Chapter 21 #2
I almost ask him what he is thinking, but the waiter arrives with our check. Gabriel hands him a card and pays for the dinner.
“Thank you for dinner. I had an amazing night.”
“Who says the night is over?”
We step out onto the cobblestone streets of Lake Como, hand in hand, the moon casting a silvery glow on the water.
Being in Lake Como this past week has been amazing. The town feels surreal during the day, but seeing it at night is enchanting.
The quaint buildings line the lakeshore, their warm lights twinkling like stars in the night sky. I take a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of the lake, which mixes with the nearby blooming flowers.
We pass the small shops we visited earlier. The insides are dark. I feel a sense of intimacy as we explore the streets after hours.
I glance up at Gabriel, feeling the warmth and safety of his presence next to me.
We reach the bridge where Gabriel intercepted the creep yesterday. The vibe is completely different.
Gabriel leans against the railing, taking in the view.
“Do you ever miss this? Waking up in one of the most beautiful places?” I ask, looking out at the moonlight dancing on the water.
He straightens. “I miss the feeling of being close to my family. However, I’m finding a sense of family on my own.”
Feeling a thrill at his words, I smile at him, our eyes locking in a moment of connection that feels electric.
There’s a beat between us—a pause that says everything words can’t. I feel it in my chest. The tight, dizzying mix of want and wander.
We walk down the path, the breeze brushing against my skin. Gabriel pulls me closer to him, trying to keep me warm.
Gabriel points out little details I wouldn’t have noticed if I weren’t with a Lake Como native.
He shows me a tucked-away fountain surrounded by wildflowers and a tiny stone chapel set back from the road. It has stained-glass windows that glow in the moonlight. We don’t speak for long moments, just absorb. It feels like he’s showing me pieces of his heart rather than the town.
After walking a while, we find a bench to sit on. Our hands remain intertwined as we take in the night's beauty.
“I wish this could never end,” I whisper, feeling at ease. Gabriel turns to me, his expression soft. “Me too. This entire trip with you, really. I could stay in it forever if I could.”
“Then stay in it,” I whisper, half teasing but entirely serious. “Stay in it with me.”
He smiles at that, but it’s different—like he’s heard something deeper than I meant to say. Like he’s considering it.
When we reach the car, he opens the door for me again, continuing to make me feel special. The ride back to the villa is filled with comfortable silence as our hands brush against one another.
The stars above us blur as the car glides along winding roads, and for a moment, I imagine a future like this. Dinner dates. Late drives. Our kids asleep at home. It’s not terrifying. It’s perfect.
When we arrive at the house, he parks the car, he isn’t quick to move.
Reaching across the center console, Gabriel takes my face in his hands and kisses me on the lips. He wraps his fingers in my hair, deepening the kiss.
There’s hunger in the kiss. But more than that, there’s reverence. He kisses me like he know’s exactly what this is. Like he’s wanted it longer than he’s said.
He gets out of the car, walking around to retrieve me on the other side.
We go into the house, and his mom is asleep on the couch. I slip into his room as he wakes his mom up to take her back to the main house.
I pause at the doorway of his room, suddenly hyperaware of the fact that this is where we slept together. Where everything changed. And now it feels different again. It feels almost normal. But in the best, most surreal way.
While I wait for Gabriel to get back, I freshen up. Brushing my teeth and gargling. I spritz more Choco Musk on my neck and change into my crop tank and sleep shorts.
The reflection in the mirror catches me off guard. My cheeks are flushed, my eyes wide. I look like someone who’s fallen. Not apart, but in love.
Climbing into bed, I text Melanie and Harlow to update them about the date.
Me
I think I’m in love.
Melanie
Tell me EVERYTHING! It was the dress, wasn’t it?!!!
Harlow
Mel, let her talk. Tell us everything, Mills.
Me
Idk, everything just feels so easy with him. And anytime I think about being away from him, I get a big knot in my chest. Like I can’t live without him.
Melanie
Yep, you’re in love. I’m happy for you, bestie.
I hear the door open softly and turn my phone off. My heart pounding out of my chest.
Gabriel comes into the room, smiling as he changes into a pair of sweatpants. He climbs into bed, gently scooting me over.
He nuzzles his face into my neck, and I squirm. “We don’t have to do anything tonight, Bumper. Just having you in my bed is enough for me,” he says, wrapping an arm over my waist.
“I love being with you too, Gabby.”
He exhales into the crook of my neck, his body relaxing fully against mine, and I realize—this is the safest I’ve ever felt. It’s not the place. It’s not even the moment. It’s him.
And somewhere between his heartbeat against my back and his fingers lacing with mine under the covers, I know something for sure:
This man?
He’s it.
He’s everything.