Weird.
"Don't let it get to your head," he says, eyes darting away. "This doesn't meananything."
I squint at him. "Are you okay? What are you talking about?"
He bites the inside of his cheek like he's forcing himself to continue. "God, you're making this harder than it is—whatever. I heard what happened today. With you. And dad." He pauses. Then just…steps forward. And hugs me.
I freeze.
Completely unexpected. Completely out of nowhere. But I don't fight it. I hug him back. Gio stares, shocked. "I don't believe what I'm seeing."
"Don't get used to it," Jin mutters at me.
Gio grins. "Hey. I've had a rough day too, you know? The guy sent a whole police squad after me. I don't get a hug?"
Jin looks at him. Rolls his eyes. "Fine. But only because I'm in a good mood and because you still owe me that ride on the bike." Gio holds up his hands like he's been judged in court and found guilty. "Fair enough. You're absolutely right."
Two hours later
We're quiet. Finally. Gio's back is against the headboard. I'm lying down, my head resting between his thighs, looking up at the ceiling. His fingers lost in my hair, moving lazy, like he's tracing thoughts instead of strands.
Christ. I could fall asleep like this. Iwantto fall asleep like this. But of course, he can't let me have peace for more than ten seconds. He plucks my glasses off. "Hey," I mutter, turning my head up to him. "Give those back."
"Do they look good on me?" he asks, already putting them on. I stare at him. Too long. Goddamn it. This man could wear anything. Or nothing. He's unfair.
"No," I say, snatching them back. "They don't." He laughs. "I remember those blue ones you had," he says. "Back when you were tiny. Always writing in that dumb little notebook, shooting me those killer looks."
"Yeah, well. The irony is, I was probably writing something like, 'Gio accidentally touched my hand today. That was cool. Gonna tell Daisy.'"
"Liar. You're just saying that to make me feel good."
"Nope," I say, sitting up with a jolt. "Wait here."
I slide off the bed. "I still have that notebook."
"No way. There'sno wayyou kept it."
He has no idea. I hand him the notebook. "I never thought I'd actually do this," I admit. "But…here. Take it." He looks at me, actually shocked. Then I crawl back into place, settling between his legs again. He flips open the first page. "We're living historical moments right now," he murmurs dramatically.
"Shut up," I groan, without even looking up. He opens the notebook, landing on a random page.
Monday
Today Gio threw a rock at my foot again. He said it was an accident, but it wasn't. He was smirking. Luigi laughed but I didn't, because it hurt. (It wasn't that bad, but still.) Then Gio climbed the fence by the football field without using his hands. Nobody else can do that. Not even Elio. Gio just acts like he doesn't care but it's obvious he's cool. Like really cool. But alsorude. Also he got in trouble for talking back to Mr. Romano, and he didn't even cry. I think I would've fainted. Or actually cried. Or both. Gio just put his feet up on the desk and said "whatever". I hate that. But I don't. Not really. It's kind of impressive. But annoying. But cool.
Anyway, Daisy said I should write down my feelings more. I don't know what that means. I just wish Gio would stop looking so mean all the time and maybe once, just once, say something nice to me. Or, like, not throw things at me. That would be fine too. I wouldn't mind. Today he was sitting next to me during lunch break. He smells kinda nice. Something sweet. Probably pie. He always eats some stupid pies. I don't like him. (I think.)
The end.
I can feel his chest shaking behind me. He's laughing. Of course he's freaking laughing. "'He smells kinda nice?!'" Gio reads the line out loud like it's the funniest thing he's ever seen, and then buries his face in my hair. "You were so obsessed with me. I love this."
I groan and I get up, trying to snatch the notebook back, but his arm wraps around my waist and holds me still. "Shut up," I mutter. "I was ten."
"And clearly in love," he says, kissing the side of my neck. "You just didn't know it yet. Or maybe you did. You little repressed genius."
I tilt my head back to look at him and he's grinning hard, completely unbothered. He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
"You're the cutest thing I've ever read."
