"Child."
He opens it. Grins. And winks at me. My jaw clenches. God, he loves ruining my life. It pisses me off so much because he’s just sitting there, teasing me on purpose.
He makes me uncomfortable just enough that people look over like, "Um, hey, Rava… are you okay?"
And what am I supposed to say? "Oh, nothing, my new neighbor is just flirting with me and my face just doesn’t know how to behave!" Thank God no one else notices a thing.
They’re all busy nodding at the presentation, checking their watches, or pretending to take notes. I’m the only one squirming in my seat.
He kicks me again. Lighter this time. Just a nudge with the side of his shoe against my ankle. I glare at him.
He mouths, "Miss me?"
I could’ve strangled him. Definitely.
And yet, and this is the part I hate the most, There’s a split second, a tiny microscopic one, where I almost smile. Almost.
When the speaker finally wraps up, the room fills with polite applause. "Rava," my mother says, coming up behind me. Her eyes flick from me to Gio.
"When are you two planning to work on that presentation?"
Gio steps in like he’s been waiting for the cue. "We could work on it today… but only if you promise to be around. I’ve been missing your cooking."
He says it with a little bow.
Like a prince playing peasant.
My mother laughs, like he’s the most charming thing she’s ever seen. "Oh, I adore this one," she says, turning slightly toward me.
Oh my god. Please. What a kiss-up.
He couldn’t have made it more obvious if he dropped to his knees and begged her to adopt him.
What is that tone?
Why is he smiling like that? Why is she blushing?
I swear, he lays it on thick and suddenly my mom is acting like he’s God’s gift to hospitality. And for what?
What does he even gain from charming her like that?
I side-eye him. He catches it. Smirks.
I open my mouth in exaggerated mockery, mouthing her exact words: "Oh, I adore this one."
I roll my eyes.
My mom always liked him. A lot. Since he was little. I never really got why. She smiled when he came around, talked to him like he was some poor kid who needed saving. Half the time she gave him food, leftovers, pies, especially pies.
Like he was part of the family or something.
Probably because his dad died, and she felt really bad about him.
"Then it’s settled," she says, addressing us both now. "Rava, work. Don’t kill each other."
"No promises," I mutter.
Gio claps me on the back. "Come on, Rava. I’ll even let you boss me around. Just a little."
