emma," he said again, and I wiped away my tears and tried to speak. I wanted to sound indifferent. I had rehearsed how I would behave if I saw him again, but why was my b