She wrinkles her nose. "You know I don't really do well with kids..."
Kids.
Did I… mess up? Did I accidentally tell her Daisy is six instead of twenty-six?
Am I actually stupid?
I give her a look. "Soph. One is twenty-six and the other is sixteen. They're not exactly kids."
She chuckles softly. "Still. Another day, maybe."
I nod again, but the pit in my stomach gets heavier.
Yeah, it makes me sad that she doesn't even remember the age of my siblings. I try not to show it. I don't want to come off as needy. Or clingy.
But it's hard not to feel like she's actively avoiding the whole part of my life that is... well, my life.
Ten months is both a long time and not long enough to sit her at a family table without risking emotional death.
I scratch my eyebrow, trying to act normal. Maybe she's just not a family person. That's okay. Some people aren't.
But also... she's never taken me to meet her parents. Not once. Not even a ‘drive by the house so you can wave from the car’ situation.
Do they even know I exist? God, ten months and we're still strangers in some ways.
I change the subject, or try to, but then she asks about Gio. Again.
And again.
And again.
Everything.
His job, his friend group, his location.
"Why are you asking about him?"
She just shrugs casually. I don't push. But it sticks to the back of my mind.
5 hours later
I check the time. Damn, I overslept. Sophia is going to kill me. And honestly? This time she'd be right.
Okay. Okay. Focus. I get dressed. Fast.
Shirt: acceptable. Jeans: eh, passable.
My shoes. Where the fuck are my shoes. My hair looks like I got attacked by an angry squirrel. I grab a comb, do two swipes, then give up.
I can fix it in the bathroom while brushing my teeth. As I pass the hallway mirror, I try to flatten my shirt with one hand and loop my belt with the other. I reach the bathroom and twist the handle. I open it.
"Jesus—Gio?!?!"
I slam the door back shut with a loud bang. I take two full steps backward, practically reeling.
"What the hell are you doing here?!"
From behind the door, his voice comes calm, completely unbothered.
