"I mean, sure, man. No judgment. Just saying, if I had Gio looking at me likethat, I’d be a little dizzy too."
I whip my head toward where Gio is standing, still at his bike, completely unaware of the internal crisis happening thirty feet away.
Or maybe he’s aware. Because just then, he glances over. His eyes meet mine.
One second. Two seconds. Three.
I look away.
The guy beside me laughs again and claps me on the back. "You’re cute. Good luck, Romeo."
I bury my face in my hands. What is up with this damn summer. At this point I don’t even know who I am.
…
The Ducati rolls to a stop in front of our houses. My thighs are absolutely killing me. My back hurts.
My heart hasn’t decided if it’s impressed or traumatized. But I’m standing. I slide off the bike and hand him the helmet. Straight face.
"Gio, you know your plate was down the whole time, right?" I say the moment we stop.
He turns to me slowly. Stares at me with his mouth open. He covers it. I can already feel my face heating up.
"What?" I snap. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
I cross my arms, defensive.
"I literally held it with my hand the entire ride. I have nerve damage. You’re welcome."
He just keeps staring. He smirks. "So you want me," he says, tilting his head.
"Excuse me?"
My soul leaves my body. He points at me.
"You protected me. With your hand. Therefore…"
He shrugs. "…you want me."
My jaw drops. "No. No. NO. I did not save your criminal ass because I ‘want’ you."
"Oh yeah?" Gio asks, leaning closer.
"Then why’d you do it?"
"Because," I say, staring right into his eyes, "I don’t want to go to prison. There’s a difference."
He grins even harder. "Sure," he says softly. "Whatever helps you sleep at night. You’re still my partner in crime."
"I’m not."
"You kinda are. And see? You didn’t cry." Then he smirks and punches my shoulder.
Not hard, but hard enough. "Proud of you, Ravioli."
I glare at him. "Say that again and I’ll throw the helmet at your face."
He laughs. The sky is starting to turn blue. We stand there a second too long. No one moves. Then he looks me up and down. "Still can’t believe you nearly fell off the bike when I turned left. I almost made my speech for your funeral."
