Deteriorating

Sometimes they would see each other for a total of ten minutes, other times he stayed for dinner and they finished the evening cuddling up to one another on the couch.

Regardless of what happened, Luca was there to make sure Sophia had someone to walk home with. He was determined to show her that he was someone dependable despite her worries. He wasn't going to change and disappear.

However, he couldn't see her when the bakery was closed because he had been pushing all the important things he needed to do to those days during the week. It was getting harder, however, because he knew that someone had been keeping a closer eye on him since he had been leaving.

His health was also declining. It felt like it was happening more quickly and at a more alarming rate. With no knowledge of his rut, he was in a miserable state and constantly worried.