Chapter 12

Gio freezes.

Fuck. I shouldn't have said anything. He looked so tired and stressed when he first walked up, but it all went away when he kissed me. Made me move too fucking fast. I need to move at a glacial pace with Gio.

Even if it does make me angsty and restless.

Relationships aren't a sprint, and they sure as fuck aren't a game. I just want to be in the comfortable, settled part with Gio already. Not the is-he-going-to-get-scared-and-run-off-and-leave-me part.

"Yes. Let's go on a date," he smirks at me and I feel it in my balls. Holy shit, has Gio trained my balls to expect a blow job after just one time? That would be impressive. "You do have our first date fund, after all."

I bark out a laugh and pull out my wallet. I rifle through the receipts and pull out three twenty-dollar bills to show him. "This is our fund so far. I've been putting in twenty dollars a week since you gave me the tip."

He frowns at me. "Uh, wasn't that last night?"

I snort laugh. "I meant from the Thursday movie night takeout."

The hint of blush that heats up his cheeks, even as he rolls his eyes at me, is endearing and sexy. I really hope that I get to cuddle him tonight. Waking up to him draped over me is amazing, but I reckon falling asleep like that will be out of this world.

"Are we doing this date now?"

Shit, I didn't think this through. I want to go on a date now because I'm scared he'll change his mind. But at the same time, my leg is fucking aching, we've both had long days, and we both need to be up early tomorrow.

I saw the team doc again today and he said the cut was healing well and I will be back to full-on training next Monday. Today was just light stuff which I fucking nailed to the wall. That does mean that I am wiped and the only thing I really want to do is curl up with Gio in bed.

"Let's do something this weekend. If you really want, you can be my date to the cheer dance thing?" He shrugs like it's no big deal, but we both know this is a huge fucking deal. A public date with Gio? Where all of his friends will see us? Sign me up, baby.

"Yes. All the yeses. What should I wear? Can we coordinate?" I rush out. What have I got in my wardrobe? Maybe my plum suit. That one shows off my ass and still gives me room to dance.

Gio groans. "I can see your mind whirling and it's scaring me. We can talk clothes tomorrow. How about we head to my parents and eat my mom's famous garlic bread lasagne?"

"Oh my god, I might start drooling, that sounds delicious. Is it a family recipe?" We get in the car and he heads towards his parents" house.

"Nah, she copied a video online," he snorts before smiling at me softly. "My parents really like you."

"They are amazing. You won the parent lottery with them."

"Um…what are yours like?"

"I think meh covers it. We don't have a bad relationship, but we don't have a good one. I'm pretty sure that the moment I leave college we probably won't see each other anymore."

"That sucks. If you want, I can ask Perry to do something petty to them. He's great at that. I'm pretty sure he sent Luke's dad a delivery of mustard-filled donuts."

"That's brilliant," I laugh. "I'm fine with it though. I had my grandma growing up and now I've got friends like Lexi and Ryder."

"What am I, chopped liver?"

"We both know that I want more than friendship with you, Giovanni." His eyes flick over to me and he squirms in his seat.

This is why I'm not going to give up on a relationship with him. He wants me. He might not always like that he wants me, but he can't deny it. Which is why he is slowly giving in.

"We're here," he says, voice cracking. "Let's go eat my mom's food."

A realization hits me. "Shit, I should give her some money for letting me stay."

"You should definitely offer her money while I am around," the evil glint in his eye manages to confuse me but also starts pumping blood directly to my dick which I don't want to happen around his parents, so I try not to overthink it.

We make our way into his house and my nose is immediately hit with the most delicious aromas.

"I wish my house smelled like this instead of sweat and farts."

"What a colorful compliment, Tucker," Guila says coming out of the kitchen wiping her hands on her leopard print apron. "Did you boys have a good day?"

"Yeah, Mom. Coach had us do some choreo for the Christmas cheer party and class was fine."

His mom turns and looks at me expectantly. "I had a good day. Only a couple of classes so I got caught up on my assignments. Doc looked at my leg and said I'll be back to full practice training next week."

Gio looks at me in horror. "Shit, I'm the worst. I got so distracted about our date, that I forgot to ask about your injury."

"You've done it now kid," Gio's dad says and he walks past us into the kitchen. That man is stealthy. I had no clue he was there.

"Wha-."Gio starts before he is cut off by his mom screeching.

"Date? My baby has a date? Where are you both going? Do you need money? Can I come too? No, of course not. Oh, I need to call your nonna and aunt Bianca."

She rushes upstairs and Gio looks at me, jaw slack. "I really fucked up."

I can't help the laugh that escapes me. Grabbing his shirt, I pull him towards me and press my lips to his, briefly.

"I like it. But maybe I can tell her when we officially become boyfriends? I wanna see your mom speechless."

I leave Gio standing there with that thought and head into the kitchen.