I stand in front of the bathroom mirror, shoulder angled just enough to catch a full view of the tattoo. The skin around it is still red, raw, slightly swollen, but holy shit. It looks perfect.
Clean lines, deep black ink, exactly how I pictured it. Behind me, Noah whistles low. "Damn, I outdid myself," he says, arms crossed. "That's what I call premium shoulder real estate."
I roll my eyes, but I'm smiling.
"Alright," he adds, snapping his gloves off. "Go next door and show it to your man. But tell him not to lick it or anything,it's still fresh." I blink. "He's not my man. And why the hell would he lick my shoulder?"
Noah shrugs. "I don't know, man. Maybe he's got a shoulder kink. People are weird. Your man especially." I stare at him. He stares back. Then I sigh. "Don't tell anyone I'm going over there." Noah smirks. "What am I, twelve?"
"Yes. You are. And while I'm gone, go outside. Walk around or something. Make it look like we're hanging out together." He gives me a two-finger salute. "You got it, boss."
We both walk out at the same time.
Oh.
I have the key. I can go in by myself again. I think this time I just... need to do it. No warning text like "hey, just so you know, I'm coming in with your key." I'll just unlock the door and walk in. What am I even scared of? Catching him naked?
Please.
He's gonna strip the second I show up anyway. So yeah. I'm going in.
"I let myself in," I call, loud enough for him to hear. "I was gonna knock, but then I remembered I'm special." No answer.
I walk through the house, place my shoes near the stairs. He's in the kitchen. Leaned back on the counter, scrolling through his phone. His face doesn't light up when he sees me. Just a quiet, flat "Hey."
Still, I smile. Walk over, touch his waist. "You alright?"
He nods. Kind of.
"You're acting weird."
"I'm fine."
Pause. I know he isn't. But I don't push. I just lean in, press a soft kiss to his jaw. He doesn't stop me, but he doesn't lean into it either. "You saw my texts?" I ask quietly. "Yeah." I wait for more. Nothing. Once again, the overthinking is right. He's pissed.
Why? I don't exactly know. And it sucks not knowing.
It really,reallysucks. Is it because I was with Noah? I don't think so. He knows I don't see Noah like that.He knows.Is it because he wants to be with me and can't? Does he think I picked them over him? I have no idea. But I can feel it. There's definitely been miscommunication.
"Gio, I tried to make it better," I say. "I told you we could meet later."
"I know, I know. I just saw you," he says. "On the balcony."
"Okay..." I say, waiting for the rest.
"You looked happy. With Noah. With your dad." My heart stutters a bit. "I mean, I was just sitting there—"
"No, I get it," he says, cutting me off gently. "I'm not mad, Rava. Seriously." That makes it worse. He runs a hand through his hair. Smiles a little. "It's just... funny, I guess. Watching him sit there like it's nothing. Talking to your dad. Laughing. Like it's easy."
"Gio..."
"I don't think I'll ever have that with your dad."
I take a breath. Step closer. "You don't have to—"
"I know. I know I don't." He looks down at his hands.
"It just hits me, I guess. Seeing it. What it looks like when someone actually fits."
