Because let’s get this straight: I amnotin a pretty position.
I’m pinned down like a helpless little ragdoll, his one hand wrapped around both my wrists, my legs tangled under him.
I look pathetic, weak, and cornered. And apparently, in Gio’s twisted universe, THAT counts as "pretty."
He keeps looking at me. He suddenly smiles, slowly.
"I’m sure your dad would kill us both if he walked in right now…" His voice drops. "I just don’t know who he’d shoot first, me or you."
I tense. Try to pull my hands back. His grip tightens. "You’re insane," I whisper. "I’ll tell himyoustarted it.You’rehitting on me. That’s what I’ll say. You’ll get the blame, and I’ll finally have some peace."
He leans in, close enough that his breath brushes my cheek.
"Yeah?" he says. "Tell him. But I bet he won’t believe you. Not when I describe to him the way you’re looking at me right now."
And then, just like that, he lets go. I shoot up like I’ve been electrocuted, scrambling to the edge of the goddamn bed.
My face is on fire. I adjust my glasses with shaking hands and force my legs to carry me to the desk like nothing happened. "Whatever," I say, sitting down. "Don’t show me the picture. I don’t care."
He doesn’t say anything. I need himnotto say anything.
"You know… people who constantly tease others as a form of connection usually have unresolved attachment issues or are subconsciously testing boundaries for intimacy."
There’s a pause. Then Gio laughs. "You are such a fucking nerd." He chuckles again, shaking his head as he flops back on the bed. I pull the laptop toward me once more.
Still so much work to do. Still so much of him in my head. "Get up," Gio says. I turn and give him a flat look from over my shoulder. "No."
He raises an eyebrow, already smirking. "Come on. Take a break. I’ll feed you or something. Maybe then you’ll shut up for five seconds."
"I’m fine."
"If you don’t get up, I swear I’ll drag you and that squeaky-ass chair downstairs together."
I roll my eyes and turn back to my laptop.
"There’s not much left to finish anyway. I’ll… just head out. Consider yourself relieved of my presence."
He doesn’t push back. "Finally," he mutters, flopping onto his bed dramatically and reaching out to scratch Lulu’s chin.
"Go back to your peaceful, nerd-filled world. You’ve served your sentence."
I lean down toward Lulu. "Pspspspsps."
She looks up, blinks… and jumps off the bed, trotting straight over to me. I grin.
Victory.
I crouch and give her a few slow strokes down her back. She purrs like I’m the chosen one. Gio clicks his tongue behind me, annoyed. I straighten up, slinging my bag over my shoulder.
"I’m going."
He doesn’t move from the bed, just waves lazily with two fingers. "Bye, Ravaaa…"
I roll my eyes again and make my way downstairs.
He follows this time. Unfortunately. When we get to the front door, I hesitate for half a second.
He opens it for me and leans against the doorframe. "You gonna be weird about this tomorrow, or are we pretending like none of this happened?"
