Chapter 16: A Real Apology
The door clicked open, and Luca hesitated on the threshold, holding guilt in one hand and a crinkled plastic bag in the other.
The familiar scent of fabric softener and someone’s strong coffee filled the air. Noel was stretched out on his bed, laptop resting on his stomach, headphones in but not fully on.
Luca stepped in, kicked the door shut with his heel, then hovered in the middle of the room.
He cleared his throat.
Noel didn’t look up.
Luca walked over, dropping the bag of snacks on the edge of Noel’s bed. "I got you these," he said, casual, like it was no big deal.
Noel lifted one side of his headphones, eyes flicking to the bag but not reaching for it. "What’s that supposed to be?"
"A peace offering," Luca said with a small smirk. "Come on, your favorite chips. And that weird mango candy you always steal from me."
Noel exhaled through his nose. "You think you can just trash the room, vanish all night, then come back and throw snacks at the problem?"
Luca shoved his hands in his pockets. "I didn’t vanish. I just—went out."
"You didn’t even say anything," Noel sat up now, eyes locked on him.