"Hell yes I do."
He laughs under his breath. "Why?"
"Because I can."
He rolls his eyes, but I catch the way his ears go a little pink. He's trying to look chill, even though he just spent the night kissing me nonstop, moaning my name, cuddling Lulu, and learning creepy stuff about my past.
He's definitely the most dangerous thing that's ever happened to me.
Not because he could ruin me. Because I'd let him. He leans down to tie his shoelaces. "Okay. I'm heading out. Unfortunately. Tell Lorenzo I said hi when he comes here."
I nod, pushing off the doorframe.
I walk to the kitchen counter, pretending to fumble with something until my fingers find the little silver key in the bowl.
Shit.
I hold it for a second.
Don't do it.
"Hey," I say, turning around. My voice comes out rougher than I want it to. "Come here."
He straightens, a little confused. "Yeah?"
I hold out the key. He doesn't take it at first.
Just stares at it, then at me. "What's that?"
"A key," I mutter. "To this place."
He doesn't move. But his eyes went wide open. I swallow. "It's not—look, it's not a big thing. It's just... practical. Makes it easier. So you don't have to knock. Or wait outside. Or text me from the sidewalk like a dumbass."
He still doesn't take it. I exhale.
"And... I trust you. With this."
He finally reaches out.
"You trust me, with your whole…house?" he repeats.
I nod. "You trusted me. With... you know." My voice dips. "With you. With your body. With something that mattered."
His fingers tighten around the key. "And I know what that meant. So I just wanted you to know I get it. I see it. And this is me giving something back."
His throat bobs. "Gio…"
"Don't make a thing out of it," I say quickly. Suddenly I need to look anywhere but at him. He smiles. Then he whispers, almost joking. "Should I take it with me to Canada? To remind me of us."
And everything in me goes still.
Us.
He tries to smile, but it's shaky. It doesn't reach his eyes. And neither of us laughs. Because it hurts. It hurts so, so fucking much.
He's still holding the key like it might disappear.
Likewemight. Cause probably we will.
