Inside, Lulu's waiting like she sensed sadness. I kneel down, scratch her head. "My girl," I whisper. "You're sleeping solo tonight. Sorry, love, but our baby leaves tomorrow." I kiss the top of her head.
Upstairs, I move fast. I grab two beach towels. Some snacks to nibble on. A few…essential supplies. Rava's swimsuit. The one he left here that night with that idiot Jasper. I toss it in the bag.
One more night. One more shot before I have to let him go. He's standing there waiting for me. Fuck me sideways. He looks like a painting. His skin's still glowing from the fair, his cheeks are a little flushed from dancing, hair wet and clinging to his forehead. His eyes catch mine and hold them hostage. I walk up and take his hand. We start walking.
It's just us, and us.
"Why are we walking?" he asks.
"You tired?" I say, right away. "Cause I can carry you if you want. All you gotta do is ask." He laughs, tilts his head and rests it against my shoulder. God, I could melt right here.
I could collapse into the pavement and die a very happy man. "I don't need to be carried," he murmurs. "I can walk."
I grin. "That's the problem. Means I didn't do a good enough job yesterday." He hits my arm lightly, laughing again. A black car drives past us. Slowly. It keeps going. But then it brakes.
Reverse lights flash. The window rolls down.
"…Rava?!"
Rava turns his head, doesn't let go of my hand. "…Carla?!"
The driver leans closer.
Ugh. It's Dario. Of fucking course.
His eyes land on me, and his whole face shifts. I can't tell if it's shock or disgust or both. "…Gio?"
I lean a little closer to the car. "Hello, Dario." Dario laughs. "Did you guys lose a bet or something? Someone dared you two to go out together?"
Carla leans forward from the passenger seat, squints at us like we're an illusion. She lowers her voice. "You're not still doing the whole Sophia lie, are you?"
I tilt my head and smirk. "Oh yeah, going strong. We even have sex sometimes, you know, just to make the chemistry more convincing when she's around."
Dario's eyes go comically wide.
He turns to Rava like he's trying to read a language he doesn't speak.
"We didn't lose any bet. He's my boyfriend now." Rava says. Silence. Just crickets.
Dario's mouth opens like he wants to say something but forgot how to speak. "Oh," he breathes out. Carla tries to jump in. "But didn't you use to hate hi—"
"Where are you going?" Rava cuts her off sharp as hell.
Good boy.
She blinks, stunned. "Uh, we were going to meet up with some friends…" Her eyes flick over to me. She hesitates. "Please don't ruin him. He doesn't deserve it."
Respectfully, fuck you, girl.
I smile, but it's cold. "I'm not the one who disappeared for two months without even asking how he was doing," I say. "So maybe sit this one out."
Her mouth opens. She glances at Rava, like she needs his help. "Okay…wow. Cold. I guess you're not in a good mood. Bye, guys," she mutters. Dario waves awkwardly.
And just like that, they're gone. I swear to God if she ever says some shit like that again, I won't be so polite.
Now it's just us again. Rava exhales. "Wow, you really said that." He looks over at me. "I mean—you're not wrong. We haven't said a single word since they found out I kissed you. I think Carla still has my last message sitting on 'delivered'."
I shrug. "Fuck her." I slip my fingers between his. "Come on. I want all of your attention." We walk down the narrow path to the beach, our spot.
