Luca

“No! We are not going there. Just get out Chloe, go back to Freddie. You both look pretty cosy lately, I’m sure he can pick up where I left off.”

My blood, which was boiling and simmering nicely exploded like a volcano.

“You absolute fucking asshole. How dare you bring Freddie into this! He’s my oldest friend, your brother, and he’s shown more compassion to me in the few days he’s been here than you ever have.”

“Funny that, you think that’s because he wants to be a good friend or is it because he wants to get into your panties? Don’t be so naïve Chloe.”

“Coming from you who thinks it’s perfectly fine to invite random women back to the house the day after you fucked me, that’s rich. Tell me, if I hadn’t come down that night and ruined your little intimate party for two would you have gone through with it? Would you have fucked her here, with me sleeping under the same roof?”

He sat back down in his chair and knocked back the whisky in one gulp then poured himself some more.

“No I wouldn’t. I might be an asshole but I’m not that vindictive.” He glared at me now.

“You are so clueless you know that.” I walked over to the other side of the desk and placed my palms flat on the surface then bent down to meet his eyes.

“You think I’m spending time with Freddie because I’m attracted to him? Are you for real?”

“You’ve always had a connection, I’ve always seen it. I used to watch the two of you most nights when we were kids, lying on the grass looking at the damn stars. Tell me, why didn’t you ever kiss him back then? I know he wanted you, he still does.” The scowl never left his face as he threw out his accusations.

“Oh my God can you hear yourself! You have no clue what you’re saying. You’re deluded! You don’t know the first thing about Freddie and me.”

“I know you have private jokes, you were always thick as thieves back then, and it’s getting like that now. Every time I walk into the house you’re draped all over him or he’s pawing all over you.”

“You’re jealous. You’re jealous of your own brother and you’re so blinded by that you can’t even see the truth can you.”

His eyes bored into mine now. “So enlighten me then, tell me what’s going on.”

“He’s gay Luca. Your brother is gay. Do you not know that?” The anger on his face fell away as his mouth fell open in complete and utter shock.

“He told me he was gay when he was thirteen, he confided in me all those years ago because he felt like he couldn’t tell you. I know why now, you never listen, you just see what you want to see.”

Luca sat painfully still, total disbelief playing over his face, he couldn’t take his eyes off mine.

“I…I don’t know what to say….why wouldn’t he tell me? That’s so….huge. I…” I started to feel sorry for him so I tried to help ease his guilt, not that he deserved it.

“He always looked up to you, he wanted to be just like you. But he thought you’d see it as a weakness. He didn’t want to be weak in your eyes.” I sighed and stood up away from the desk I’d been looming over. “He’ll probably kick my ass for telling you but to be honest he thinks you’ve already guessed and just won’t talk about it.”

“I had no idea.” He shook his head and downed another gulp of whisky.

“He’s been seeing a guy he met at a club for a few months now. It sounds like it’s getting serious so I hope you’re not gonna be a complete dick and start treating him different. He’s a good guy, the best. Don’t shut him out.”

“I would never do that. He’s my brother. I couldn’t give a fuck who he’s…fucking…as long as it’s not you.”

I ploughed on head first determined to get my answers.

“I can’t read you Luca. I have no idea what you want. One minute you’re being cold and pushing me away. Acting like the biggest dick on the planet. The next you’re leaving me notes and telling me things that leave me with a total head fuck. You need to stop the games and just be honest with me.”

He took a deep breath in and looked at me over his eye lashes.

“I make men fear me, in my job I have to make grown men fear me and yet you are the one thing that scares the hell out of me Chloe.”

“Why? What have I done?”

“I can’t read you either. I don’t know how to act around you. I feel like….if I say the wrong thing you’ll leave, so I don’t say anything.”

Finally we were getting somewhere.

“All you have to do is talk to me Luca. I’ll always give you the truth you know that.”