Sugar, Spice & Secrets

25

Friday morning dawned with a crisp chill in the air, the promise of a new day lingering on the horizon. The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over my room as I stirred from my slumber. Groggily, I reached for my phone on the bedside table, squinting at the screen to check the time.

7:00 AM.

I groaned inwardly, not accustomed to waking up this early on any day that wasn't Tuesday. I threw off the covers and walked out of my room, dragging my legs to the kitchen, where I could hear my parents chatting away.

The aroma of coffee wafting from the kitchen. My parents were seated at the table with steaming mugs in hand. "Morning, Pumpkin," my dad greeted with a smile, gesturing for me to join them. "Coffee?"

I nodded gratefully, taking a seat at the table. "Thanks, Dad."

My mom poured me a cup of coffee, her gaze filled with curiosity. "Are you up early for a reason?"

I shrugged nonchalantly. "No," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.

As I sipped on my coffee, my mom's words caught me off guard, pulling me from my sleepy haze. "There's a man," she mentioned casually, her tone laced with intrigue. "I think he is still outside."

I furrowed my brows in confusion, setting down my mug with a clatter. "A man?" I echoed it, my mind racing with possibilities.

"He said his name is Gabriele. Who is he?" My mom asked, her curiosity piqued.

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name, a rush of emotions swirling within me. What was he doing here so early in the morning? Was this some sort of surprise visit? I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to explain Gabriele's presence without revealing too much.

"He's... just a friend," I replied vaguely, hoping to downplay the significance of our relationship.

But even as I said the words, I couldn't shake the flutter of excitement in my chest. Gabriele wasn't just any friend; there was something more between us, something that defied easy categorization.

"Well, he seems quite eager to see you," my dad remarked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Too eager to just be a friend," my mum began to eye me as I fidgeted in my seat.

"Well, aren't you going to go out and see what he wants?" My dad teased me with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

I shot him a playful glare before pushing back my chair and heading towards the door. With a quick glance in the mirror to ensure I didn't look too dishevelled, I took a deep breath and stepped outside.

My heart raced as I stepped outside, the crisp morning air sending a shiver down my spine. Making my way down the street towards Gabriele's car, I couldn't shake the flutter of anticipation in my chest.

As I approached the car, Gabriele's gaze met mine through the side mirror, and a warm smile graced his lips. I watched as he got out of his car, his eyes raking my body. "Good morning, Julie," he greeted, his voice soft and inviting.

"Good morning, Gabriele," I replied, returning his smile despite the butterflies swirling in my stomach. His presence had a way of setting my pulse racing, and I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement at the sight of him.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Gabriele said, his tone laced with sincerity.

I shook my head, my cheeks flushing slightly. "No, not at all. What brings you here so early?"
Gabriele shrugged casually, and he took a step closer, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. "I wanted to see you," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I met your parents instead."