Giovanni

Chapter 19

Thora Hawthorn:

It's been about a week. The preparations for my birthday ball have sped up making my schedule full all day long. My birthday being in two days means that the ballroom is being put together, dress fittings, menus, speech prep, and my parents on my ass about finding a date. If I could i'd take Giovanni but even though I haven't asked I know he's not ready to attend a semi-major event.

Gio and I have gotten closer over this past week and we have gotten into a routine which he seems to be comfortable with. I go to training and then breakfast where we talk about tasks for the day. Mine usually include paperwork while his includes reading a new book he's gotten from the library. Then I leave in a rush to start paperwork for the day and then I have dance lessons for thirty minutes to learn the new ballroom dance for this year. Then its onto lunch. Gio and I talk about our day so far and usually that turns into some argument about something stupid like how to pronounce the word fork. Then again I leave in a rush to go and do more paperwork and attend my afternoon meetings. Then I have training again and finally dinner. At dinner we usually eat out on the balcony and talk about life, goals, dreams we had, and once about the alien universes I think exist in the stars. Gio disagrees but i know he'll come around.

I exit my room and nod at Nadia making sure she knows I'm going across the hall to see Gio for dinner. Knocking softly, I open the door all the way and step in. "Gio," I call closing the door behind me.I make sure to keep the box with a ribbon behind my back. Gio steps out of the closet confused for a second his expression seems almost guarded before he forces a smile. Why is he acting weird?

"Hey," he mutters and I give him a confused look. I grin at him still with my hands behind my back. I love how he's the sexiest shy guy i've ever met in my entire life. He's super shy all the time and he's let up a little bit but for the most part he is. He's the best kind of guy. Super cute and doesn't know it. "What you got there?" He asks glancing at my arms.

"A little present," I smile. A couple days ago Gio commented about the necklace I wear almost everyday. Its a diamond necklace with a half moon on it.It's nothing special really. I got it for my sixteenth birthday and it just happens to be my favorite necklace. Gio commented that he liked it and so I got him one but more masculine and also in bracelet form.

"For what?" he asks his eyes widening as I bring the white box and red ribbon from behind my back. He takes it from me when I shove it in his direction but makes not move to open it. "You didn't have to-"

I groan cutting him off "I don't have to have a reason to give my mate something nice. Open it!" I squeal. After another moment of examining the box he slowly takes the ribbon off and lifts the top of the box. Inside lays a black band with diamonds embedded into it. the two bands connect to a diamond encrusted half moon in the middle. He gasps

"I can't take this," He mutters looking up at me.

"Why not?" I frown

He gives me an 'are you serious' look. "Are you kidding? Are these real diamonds?" He pauses "Of course they are. How much did this cost?"

I shake my head at him and take the box. I take the bracelet out of the box and gently grab his wrist.The sparks ignite all around as I clasp the bracelet together. "It's a custom made bracelet I couldn't return it if I wanted to," I laugh "Besides it looks nice on you." He stares down at it in wonder. It glistens in the light and he gives me a soft smile.

"No one has ever given me anything besides my parents," He says "Thank you."

"No worries! Now we match," I giggle. He laughs too and then he does something surprising. He takes my hand and leads me out towards the balcony. He's never been a touchy person. He flinches still sometimes when I come near him and he avoids my touch most of the time. But in the moment he seems to break his own rule. He sidesteps the usual table and waits for me to sit down. He then pulls out his own chair and sits himself.