He kisses my cheek. "Too late now."
"You're serious? She really likes me? Even after you told her about us?" He pulls back just enough to look at me. "Yeah, Rava. She loves you." I smile a little. Then a lot. "Really?"
"Yes," he says, smiling back. "Really."
"Of course she likes me. How could she not? I'm great. I'm a great guy." Gio looks at me, shocked. "You're insane."
"Excuse you," I say with full fake offense. "I'm polite. I'm respectful. I remember birthdays. I'd love me too." He rolls his eyes but I see the way he's biting back a smile. Then I change the subject before I can embarrass myself further.
"So..." I say casually. "Where are we going after this?" He stretches and leans back on his palms. "Finish packing your stuff and you'll see."
"Gio…" I whine. "Come on. Just one hint. Please. I deserve it after the emotional rollercoaster you put me through."
He tilts his head, pretending to consider it. "Hmm….okay. You're right. You do."
I blink. "Wait, really?!"
He grins.
"Come on. Just tell me. I'm gonna explode."
Gio smirks. "Hmm…alright," he says. "There was a lot of noise. Most of it was you complaining."
I blink at him. "That could literally be anywhere we've ever gone."
He laughs. Doesn't even pretend to argue. I narrow my eyes. "You're seriously giving me that as a clue?"
"Yup. That's all you get."
I stare at him. "That's so vague it's disrespectful."
He turns to me, grinning. "You'll see."
Gio
I'm sitting on his bed, leaning back on my elbows.
He's standing in front of the mirror with no shirt and messy hair. We're not talking about the fact that this is the last date. The last night. No. Not today. Today, we're just here.
He's digging through his drawer humming some song under his breath, completely unaware of the way I'm staring at him. And yeah, sure. I've seen him like this a hundred times. But today, for some reason, it hits harder.
And when he bends forward just a little…yeah, okay. I get up, walk over, and slap his ass, hard.
He spins around wide eyed, hands flying to his butt like I just committed a crime. "You horny freak!"
I raise both hands like I'm innocent. "Sorry! That juicy ass was provoking me." He glares. I nod thoughtfully. "I might make it my phone wallpaper. For motivation."
He squints at me like he's trying not to laugh. "Go ahead. Just don't ever pull out your phone in front of my future students."
My heart skips. Future students. He sees us in the future.
We're still together. He's not planning to leave and never look back. That shouldn't be enough to calm me, but it is.
I smirk and point toward the closet. "So. What are you gonna wear to thismysteriousdate?" He pauses, thinking. "No clue."
I try to remember what he wore back then. That night. Then it hits me.
That ridiculous wine-red polo. That pair of black pants that actually fit him too well. "Wear that burgundy polo," I say. "And the black pants. You know the ones." He turns and looks at me like I've said something suspicious.
