It’s no secret Tav and Luca are going out. After the accident, it’s also no secret that new kid Jack Collins has a raging case of homophobia, and is not best pleased about having given the kiss of life to a gay guy. Either Luca quits swimming, or Jack is going to make him.<br><br>Tav favours the tried-and-true method of knocking Jack’s teeth down his neck, only he can’t really afford another school suspension. Luca favours just ignoring him, only ignoring a penknife being held to your throat at New Year’s Eve is downright stupid.<br><br>Thing is, Luca suspects Jack is a victim of something himself. And time is running out for Luca to get through to Jack, before Jack gets rid of him.

The Italian Word for Kisses

Luca knew full well everyone thought he was mad. And he kind of admitted it, too. This, he decided, would have to be it. He felt sorry for Jack. Luca didn’t think he’d seen the taxi, and he was obviously seriously screwed up in the head from whatever whoever had done to him. But it was time for Luca to push him away proper, so this would be the last time. Either they struck a deal and Jack kept to it, or…


Or he didn’t. And at least then, Jack just totally binning his life and becoming nothing better than a shitty person with a shitty history…at least that would be on him. He’d have kind of picked it, because he’d rejected every chance Luca gave him to get some help.


“You’re zoning again. Are you hurting or something?”


“No,” Luca said, sliding the phone shut. “Kind of hungry, though. You brought proper food, right?”


Paolo laughed, and bent to rummage in his bag. “She spent all morning making shortbread, so…”


Luca’s phone beeped, but he ignored it.


Chapter 89