38) That Notebook
Rava
We step into the house. My mom's on the couch, reading some papers with her glasses halfway down her nose. She looks up and her whole face softens. "Welcome back, sweetheart."
I smile, and I lean closer to kiss the top of her head. "Hey mom. I told Gio to stay over tonight."
She glances at him, her smile doesn't even waver. "Of course. I was planning on making your pies anyway." Gio sets his bag down neatly by the wall, then looks at her. "You're gonna break me, Mrs. Eden," he says, brushing a hand through his hair. "I'm doing my best to keep a six-pack going here and you're out here sabotaging me with baked goods."
She laughs, waving a hand. "You'll survive. Go get settled, I'll call you when everything's ready."
As we head toward my room, I roll my eyes. "You make me feel like I'm fifteen again, mom."
"Leave me alone. I miss it. You boys were the sweetest back then."
"Sweetest?!" I stop in the hallway, turning around. "Mom, this guy threw pebbles at my head during recess. Don't act like you forgot!" She looks back over her glasses. Gio smirks behind me, unbothered.
"He mocked my poor poem at the winter performance," I continue. "The one about the moon? You remember that, right? I cried for half an hour."
"Oh no," she says, "I remember, sweetheart." Gio laughs softly, and then walks back to the living room. He stands beside her, looking strangely sincere. "Mrs. Eden," he says, "I feel I owe you an apology." She looks up, curious. "I wasn't the easiest kid. I did things. Threw things. Said things."
"Juice box theft," I mutter from the hallway. He glances back at me, then smiles again, more gentle this time. "Yeah. That too. But if it means anything now…I never really hated Rava. Not even close. He was just…" He pauses, tongue against his cheek. "…a bit hard to ignore. His sweetness doesn't really go unnoticed, even when you're twelve and stupid."
My mom gives him a smile. "You were just figuring it out, both of you."
"Still am," he admits, turning back toward me. "But I know enough now to say I'm glad I get to be here."
Okay, this makes me feel a little better. We walk into my room. And I realize how freaking strange and perfect it is that this man, who once made me cry over a poem, is now in my home, staying the night.
He's my boyfriend. God, how did we get here?!
I close the door behind us and toss my bag onto the chair. It's still early, but the weight of the day already feels heavy on my shoulders. I pull off my shirt without much thought.
"Oh. We're doing that now? Like, now?!"
"Calm your dick, Fontana. It's too early for you to be horny." I step closer, lower my voice. "I just got comfortable. You'll know when I'mreallyundressing for you."
Before I can even finish blinking, the door swings open and Jin stands there. The judgment on his face. "MOM—RAVA IS NAKED!"
I whip around. "I'M JUST SHIRTLESS YOU LITTLE PIECE OF DOGSHIT—"
Jin's already down the hallway screaming for reinforcements. "This is so inappropriate, Ravioli! Jin is right." Gio's laughing.
Traitor.
"You're really gonna defend him?" I ask, glaring at him while I dig through my bag for a shirt. Gio, still wheezing, pats the bed, proud of himself. "I'm just saying, he has a point. You wereveryexposed."
"Right. That's it," I say, crossing my arms. "Back scratches are cancelled. Indefinitely."
His face drops. Dramatically. "You wouldn't."
"Watch me."
He stares at me. "You stop scratching my back, and I won't fix your bracelet."
Gasp. "You wouldn't dare." I throw a pillow at him. He just smirks. "Thought so." Jin appears again at the doorway. We both turn to look at him.
"You good?" Gio asks, narrowing his eyes. Jin takes a few steps in. His hands are in his pockets and his shoulders are stiff. He sighs, dramatic as ever.
