Chapter 1 #3
"Wait... if the girl comes out looking like Rava... that means she'll look like Daisy too. You two are basically twins."
"We are NOT alike," I say.
Gio laughs. "You and Daisy are alike. She just has softer features, not as sharp. But the base is the same."
Jin snaps his fingers. "SEE? Perfect." And God... the moment he says it, I feel like screaming. A little girl. With my face.
It hits me harder than I expect, and my eyes sting in that ‘don't you dare cry in front of people’ way. I know I'm emotional.
I've accepted it. But the thought of her makes me want to cry and laugh and panic all at once. Antonio better protect her with his whole tiny soul. Big brother duty starts early.
11) He’s Gay
Rava
I curl closer to Gio without even thinking. Antonio's tiny crib is right next to us, and for the first time in days... it's just him and me on the bed again.
His arms are slung around my neck, and he's dragging me straight into his chest like he's trying to merge us into one creature.
And God... I love it here.
I can't even explain it properly. It's warm, it's safe, it feels like I'm wrapped inside some kind of indestructible armor he built just for me. Like I'm in a second home inside my actual home. He shifts a little to pull me in tighter.
Then he tucks the blanket around me, shoving the edges under me so I'm trapped like a burrito. I smile against his skin. I slide my hand around his waist and stroke small circles into his skin slowly. He laughs a little. While half-asleep.
I freeze and tilt my head up. "What?" my face says.
"Tickles," he mumbles into my hair.
I bite back a laugh. I swear, he tells me every time. And every single time I forget and do it again. I slide my hand higher, up his back, rubbing from his shoulders all the way down to the dip of his spine.
I wish time would just freeze. Just give me this. Three more hours like this. Three more years. But of course, we're expecting guests, so I can't pretend the world doesn't exist.
I bury my face in his chest one more time. I try to slip out of his arms, but the second I move, Gio clamps down on me and drags me straight back into his chest.
"Five more minutes, baby, please... I'm begging," he mutters it while asleep. I burst out laughing. He's so stupidly sweet in the morning I don't know if I want to cry or punch him from how soft he gets.
Unfortunately, those five minutes pass like one.
And then we're all in the bathroom, all three of us. I'm trying to brush Antonio's teeth first, so I don't panic doing mine later. Gio just leans on the sink, staring at us.
"What?" I ask, suspicious.
He just shrugs. Nothing else. I smile back, because I'm weak. When we're done, we head to the kitchen. Gio makes breakfast for Antonio, and I make breakfast for both of us. "Antonio, are you excited to see Bianca again?" I ask.
Antonio literally giggles while chewing on a toy car.
He nods. He's in love already. I can't handle this.
The last time we saw Bianca at the playground, SHE TRIED TO KISS OUR SON. BIANCA. THREE YEARS OLDER AND FEARLESS.
And our son kissed her hand. He actually kissed her hand. When I asked him how he knew to do that, he shrugged and said, "Daddy does it to you all the time."
I almost cried in the middle of the slide tunnel. But I had to be strong. Gio gives him the best examples. Usually, Antonio forgets everything ten seconds after it happens, but sometimes, stuff sticks.
And that terrifies me.
After we eat and finish the dishes, Gio leans into me. "Is this a normal couple coming… or am I gonna want to fake my own death?"
I laugh. "They're very nice," I tell him. "Bianca's mom is... a tiny bit snobby, I think? But her dad is super friendly. One of the friendliest dads I've ever met. And I've met a lot. I'm a teacher."
The doorbell rings. Right on cue.
I head over and open the door. Bianca's mom is holding her, Bianca’s all dressed up in a tiny pink sweater. Her dad stands behind them, smiling. "Hi!" I say and immediately crouch to Bianca's level.
"Hi, pretty lady! How are you?" She plays with her hair and murmurs, "Good," with the tiniest smile. I greet her parents, look over my shoulder.
Gio looks... terrified. That is literally the word.
Terrified. I gesture for him to come say hello. He walks over awkwardly, shakes Bianca's mom's hand normally, then turns to the dad. And freezes for half a second.
"Nice to meet you!!" the dad says, overly excited. He grabs Gio's hand with BOTH his hands. And shakes it. Multiple times. "I'm Carlo!"
Gio nods stiffly. "...Gio."
Jesus Christ. What is Gio doing? He's acting like he's never seen human beings before. I feel secondhand embarrassment.
"Come in, please," I tell them, leading them to the living room. "We wanted to bring something," Carlo says, "but we didn't know what to get!"
Before I can answer, Gio throws his hands up. "Oh no, no, don't worry! Seriously. It's fine. Totally fine. It's all good."
What is he doing. Why is he like this.
I smile awkwardly at them like please don't judge us, he's usually only like this during full moons.
"Do you want ice cream?" Gio blurts out. "We have ice cream. In the other fridge. Rava, come help me." He doesn't wait for a reply. He just stares at me expectantly. I turn to apologize to the couple, but Bianca's mom waves a hand. "No, no, go ahead!!! We're fine!!!" she says, smiling way too hard.
I head toward the kitchen after Gio, already preparing myself mentally. Because clearly... SOMETHING is very wrong with him. He drags me into the other room.
Closes the door softly and then pins me against it. His hands go to his waist. Then his face. Then his head. What the hell??
"Do you wanna tell me what's going on?" I whisper.
"I don't know if I can," he whispers back. Oh, great. Now I'm scared. "Gio... if you don't like them, just say it. But I don't get it. You're seeing them for the first time in your life."
"Yeah," he says. "Only it's not the first time."
"...What?"
He grabs my shoulders. "Rava. That man is gay."
My jaw drops. I stare at him. Then I laugh because obviously he's lost his mind. "Are you okay? He's literally here with his wife and child."
Gio keeps staring at me like I'm the delusional one. He exhales dramatically.
"Rava... that man is gay. VERY gay. Not bisexual. Gay."
"Are you insane?" I'm still laughing but now it's a whisper. "He has a WHOLE wife with him. And even if he didn't, how can you just say that? He doesn't even look—"
"WAKE UP," Gio whisper-yells. "Do I look gay? No. And I'm gay down to the bone!"
Okay. Fair point. I accept that one. "So..." I ask slowly. "How do you know he's gay?"
Gio freezes. He looks down.
Then to the right. Then to the floor.
"...Gio?" I bend to catch his eye again. "Did you two... do something?"
Silence. Dead silence. "Well..." he finally says.
"Oh my god, I'm gonna VOMIT." I cover my face with both hands. We both sit down on the edge of the counter with our hands on our hips like two exhausted parents.
"Well, this is awkward," I say.
"I WAS NINETEEN!!" he snaps. "And we didn't even have sex, we just—"
I smack his shoulder. "I don't wanna know?! Shut up. Ew. I'm gonna throw up." I run my hand through my hair. "So what? They have a lavender marriage? Is that where we're at?"
Gio shrugs helplessly. "I don't know."
Oh my God... Why did I try to be a good person and invite people over? Why? Why did I do this to myself? I have a man in my living room who probably had Gio's dick in his mouth. I'm going to cry.
"Listen," Gio says, putting his hands on my shoulders again. "I don't care. I'll act like I don't know him. I also can't wait for him to leave. The problem is him."
"Whatever, let's go," I sigh. "We'll figure it out later. If we take any longer, they're gonna think we went to milk a cow to make the ice cream from scratch."
He laughs. I grab the door handle, take one deep breath, and pray to every god available because this is already the most uncomfortable social situation I've ever lived through. I breathe in through my nose, out through my mouth, trying SO hard not to let the jealousy crawl out of my pores.
I won't be dramatic. Much.
Because yeah, it's absolutely disgusting thinking about Gio doing anything with someone else. Even if it was years ago. Even if he was nineteen. Even if we're married now.
But exactly. We're married. I'm his present. I'm his future. He's stuck with me forever. So let CARLO be the one to choke on jealousy today. We walk back out with the ice cream, and I set the bowl down.
Fake smile on.
"Homemade ice cream?" Carlo laughs, turning to his wife. "You could never."
I flash her a pity look. Woman... run. And Carlo, choke on it. With love.
I bring spoons and little cups, everyone takes some, and I swear he's looking at Gio like he's dessert. It's actually disgusting. I feel my blood temperature rise by ten degrees.
Then he squints at Gio. "Wait... I think I know you, right?"
I glance at Gio. He's eating like nothing is wrong. "Yeah," he says. "We met at a festival one summer when I came to Italy."
"Ohhh YEAH!!" Carlo yells. "You're the Spain guy! Do you still have that tattoo?"
…The audacity. In OUR living room? In OUR marriage? In front of ME? I'm the husband, hello???
Gio wipes his mouth. "That one I did that day on my arm? No. I removed it."
Oh. Okay. That's... fine. That was the tattoo he meant. Not the other one. I breathe. I focus. Do not cry. Do not punch Carlo. Not in front of the kids.
"Do you two... know each other?" I ask, drilling a hole into Carlo's forehead with my eyes.
"We talked a few times back then. Honestly, Gio, you look exactly the same. Life really said 'nope' when it was time to make you look older."
I swear to God I almost levitate out of my body.
THE FLIRTING??? IN MY FACE???