The Recipe of Us.

17 | travels

< "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." >

"I saw him. I saw Gio."

"Are you being for real right now? Okay where was he? Where was you? Did you guys talk-"

"I was walking home from the gym. He was shutting the pizza shop. He was with a girl."

"Who's the girl?"

"I don't know. It doesn't matter."

"Ri-"

"It's not even that big of a deal. I can't jump to conclusions because I didn't even care enough to look in her direction."

I spooned another mouthful of ice cream in my mouth as I stared at my streaked mascara that painted my cheeks. I had puffy eyes, my lips were slightly bruised from the amount of times I bit them, and my hair was too sad to describe. "Facetime me right now." Ava said sternly and I sighed as I pressed accept.

She stared at me and gave me a deadpanned look. "Not that big of deal?" She repeated and I sighed as I walked off the camera go clean my face.

"Ri, stop pretending like this doesn't hurt you! You look like a train wreck right now." Avalon yelled through the phone and I sighed in frustration.

"You need to get fucked."

"I need to move on." I corrected her and she shook her head. "No. Come to New York and stay with me."

I shook my head repeatedly. "No, I'm good here. Besides, I have a job and responsibilities. I can't keep running away," I rambled.

"But is that what you're planning to do for the rest of your life?" She asked and I couldn't muster an answer.

"Did you not consider any other plans after med school didn't work out?"

I honestly didn't. I'm almost halfway through my 20s with no future. "No I didn't."

"Then what you need is a fresh start." She advised and honestly, it wasn't a bad idea. "If not New York then I understand, but you have got to get out of there, Ri. Go do something, literally anything."

There was shuffling on the other line before her voice appeared on the phone. "I gotta go, my break's over. Think about what I said," She finished before the line clicked.

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"Where do you want to go?" Gio asked as I paddled around in the water. "We've been in the pool for a while so I guess a shower would be nice," I responded and he smiled before shaking his head.

He swam towards me and I held onto his shoulders and wrapped my legs around his torso.

"I meant in the future. Where do you want to go?" He repeated as I looked down at him. My hand and gently brushed his hair away from his face.

His eyes fluttered closed and I smiled to myself as I watched him. He looked so peaceful, here, with me.

"You didn't answer my question," He mumbled and I sighed. "I'm willing to go anywhere. I don't have a specific place," I replied as his eyes reopened.

I looked up and the night sky was painted with stars. It was freezing but the cold was almost nonexistent.

"What about Italy?"

I looked down at him and my eyebrows furrowed as I tried to figure out what he was asking me. "I-I don't understand" I stuttered and he smiled, his teeth on show.

"Don't try and figure it out on your own baby, I'll just tell you," He teased and I roughly hit his shoulder as his hands steadied me.

"No, you're saying I'm stupid. You think I'm stupid don't you?" I continued and gasped loudly as I felt a rush of water on my face. He pulled me above water and I took deep breaths as I pushed my wet hair out of my face.

"Gio!" I cried out as he laughed and I tried to move out of his grasp.

"perdonami amore mio," (forgive me, my love)

I stopped moving around and I looked down at him. "I understood that. I-I understood what you just said," I teased and he smirked in response.

"Oh yeah? What'd I say?" He whispered as I leaned forward and rested the side of my cheek close to his lips. "You said 'my love'. You called me your love," I answered.

"Yes, and?" He questioned and I turned to look at him. "You love me?" I asked softly and he sighed deeply. "This isn't how I wanted to tell you, but yes, I do," He replied and my face broke out with a grin.

I didn't hesitate as I pressed my lips against his. I cherished the moment as every second passed, I fell more and more in love with him. "I love you more," I said as my lips rested against his and he smiled before kissing me once more.

I heard the back door of my house open and a loud groan.

"Hey! The takeout's getting cold and it's freezing out here!" Avalon yelled and we pulled away. "Do you not get enough of each other?" Theo asked and I heard Gen's laugh too, but I couldn't take my eyes off him.

This amazing, wonderful man that I've been blessed with that understands me, and cares for me, and now, loves me too. I don't think I could ever get enough of him.

"Give us a sec!" Gio yelled, not once breaking eye contact and I smiled.

"So, Italy?" I asked as I reminded him. "I want you to come with me to Italy," He clarified and my mouth formed an 'o' as it sunk in.

"That's what you meant," I said in a slow voice as I realised and he nodded as he laughed. My face immediately fell as he began making his way to the edge of the pool, with me still in his arms.

"Stop laughing at me," I whined as I buried my face in his neck.

༺♡༻

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