"Then… You just stopped joining the contests. I used to wonder why. I'd wait for the lists to come out, half-expecting your name right next to mine, and it never was." She paused, lips pressing together as understanding settled over her. "Wait… You started pulling back as early as eighth grade, didn't you?" Her eyes searched his face. "Your grandfather was sick then. You wanted to be with him… To give him your time."
Luca's heart tightened. If he told her the real reason that he'd stepped aside because he couldn't bear to watch her lose, because even then he'd wanted her to shine brighter than anyone, he knew exactly how she'd react.
She'd feel that he'd pitied her, that he'd thought her victories meant less than his own. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel small.
So he let the half-truth stand.
"Yeah," he said quietly, nodding once. He turned toward the old poster bed. "We should get some sleep. It's late."
