Speed By • DANIEL GILLIES

36 | both

OUTGOING CALL TO GIA 🕵🏻‍♀️❤️
9:05 PM

There was a click and Gia picked up the phone.

"Hey, Gi," Daniel said.

"Hey, Daniel," Gia said. It was so good to hear her voice, a voice that to him was practically unknown. Still, he wished he'd called earlier. "What are you up to?"

"Is your middle name Penelope?" He asked. Gia laughed softly at the other end of the line.

"Hmm, how did you figure that out Mr. detective?" Gia asked, teasingly.

"Your Instagram username. Your mom's name is Penelope," he said. It'd taken a good minute of staring at his phone to figure it out.

"You're cute."

He laughed. "No, you're cute," and suddenly he regretted his words because he wanted Gia here. He wanted to kiss her. "Fuck, Gi. I wish you could come over."

"You've taken me out on one date," Gia replied. He could picture her rolling her eyes.

"We're modern," he shrugged a shoulder.

"God," Gia laughed.

"You also didn't say no. Be right back holding on to that bit of hope."

"You're an idiot."

They were quiet for a moment, Daniel taking the time to fluff his pillows and settle into bed. He closed his eyes, remembering to a few days ago when Penelope, Gia's mom, had called him weird. It never really bothered him before to be called weird. Except now, he wanted Penelope's approval.

"Does your mom hate me?"

"She wants to meet you, actually," Gia said. Daniel was quiet at the other end, feeling his heart speed up. "You okay?"

"Just a little bit scared," Daniel replied. And like Gia had previously noted, they'd only been on one date. (And the date had been a dare from Paul, but that was a whole different subject.)

"She says she wants to meet you after the third date."

"The third date...that's oddly specific."

"I've dated before."

Daniel swallowed.  "Yeah, of course."

"There's usually no fourth date," Gia told him. "My mom calls it the 'Cop curse'."

Daniel wanted to laugh at that the word curse coming from Gia's lips. But he didn't, because even though it sounded silly to him, it certainly wasn't silly to Gia.

"Whatttt, there's no such thing!" He replied.

"She claims it's very real," Gia replied.

"My wit and charm will outmatch any curse, Gi. No worries."

"Uh-huh," she said. She laughed, her laughter stopping a few seconds later. "You're cute."

"Stop saying that or I'm going to drive there and kiss you," Daniel said, sitting up on his bed.

Gia's reply came quickly. "I dare you."

Daniel hung up the phone and hurried to get dressed in the darkness. He ran out of his room and into the kitchen, grabbing his keys and a jacket. He was out the door in less than five minutes, driving to where Gia lived.

...

I don't want to ring the doorbell in case Julie is sleeping

Gia 🕵🏻‍♀️❤️:
You are actually waiting outside the front door?

Yes

Gia 🕵🏻‍♀️❤️:
One sec

Five minutes passed before Gia appeared at the door. He'd started to shiver by then, and was almost about to call her when she opened the door.

"What took you so long?" He asked.

"I was in taking a bath when you sent me the message," Gia replied. She took a step forward, stepping out the house. Daniel reached out to touch her hair, it was wet, drops of water falling to the floor.

Gia smelled of flowers. Goodness, Gia smelled so good. His mind registered Gia's words. Five minutes ago, she's been naked.

Stop, he told his mind. Stop it.

He let out a nervous chuckle, as Gia grabbed him by his jacket and smashed their lips together. Her lips were soft and she tasted of wine. He wanted to kiss her longer, deeper. But he took a step back. And Gia took a step inside.

"I'll see you Thursday," he said. She nodded her head.

"Thursday."

"Have a good night, Gi," Daniel said. Gia waved, before closing the door. He walked back to the car and started the ignition.

He was shivering but it wasn't from the cold.

It was pure giddiness.