I nod. "Yes?!"
Daisy and Jin exchange looks, then laugh. I narrow my eyes. "What's funny, you traitors?"
Jin smirks. "We already knew."
"And you didn't tell me because...?!"
Jin shrugs. "Don't ask me. I don't get it though. He's chill. We play basketball sometimes. In the afternoons. In secret, of course. 'Cause if dad knew, he would kill us both."
My jaw nearly drops. "Youwhat?" Jin just nods, unbothered. "How the hell do you play with him?" I demand. "The guy is the worst! Made my life a living hell and you know it. You saw it!" Jin raises an eyebrow. "Oh, come on. He was just messing with you, dude. You still hate him that much?"
"Of course I do?! Why would I stop?"
"I don't know... maybe because you're not eight anymore?"
I scoff. "Remember when I was ten, I asked to ride his stupid little bike, and he goes, 'Of course! Just leave me a deposit first.' I was like, 'Deposit? What deposit?' And he dead-ass tells me I have to give him my new sneakers as collateral. He made it a whole joke. 'Gotta protect my investment!' And when I refused, he just shrugged and said, 'Guess you don't want it that bad'."
Daisy rolls her eyes. "Yeah. That was over a decade ago."
"Oh, there's more. We were at this huge outdoor event, and I lose my way back to our group. Gio, being so helpful, tells me there's a shortcut behind this tent. So I go. Turns out? It's the staff-only area. I walk right into the middle of workers on their break, and everyone just stares at me like I'm trespassing.Securityhad to escort me out! Do you understand? And Gio? He was watching the whole time, dying laughing."
"Get over it, Rava! Y'all were kids!"
"Hell no," I snap. "I'm never letting that go. I'm also never letting go of the fact that he kept calling me Ravioli instead of Rava, and everyone would follow, just because the cool guy said it."
She sighs. "Well, you might have to. Especially now that you're neighbors, too."
I freeze. "What?"
She nods toward the house across from us. "Look."
I turn. Gio sits on his motorcycle, two other guys beside him, all ready to leave. He adjusts his helmet, but then he sees me.
Our eyes meet for a second.
He winks at me, and then starts his bike.
I turn back to Daisy and Jin, still processing. "Are you kidding me? First the meeting, nowthis?What's next, he's gonna start having dinner with us too?"
Jin hums, tapping his fingers against the table. "Yeah, over dad's dead body. It would be cool though. He's got humor. And honestly, impressive biceps."
I glare at him. "What is wrong with you?"
Jin just grins. "Nothing. But it's funny how worked up you get over him."
"I hate you for this."
Jin sips his drink, completely unfazed.
"Mhm. Sounds like you've got a Gio problem, not a me problem."
4) Me And Lulu
Gio
Red light. Forearm on the throttle.
My spine is still screaming from the race, which, let's be real, wasn't even a fucking race.
