I nodded, glancing at the menu. "I'm not a massive fan of fish, but I'll take your suggestion."
James' smile turned sincere. "Glad to hear it. You'll like it, I promise. If not, the meal is on me."
My expression turned teasing. "The same meal you said you can't afford? Don't get my hopes up."
The waiter's laugh mixed with the light chatter and serene music in the restaurant. I giggled slightly at the scandalised looks we received. Being joyful was banned in fine-dining restaurants?
A throat cleared loudly and we both turned to Luca, who was watching James with a cold-stone expression that gave me chills. "You're being paid to attend to customers, not flirt with them. Would you like to get back to doing that?"
My eyes widened as I stared at Luca, too shocked to see James's reaction. 
"Of course, Sir. Let me know if you need anything else." James answered in a tight voice and started to walk away when Luca responded.
"A new waiter would do."
"Luca!" I hissed before trying to give James an apologetic look. Embarrassment made my face hot. He avoided my gaze, nodded at Luca's request and walked back to the kitchen.
"Right. Anyway, let me read out what I wrote," Luca said to me, picking up his phone. "Good evening-"
"Why would you say that to James?" I cut him off, my heart racing from the whole situation.
Luca slowly looked up at me. His expression hadn't softened from when he was staring down the waiter. Under the dim lighting, his eyes looked darker than usual. "Do not interrupt me when I'm speaking, Fallon."
I immediately shrunk back at his tone but he wasn't finished. "I know it's a shame I cut short your flirting with him, but you seemed to forget you were on a date with your boyfriend. Who, might I remind you, is me."
Confusion, fear, anger and guilt battled within me, but ultimately guilt won out. Was I really flirting with him? Did I give him the wrong idea by being friendly?
"Now, may I finish reading the email?" Luca asked, his expression still hard and gaze not leaving my face. The one time I didn't want his attention, I had it in the most intimidating way possible.
"Yes." I couldn't keep eye contact, lowering my focus to the menus, but my appetite was gone. 
It was quiet and I looked up to see Luca still watching me expectantly. Under the table my fists clenched and unclenched just as quickly. 
"I'm sorry. For interrupting you."
"Thank you," Luca nodded, but pausing when his gaze dipped lower. "Next time don't wear such a low cut dress. It gets too much attention." His eyes narrowed and I was sure he could see my heart thudding away rapidly in my chest under his scrutiny.
"Where's the necklace I got you?"
"It didn't work with the outfit?" I joked weakly. Luca was anything but amused.
He let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Fallon, do I need to be with you when you dress up now? You're not a child. That necklace means a lot to me, you know you're meant to wear it all the time." He snapped.
Annoyance flared within me but I pushed it down. Was now the best time to argue with him? Or would it be better to pacify the situation?
"Luca, you said you didn't want us to argue anymore." I reminded him softly, watching his expression as if my life depended on it.
Anger seemed to be coming off him in waves. "Yes, I did. And I told you that because you're always the cause of our arguments."
My jaw dropped. "Me?"
"You refuse to take Business A level, flirt with my friends to spite me, mope around over the littlest things which brings down my mood and flirt with random strangers. Would you like me to continue?"
"I..." 
"All I ever want from you is one thing Fallon. For you to listen. Listen to what makes me happy, and listen to my advice because I know it will make you happy. But that is such a big ask for you, isn't it?"
I'd heard enough. Grabbing my purse, I told him in a shaky voice. "I don't need to sit here and take this, Luca." 
He waved a hand, nothing but cruelty on his face. "Go on, storm out and make a scene. I'm sure your mum would love to hear about that, hm?"
My eyes welled with tears as I stared at the boy who claimed to love me. "Why are you like this? Why are you so mean?"
Luca let out a deep sigh, shoulders dropping. He came and sat next to me on my side of the booth, trapping me. "I'm not the bad guy, Fallon."
"And I am?" I sniffed, gently wiping my tears as I stared at the hardwood table. I hated when he made me cry. It made me feel more pathetic than I already was.
"Of course not. I wouldn't be in love would you if I was, would I?"
"What do you know about love, Luca?" My question came out as a soft whisper. He placed his hand on my clenched fist and leaned over into my line of vision.
"I know love means correcting the behaviour of those you care about. I know you think you're being friendly Fallon, but the way you act around guys sometimes is wrong. I need your help with this email, and you're busy entertaining another guy." His eyes and tone hardened. "When you're here with me. I promise you, nothing makes me angrier than that." 
A tear rolled down my cheek and he wiped it away. "But it's something we can work on together. We can work on making you a better girlfriend. You're good right now, but you can be better, hm? Now go clean up and I'll order your food. Go on." He patted my thigh and moved out of the booth.
With shaky legs I got out, fighting the urge to just leave the restaurant. Running away would be of no use. After all, where would I go?
Even if I went somewhere I couldn't be found, I wouldn't be left alone. Luca's words, his harsh gaze, would stay with me. His opinions of me, his criticisms. The absence of his praise.
Was I really the cause of our arguments? Was I as bad as he painted me out to be? 
I should have been able to debunk his insults. I should have known myself better than anyone, better than him. But as I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I couldn't recognise the miserable girl staring back at me.
Isn't Luca a sweetheart :/