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“Looks like someone has a crush,” Veronica whispers as I leave, but luckily, I am ignoring her.
The fact of the matter is, since her arrival, Gabriella Perez hasn’t been far from my thoughts at all. The girl-next-door is an enchanting mystery, one I’d like to explore by peeling away each layer at a time, preferably with teeth and… other parts. I want to get to know her more, find out what it is about her that fascinates me, and I want her to get to know me, hopefully without being afraid.
Which is why I’ve slowly begun taking steps to get to know her, and get her comfortable around me. Every few days I visit her at the cafe. Not like before, but through a crack in the door.
We only ever spend a few minutes speaking, but I always come away with a little more each time. Whether it’s a new tidbit or a sunny smile, our little clandestine endeavors have become something of a game and the best part of my week. Knocking on her cafe’s front door, I lean casually against the worn frame and wait for a minute.
As usual, she is prompt to answer. My sensitive ears pick up sounds of boxes shuffling, and then the distinct slide of the chain bolt. A moment later, the door creaks open a few inches. Not by much, but enough to spot a flushed smile in the sliver of sun.
“Hi Chet,” she answers a little breathlessly. Dust and sunlight swirl around the smooth jawline that my fingers itch to reach out and caress. “What brings you by?”
“Hey Gabriella,” I return easily, matching her smile. “Was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d swing by. How are things?”
“Ugh,” she replies, her grin at my joke transforming into a grimace. “I had no idea renovations were so tough, especially for a small business. I hired some contractors that are doing the heavy lifting luckily, but there’s still so much on my end that I still need to organize.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to help? I’m pretty capable, I promise.” The offer is always voiced, even if she always politely declines. She accepts the sandwich I’ve procured though, so at least she appreciates my food.
“Ah, I don’t want to upset your workload, you’ve got your own business to run after all,” she explains, hesitant but sure all at once. “Thanks for the offer though. Although, if I were a betting woman, I’d say all you really want is a peek inside, to see all the renovations and get the inside scoop.”
I laugh heartily, making a show of opening my hands in mock surrender. Sure, I may look like an idiot, standing on the sidewalk and waving my arms while talking to what looks like a door, but I’m making a beautiful, hard-working woman smile, which is absolutely the highlight of my day.
“Guilty as charged it seems. I admit it was a desperate ploy to gain popularity, by making the townspeople jealous with all my insider information,” I joke easily. “Would you believe me if I say I actually came by for a favor?”
“A favor? What do you need?” she asks, suddenly earnest. I blink, caught off-balance by the brightness of her eyes, before I give her a gentle smile as I step close.
The apple of her chin has been tempting me since she opened the door. With sure reflexes, I reach out and brush a light finger on the underside of her jaw. “Come outside once in a while, and see what Curiosity has to offer.”
It’s her turn to blink, startled by my actions, and I’m surprised by myself, to be honest. But I don’t withdraw, nor does she pull away, and it occurs to me that all it would take is a bit of applied strength to rip the door off its hinges, and there would be nothing to block me from kissing her.
“You want me to come out?”
“Only if you want to. The residents of Curiosity are curious about you, and if I don’t do something to prove you exist, they may start to think I’ve made you up,” I add, whispering conspiratorially, and she giggles at my poorly-attempted humor.
“Well then, maybe I will make an appearance somewhere, if for nothing else than to assure everyone of your mental health,” she replies evenly.
“Thanks for staying in my corner,” I return wryly.
“It’s the least I can do for a neighbor.” Then without warning, Gabriella jumps back and slams the door in my face, while I stand there stupidly with my finger caressing air. “Then again, I only said maybe!” she calls, drifting further back in.
I give a low growl under my breath. The temptation to charge after her is very real, to give chase and catch her in my arms, peppering her with kisses. I look again at the door, knowing how easy it would be to break down, and fulfill my rampant fantasies.
Instead, I turn away laughing, delighted by our interaction for the rest of the afternoon. Gabriella will be a challenge indeed, one I intend on spending as much time with as possible.
3
GABRIELLA
Iinhale the fresh scents deeply, no longer worried about the risk of dangerous spores infecting my lungs. “Thanks guys!” I call out to the last of the handymen, as they load the last of their supplies up. They had stayed a little later to help me set up some colorful, kitschy furniture I had delivered, but at long last it seems, the work is finally done.
Over these last few weeks, I’ve been putting my nose to the grindstone since moving to Curiosity, and it’s finally starting to show. The cafe that once belonged to my great-aunt Maria is now starting to feel like my own, especially with all the changes I’ve implemented.
Gone are the mold patches, the strange ecosystems that had taken root—because really, how did she manage to house an entire family of bats inside!—the peeling wallpaper, and the crusted countertops. In their places are whitewashed bistro tables, fresh and bright paint, along with shining floors that are scented with lemon wax. Where there was once a gloomy, cluttered space, now stands a modern spot that looks like it could hit the cover of Culinary Review.
Gone are the dingy, stained glass windows, and all dark, dirty paneling. I replaced the large, wooden counter with a small, white marble one, and used some of the old stonework to create a beautiful trellis wall adorned with large roses that serves as a natural partition instead. There have been so many changes that I’ve made, and now all that’s left is to make sure the pantries and fridges are stocked, and hope that all the new changes will be well-received.
As I watch the workers drive off, their work done, I smile and wave, looking out at the town square as the sun sets. Curiosity really is a lovely place, and although restoring the cafe was a greater challenge than I had anticipated, I’m excited to leave my mark on the town. I’m also a little nervous to meet the rest of the townsfolk, but having already met Chet, I have a good feeling about the rest.
“What the…” My voice trails off as I notice a small family turning the corner. Just a mother and daughter, but they are so extraordinary that they catch my eye immediately.
