It is not like we talked since the rooftop. My stupid heart starts beating faster the second it registers him. Instantly. Fucking excitement. It is going to kill me.
I bring my hands up, pressing my fingers against my temples like I am trying to hold my head in place, keep it from falling off my neck.
I am probably staring. No, not probably,I amstaring. Like I am hypnotized. But I do not think he sees me. He is busy with that dumb drink he is holding, swirling it around and around.
A voice breaks the trance.
"You are staring like you want to kill him. Or kiss him."
I turn, startled.
The voice belongs to a boy sitting at the table in front of me. Maybe my age. Dark hair, soft eyes, a silver earring that catches the last of the sun.
He leans back in his chair, smiling. "You good?" he asks.
I do not answer. I just look back toward Gio. Still there.
Still not looking at me.
I grab the wine glass in front of me and take a long sip. It burns now. It does not taste sweet anymore.
The boy from the other table gets up.
Walks around. Sits in the empty chair beside me.
"Okay, that was dramatic," he says.
I do not look at him. I keep staring at Gio. Everything else fades. The music, the dancing, the laughter.
Just him. Standing in the distance.
And me. Still so far behind him I can barely breathe.
The guy tilts his head, lazily swirling his wine. "You are really not okay, huh?"
I exhale through my nose. "That obvious?"
He smirks. "You are still staring at him."
That makes me laugh, kind of. "Yeah," I say.
"That is probably something I am not even allowed to do."
He leans in just slightly. "So who is he?"
I stare at my wine. Take another sip. Do not wince this time.
"Gio," I say, like the name itself carries weight. Because it does. For me. "His name is Gio."
The guy nods.
"I used to hate him," I say. "Like, really hate him. He is loud and reckless. Got under my skin like nobody else. Made fun of me constantly. Called me names." I pause.
I look up, hazy eyed. "But now I cannot stop thinking about him."
The guy raises an eyebrow. "Sounds like the classic enemies to lovers slow burn."
I point at him dramatically.
