Chapter 8 Giulia De Luca

• Giulia de Luca
• I burst with joy knowing that this apartment is now mine, and that I no longer need to stay in the dorm. But I refuse to stay away from my best friend and, if possible, she might even become my dad’s girlfriend.
• "How about we move in today?" I suggest to Alessa, who chokes on her drink.
• "Are you crazy, causing trouble for Mr. De Luca?" I notice that my dad doesn't seem to like her comment.
• "I see no problem at all, at least you'll start getting used to the house," my dad says, looking at Alessa.
• "Great, then let's head to campus to pack up!" I say, looking into my friend's blue eyes.
• My father continues to glance at the news while we clean up the kitchen and everything we've used. Alessa helps me make a grocery list for us to pick up before heading back, and I think I have an idea to leave the two of them alone for a bit.
• Alessa returned with me in my car, and my dad drove the one they had been using, saying it would be good for splitting up boxes if needed. I have enough suitcases to carry my clothes; I'm sure Alessa does too.
• Our dormitory is exclusively for women, and our room is at the end of the corridor on the second floor. Judging by the silence, I believe most of the students must be away.
• "Alessa, my stuff is practically all packed in suitcases. You just need to pack yours…" I say, looking at her as she narrows her eyes.
• "Dad, can you help Alessa pack her things? I'm going to the supermarket nearby and shouldn't be more than half an hour…" My friend's face turns red with embarrassment.
• But I don’t give them any room for discussion. I grab my bag again and exit through the open door, walking briskly so neither of them can say anything.
• I get into my car and head to the supermarket, which is fifteen minutes away. Fortunately, there's traffic, which suits my mood. At the supermarket, list in hand, I start picking out the items on it.
• I’m looking at tomato sauce brands when a can of peaches in syrup rolls to my foot. I bend down to pick it up and bump foreheads with someone else who was doing the same.
• “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry…” I say, rubbing my forehead.
• “Giulia?” I lift my head and realize I’ve bumped into my stunningly handsome genome research coordinator.
• He's a striking Swedish man, invited to lead the genome project team at George Washington. I attend some of his lectures, but I find myself focusing more on the movement of his lips than on the sample slides.
• “Professor!” I see him wince when I call him that.
• “Please, just Erick!” Good heavens, my stomach, and legs go weak hearing him.
• “Alright, Erick…”
• “Are you okay? That was quite a bump.” His hands grasp mine, helping me to stand up.
• I can't stop staring at his slightly parted lips, and I notice he's doing the same with me. But there’s no way I’m hitting on the man who will be my boss for the next two years.
• His hand touches the bump forming on my temple, and even his delicate touch throbs.
• "I think it was stronger than I thought," I say, my breathing uneven.
• "Do you want me to take you to the emergency room?" he suggests. I shake my head. "How about coffee to make up for what I did?"
• His smile is the invitation I need to accept whatever comes next with this Swede.
• "I'll take the coffee, as long as our interaction doesn't get weird afterward," I say, partly because I have no idea what will happen after coffee.
• I have no intention of going back to my dorm now; I want my dad and Alessa to have a chance to talk, and who knows...
• Since I've found my future boss, I could score some extra credits with him outside the research building.
• I finish my shopping and notice he's buying some things too, probably to prepare some typical food.
• "Are you excited about starting your residency?" he asks as I scan my groceries at the register.
• "Yes, very," I say with a proud smile. "I hope that after this assault, you'll reconsider my grades and grant me some credit," I say softly, and his hand touches mine just as I reach for the box of strawberries.
• "You can be sure of that," he says, his eyes locked on mine.
• I glance at his lips, and the desire to kiss him is so strong that if the cashier hadn’t coughed, I might have kissed him right there.
• I smile at him, embarrassed, and finish scanning my purchases. I wait for him to do the same and head to my car to unload my groceries.
• Erick walks beside me in a silence filled with the moment's tension, interrupted by the cashier.
• I unlock the car, and before I can turn around to start grabbing my things, I'm pressed against the car's body.
• His gaze seems to conflict with something inside him; I can see his dilated pupils, darker than they should be. A war begins inside me, too. I'll be his student for the next few years; how will I deal with this?
• "Fuck it," he says, and his lips capture mine.
• I can't resist, so I push all my morality to the back of my conscience and let him do as he pleases with me.
• "Let's go somewhere quieter?" His whispered request made my intimacy even wetter.
• "I'd love to, but I can't right now," I say between kisses.
• "Do you have a boyfriend?" he asks, and I shake my head. I feel his smile as he kisses my neck.
• "My dad is waiting for me at my dorm," I say, his groan as he presses his body against mine, driving me crazy for that moment with Erick.
• "How about dinner?" he suggests, and I smile and shake my head.
• "How about afternoon tea tomorrow? I'm moving today, and tomorrow, I'm free." What madness am I getting into?
• "Then let's go to that café over there, we can talk!" We pull away when we notice movement near my car.
• I laugh as I pack everything into my car, and then we go to his car to put away his groceries. I hope he gets into his car so we can go to the café, and for a good while, I forget my cupid idea. It seems I've been struck by my professor and future boss instead.