A Couple In Public 

Emma 

I decide to leave Luca alone for hockey practice. I’m still annoyed by his reaction, but I don’t bring it up. It’s our first day as a couple, and he’s already managed to scare off another guy.

I spend the afternoon writing a chapter for my latest novel. After taking a shower, I start preparing dinner. Of course, I make enough for Luca too—not because I care about him, but because, as a kind-hearted person, I can’t stand knowing someone is going hungry when I can do something about it.

He can afford to order takeout. I’m sure that’s what he does every day. Just as I finish cooking, the apartment door opens and Luca walks in, immediately looking my way.

“Where have you been?” He drops his hockey gear on the floor. I don’t answer, pretending to stay busy with what I’m doing.

He walks over, stopping close enough that I have to look up at him. Our eyes meet, and his expression makes it clear he’s still waiting for an answer.

“I’m asking you something.” 

“I’ve been busy around the house, Luca. I’m not out there hanging out with random guys,” I taunt.

The moment I try to walk away, he catches my hand. His voice softens as he says, “Look, I know I shouldn’t have reacted that way. Honestly, I don’t care if you talk to some random guy. It’s just…you weren’t looking at me.”

“And?”

“It bothered me that you ignored me.”

I stare at him for a moment, trying to process what he just said, before a laugh escapes me. His confused expression only makes it harder to stop.

“What’s so funny?” he asks.

“You,” I say, still smiling.

Before either of us can continue, the doorbell rings. I glance toward the door.

“Have your dinner. I’ll see who it is.”

I walk over and open the door, only to find a familiar face standing on the other side.

“Is Luca home?” The pretty girl at the door gives me a polite smile.

I turn toward the apartment. “Luca! You have a guest.”

He walks over, but the moment he sees her, his expression changes. He clearly wasn’t expecting her.

“Lucy? What are you doing here?”

His eyes move between us, and I take the hint. Without asking questions, I head back into the kitchen.

A few minutes later, Luca closes the door behind her. I try to focus on my dinner, but I can’t help wondering what they talked about.

“She won’t come here again,” he tells me. “I guess.”

Before I can ask anything else, the doorbell rings again. We both look toward the door, and Luca heads over to answer it.

I casually take another bite of my sandwich, half-expecting another girl to be standing there.

Instead, I hear Luca say, “You have guests, Emma.”

I turn around to find Mia and Tina walking in with large boxes of food in their hands.

“Hello, Emma!” they both say cheerfully as they approach me. I’m surprised to see them at this hour.

Luca joins us for dinner when my friends offer him a slice of pizza. After eating, he leaves us to head back to his room.

Mia and Tina stay longer than I expect. Between the pizza and everything that happened today, I slowly start forgetting about the tension with Luca.

“So,” Mia says, reaching for another slice, “what are you doing tomorrow?”

“Probably staying home. Why?”

“Because Tina and I are going to the carnival tomorrow evening.”

Tina nods enthusiastically. “You’re coming with us.”

I hesitate. “I don’t know.”

“Emma,” Mia complains, “you’ve spent enough time dealing with hockey drama. Come out with us for a few hours.”

I glance toward Luca’s closed bedroom door before looking back at them. A few hours away from all of this doesn’t sound so bad.

“Fine. I’ll come.”

“Perfect.” Tina smiles. “We’ll pick you up tomorrow.”

We spend another couple of hours talking, eating, and laughing about everything except the fake relationship that has taken over my life. By the time they finally leave, I feel lighter than I have all day.

I clean up the kitchen and head to my room, already looking forward to having something normal to do tomorrow.

After changing into my pajamas, I pull back the covers and start getting ready for bed when a knock sounds against my door.

I turn around and see Luca is standing there.

“What?” I ask. 

“We have somewhere to be tomorrow.”

I frown. “Where?”

“There’s an important hockey event. The press will be there, and so will most of the school.” He leans against the doorframe. “We’re expected to show up together.”

I stare at him then I shake my head immediately. “I can’t.”

His expression tightens. “Why not?” 

“I already made plans.”

“What plans?” He frowns. 

“I’m going to the carnival with Mia and Tina.”

“Cancel them.”

I blink at him. “You seriously expect me to cancel plans with my friends because you have a hockey event?”

“This isn’t just a hockey event, Emma. The press will be there. People from the school will be there. We need to look like a real couple.”

“I’ve been pretending to be your girlfriend all day. Can’t I have one evening for myself?”

“Not tomorrow.”

His certainty irritates me.

“You don’t get to decide what I do with my time.”

“And you don’t get to decide when this arrangement matters.”

I fold my arms. “Then maybe you should have told me before I made plans.”

He goes quiet for a moment. “You’re cancelling.”

I let out a disbelieving laugh. “No, I’m not.”

The next morning, I stand in front of the mirror, checking my appearance before leaving my room. Luca is sitting on the couch, completely focused on his laptop, a cup of coffee in his hand.

“Is this fine?”

He looks up and slowly examines my dress before pursing his lips and shaking his head.

“The color doesn’t suit you.”

I clench my fists. “Luca, this is the last dress your team brought for me.”

He falls silent, sets his coffee aside, and gets to his feet. Taking my hand, he leads me back into my room.

Several dresses are spread across the bed. He studies them for a moment before picking up a knee-length dress and handing it to me.

“Try this.”

“Again?” I ask, exhausted and he gives me a firm nod.

Two hours later, I finally step out of my room.

Luca is already waiting in the lounge. The moment he sees me, his attention shifts completely to me, and he stares for a few seconds without saying anything.

I frown, unsure whether that look is a good sign.

“What?”

He lets out a low whistle. “I think you should keep this look forever and finally give those oversized hoodies a break.”

I purse my lips, trying not to let his compliment affect me.

We leave the apartment together, and as soon as I see the car waiting outside, I glance at him.

“Please tell me we’re not taking your stupid bike.”

“Hey! Don’t call my darling stupid.” He looks genuinely offended before opening the car door for me. “And no. Tonight, I’m taking you in something a little more appropriate.”

I climb into the back of the luxurious Rolls-Royce beside him, and soon we’re pulling up to the venue.

The moment we step out, camera flashes explode around us.

My nerves return instantly.

I’ve never attended anything like this before. The elegant venue, expensive cars, flashing cameras, and crowds of people dressed to impress make me suddenly aware of how out of place I feel.

Luca stays beside me as we approach the red carpet. When he notices my hesitation, he leans closer.

“Relax. Be confident.”

I take a breath and try to steady myself.

“Don’t worry,” he murmurs. “I’m here with you.”

The paparazzi immediately turn their cameras toward us.

Luca seems completely at ease.

His hand settles lightly at the small of my back as he guides me toward the university hockey team.

Coach spots us almost immediately.

“There you are.” His smile widens when he sees us together. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d actually make it.”

“We wouldn’t miss it,” Luca replies smoothly.

Coach looks at me before extending his hand. “Emma, you look lovely tonight.”

I shake his hand with a polite smile. “It’s nice to see you, Coach.”

Luca introduces me to a few of his teammates, and I quickly realize how many people already know about me. Some greet me warmly, while others look between Luca and me with barely disguised curiosity.

“This is Emma, my girlfriend.”

Every time Luca says it, something about the word catches me off guard.

I force myself to smile, slipping my hand into his whenever someone looks our way. If we’re going to convince everyone, I might as well play the part properly.

“So you’re the famous Emma,” one of his teammates says with a grin.

I laugh. “I’m not sure I’d call myself famous.”

“You are now.”

Luca chuckles beside me, and I glance up at him.

“She’s modest,” he says.

I give him a sweet smile. “Someone has to be.”

His eyes narrow slightly, but there’s amusement behind them.

I don’t know when it happens, but after a while I stop thinking about every move. I laugh when I’m supposed to, stay close to Luca when people are watching, and even rest my hand on his arm when someone asks for a picture.

Judging by the looks we’re getting, I’m doing a better job than I expected.

Luca seems to notice too.

He leans closer while another group of students walks past us. “You’re getting good at this.”

I keep my smile in place. “I told you I could pretend.”

Before he can answer, a reporter approaches with a camera crew behind him.

“Luca, Emma, can I get a few words?”

Luca nods, and I immediately straighten.

The reporter smiles at us. “Everyone’s been talking about the two of you. How did you meet?”

I turn toward Luca, expecting him to give some simple answer about school or hockey.

Instead, he looks at me…there is something warm in his expression that makes me forget we’re surrounded by cameras.

“We met when Emma came to one of our games,” he says.

I blink.

That isn’t how we met.

“She was sitting in the stands, trying very hard not to look impressed.”

I stare at him.

The reporter laughs. “And did you approach her?”

“Eventually.” Luca’s mouth curves into a smile. “I noticed her before she noticed me. After the game, I found an excuse to talk to her.”

My eyebrows rise.

He continues without hesitation, making the entire story sound effortless.

“She didn’t make it easy. She thought I was arrogant.”

I almost choke on my own breath.

The reporter laughs again. “And what changed her mind?”

Luca looks down at me.

“She realized I wasn’t going anywhere.”

My heart gives an unexpected little stumble and for a second, I forget to play along.

His story is completely made up, yet the way he tells it makes me almost believe it actually happened.

The reporter seems delighted.

“So, Luca, would you say it was love at first sight?”

Luca glances at me, and that same teasing warmth returns to his eyes.

“I’d say I knew she was trouble the moment I saw her.”

I finally recover enough to smile.

“That’s not exactly romantic,” I whisper.

He leans closer, keeping his expression perfectly charming for the cameras.

“You’re still standing beside me, aren’t you?”

Before I can answer, the reporter grins.

“One last thing. Since this is your first public appearance as a couple, could we get a kiss for the cameras?”