Sugar, Spice & Secrets

46

As we stepped out of the bakery, the warm spring breeze enveloped us once more. I watched as Gabriele moved to open the car door for me. However, as he held the door open for me, his expression remained unreadable, his thoughts a mystery hidden behind a mask of composure.

Had he heard me? Was he not going to say anything?

I hesitated for a moment, lingering on the sidewalk of the street. Gabriele's gaze flickered in my direction, a hint of concern clouding his features as he waited for me to make a move.

I bit my lip, uncertainty gnawing at my insides as I struggled to make sense of the entire situation. Why did it feel like I had laid my heart bare for him, only to be met with silence in return?

"Julie–"

"I said I like you."

Silence.

"What even is this?" I scoffed, disbelief lacing my words. "Are you just going to stay silent after I tell you how I feel?"

"I'm waiting for the but," he finally broke the silence, his tone carrying a hint of frustration.

"A but?" My heart sank at the implication of his words.

"Yes, a but," he explained, his movements deliberate as he closed the car door and turned to face me. His proximity sent a jolt of electricity coursing through me, but his stern expression gave me pause. "There's always a but with you, Julie, and it's driving me crazy."

My throat tightened, the lump threatening to choke me. "You drive me crazy too!" I blurted out, unable to contain the intensity of my feelings any longer.

"Maybe that's a good thing," he conceded. "Maybe being a little crazy is exactly what we need." He stepped closer, his presence enveloping me as he continued, "We've kissed countless times, Julie, and yet you still insist on just being friends. That's fine. But what's not fine is you getting all worked up whenever Avery is brought up, despite me making it clear that I want you—only you."

"Worked up?" His accusation stung, my chest tightening at the implication of my behavior.

Was it true? Had I been unfair to him, stringing him along with my mixed signals and indecision?

"I'm not," I protested, my voice tinged with defensiveness. "I'm just... confused."

Gabriele's gaze softened. Zoe and Laura were right: this was my man. I just needed to fight a little more to show him I wanted him. "Confused about what?"

"I want you, Gabriele. Only you," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper.

A ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, then he turned around, rubbing his hand over his head. "Then why do you keep pushing me away?" He asked, his voice a mixture of frustration and longing.

"I don't mean to," I confessed, biting the inside of my cheek. "I just... I'm scared. Of ruining what we have because I can't get my act together."

"Have I ever complained about that?" Gabriele's voice was soft as he countered, stepping closer, unapologetic about the intimate proximity between us even in public.

My heart skipped a beat at his proximity. "You said you didn't like games," I reminded him, my voice barely above a whisper as I met his gaze, searching for any sign of doubt or hesitation in his eyes. "I don't want to play games either."

"You–"

I acted on impulse, stepping closer and rising on my toes to close the distance between us with a tender kiss.

His response was immediate, his lips meeting mine with a hunger that mirrored my own. It was as if this moment had been inevitable, as if he had been anticipating this moment just as much as I had.