Nine

As we entered the apartment, Gino's eyes never left mine, and I felt a flutter in my chest. He walked ahead of me, his long strides eating up the distance to the living room. I followed him, my heart pounding in my ears.

He stopped before the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the city skyline. The silence was oppressive, and I felt I was waiting for something to happen.

Finally, he turned to me, his eyes still burning with intensity. "I think it's time we talked about what's going on here," he said, his voice low and husky.

My heart skipped a beat as I realised that this was it. This was the moment when everything would change. "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Gino walked closer to me, his eyes never leaving mine. "I think we've been playing this game too long," he said. "I think it's time we stopped pretending and started being honest with each other. I want real honesty, and we should get to know each other better since we will s