Page 59 of Winging It with You

“It’s vile,” he breathes. “The stuff of nightmares.”

I laugh, leaning my head against his shoulder. And so begins this new, flirty element to our secrets game. Sure, we throw our little balls and do our best to put up a competitive fight against Jenn, Ellie, and the others. But it makes my heart soar to see how we’ve both thrown ourselves into this exchange of secrets.

After my next turn, which is far better than my first, I share that I used to tell people I was allergic to peanuts when I was younger instead of just admitting I didn’t like the taste. He shakes his head at my ridiculousness. Rightfully so.

I learn that he didn’t have his first kiss until he was eighteen. A fact I genuinely have a hard time believing considering just how charming he is.

Back and forth we go, haphazardly tossing balls and leaving our lips to linger longer and longer while we whisper stories to each other. I lose track of how long this tantalizing game has gone on or who wins at bocce ball, and soon, it becomes clear that everyone’s energy is dwindling for the evening.

At this point, Theo and I are practically fused together. His arm draped over my shoulder. Mine snaked around his waist. It’s the most naturally physical we’ve been with each other without a camera in sight. And as we walk side by side, back through the lounge and out into the quietness of a town half asleep, Theo and I trail behind the rest of our group.

I don’t know if it’s exhaustion or lust, but my eyes are heavy, so I lean in to Theo and inhale the sweetness of the summer night off his skin.

“You up for one more adventure?” he asks, his lips now at my temple.

I’m pretty sure I’d be up for anything with him.

But instead of telling him that, I just nod, and the two of us quietly veer away from our group without a single soul noticing.

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We wind our way throughthe city’s maze and stumble upon a gelateria moments from closing for the night. Eyeing each other with a shrug, we race through the old door and show some restraint in trying every delicious flavor.

Late-night treats in hand, classic chocolate for him and a creamy hazelnut for me, Theo and I walk in a comfortable silence, admiring the grand architecture and charm of the Italian city. I’ve never really had the chance to travel like this as an adult before these last few weeks—but as we turn down another bistro-lit and cobblestone road, I know this is a place I’ll spend the rest of my life longing to return to. Between the passion for food and wine and the fact that there’s literally history around each and every corner, what more could one want?

“What are you thinking?” Theo asks, bumping me with his shoulder as he takes a bite of his gelato.

“That I like it here,” I say after a beat.

“I do too,” he says quietly, expertly tossing his empty gelato cup into a nearby trash bin. “We should come back. Just the two of us.”

“Just the two of us, huh?” I repeat, my mouth going dry at the mere thought of truly having him all to myself. It’s both hard and incredibly easy to imagine. Theo is so effortless to be around. But that would mean whateverthisis has turned intosomething more, and I’m not sure either of us are ready to be there.

Or if he even wants that.

Still, the thought is intoxicating. “We should.”

“Mm-hmm,” he says, watching me intently as I take another small bite of my own gelato, trying to redirect my attention to something other than him. But I don’t think it’s doing anything to hide the grin that’s quickly growing. My lack of a poker face is less than helpful in times like this.

“Oh. Here,” he says, gently grabbing my arm and pulling me to a stop. “You’ve got a little…” He turns to face me head-on, taking a step forward to close the space between us. Theo reaches up, the pad of his thumb hovering ever so gently above my upper lip, and I’m pretty sure my limbs go completely numb.

With his hand soft against the side of my face, Theo slides his thumb across my lip, letting it linger slightly as our eyes meet. There’s a hunger behind his gaze, one that’s filled with questions and growing impatient. One that just might be tired of biding its time in the shadows.

“There,” he says, his voice a husky whisper. Theo removes his thumb from my lip and slowly slides it into his mouth.

For the briefest of moments, we’re both still. Nothing happens. Perhaps we’re each trying to figure out the other’s next move. In the middle of another foreign city, sleep-deprived, jet-lagged, and hornier than I think I’ve ever been in my life, I feel the battle between common sense and overwhelming lust coming to a head. His eyes find mine—his eyes that have made me feel more seen over the last couple days than any ever have, and I no longer care if this complicates our silly pact.

My mind is filled with one all-encompassing desire: Theo.

I reach for him before I talk myself out of it. There’s still ample opportunity for either of us to walk away like nothing ever happened. To go back to the way things were and turn whatever chemistry is bubbling between us on only for the camera.

But we don’t.

His hands find my face again and cradle me as the final moments of hesitancy slip between us. I grip his waist with tense fingertips and it’s suddenly a race to see who can pull the other closer. The second we’re pressed against each other, the most delicious hum radiates in his chest.

Even if this is real—or as real as two horny pretend boyfriends can get—I remind myself it’s temporary. But there’s something exhilarating about living in the moment. Physically giving in to what I think my body’s wanted since Theo sauntered over to steal my mozzarella sticks.

The air around us has reached a breaking point, laced with electricity and longing and whisperedfinallys. And though neither one of us has said a word, our bodies have settled into a conversation all on their own.

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