I feel something ugly twist in my chest.
Yeah. Laugh. Go ahead.
You don’t know what it feels like to be with someone who never wants you touching them.
He steps closer.
"What would you do?" I ask quietly.
"Whatwouldn’tI do is the question." His eyes drag down my chest, then climb back up. "If I liked you enough to be with you," he murmurs, "I’d touch you everywhere. Not just your hand."
He leans in, brushing the corner of my mouth. "And lucky for you... Ravioli," he grins, "...she wanted my touch."
My stomach drops. "So she’s gonna break when she sees it on you. I’m guessing you know I’ll have to touch you when she’s watching."
I nod before my brain can catch up.
"Good." He smiles a little. "I’ll leave what kind of touching for a surprise. You can go now," he says.
"Unless you want to stay." He leans in. Crowds my space again. "There’s room in the bathtub."
Jesus Christ. "Gio, no." I slip out past him for the second time today and make it all the way to the entryway.
He follows me, and his hand slides into my hair. Fixing it. He smooths out the front strands, tucks one behind my ear, and steps back. "Don’t want your dad suspecting anything," he says with a shrug. "He’ll kill us both before the big show."
Oh my God. My dad.
Reality hits me like a truck. A few hours ago, I told that man, "Don’t worry. Don’t stress. It’s just work."
And then I come here and I shove my tongue down his throat.
My father would actually bury me alive. I cover my face with my hands.
I’m awful. I’m literally the worst son on earth.
He opens the door for me, leaning on the frame. "See you tomorrow... partner."
I don’t say anything. I just nod awkwardly.
And I leave his house absolutely dying inside.
31) In Your Dreams
Gio
The ball bounces loudly on the ground.
Jin runs toward me, sweating and breathing hard. "Come on, Gio!" he yells, clearly frustrated. "Aren’t you embarrassed to never let a sixteen-year-old win?"
I laugh, dribbling the ball casually. "Embarrassed? Nah. I’m helping you get tougher, kid."
"Jerk," Jin mumbles, lunging again.
I fake left, move right quickly, and toss the ball with ease. It goes straight through the hoop. "Ha," I say with a grin.
Jin groans loudly, kicking at the ground.
God, I fucking love this family.
