6

**Chapter 6: First Steps**

The weeks that followed were a whirlwind of emotions for Marco and Mia. Since their conversation in the alley, they had decided to take things slow, allowing themselves to know each other beyond the furtive glances and words exchanged in the middle of the hustle of races. Dominic, although protective as always, had given his implicit blessing, with a veiled warning in his eyes whenever he saw Marco and Mia together.

Marco, for his part, was getting used to this new territory, one full of emotions he had never explored. He had spent much of his life training to be a ghost, a man of missions and clear objectives, with a cold and calculated focus. But with Mia, all of that faded. Her warm smiles, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about something she was passionate about, were things Marco found himself looking forward to more than any mission he had ever had.

Their first date was at a small café at the end of the main street, far from the bustle of the garage and the races. Mia had suggested the place, knowing Marco wasn't the type who would enjoy a fancy restaurant or somewhere too flashy. The café was cozy, with walls full of old photographs of the city and shelves with worn-out books that gave the impression of having been read many times.

Marco arrived early, as he always did, and took a table in the corner. It felt strange to be in such a quiet place, without the roar of engines or the smell of gasoline that had become so familiar. He looked around, trying to calm his nerves. He wasn't used to being nervous, but something about this date had him more anxious than usual. Maybe it was the idea of opening up to someone in a way he never had before, of showing Mia parts of himself that he had kept hidden for so long.

Mia arrived a few minutes later, with her characteristic light walk and a smile that could have lit up an entire room. She sat down in front of Marco and, for a moment, they both stayed silent, just enjoying each other's company.

"This place is lovely," Marco finally said, breaking the silence.

"I'm glad you like it," Mia replied, her eyes sparkling. "I thought it would be a good place to start."

As they talked about trivial things, from the weather to the latest news in the racing world, Marco realized he couldn't remember the last time he had had such a relaxed conversation. With Mia, everything felt natural. There was no need to keep his guard up or measure every word. She made him feel at peace, something he hadn't experienced in a long time.

After a couple of hours at the café, they decided to take a walk through the nearby park. It was a cool day, and the leaves on the trees swayed gently in the wind. They walked side by side, sometimes in silence, sometimes laughing at a joke Mia made. Marco felt lighter, as if a burden he didn't know he was carrying had been lifted.

As time went on, their dates became more frequent. Some nights, after the garage closed and the noise of the cars faded away, they would meet up for a late-night stroll or sit on a bench and talk. Other days, Marco would surprise her by taking her to secluded places he had discovered in his years of traveling, little corners of the city where they could be alone.

One of those nights, they decided to go to the beach. It wasn't a well-known beach, more like a small stretch of sand at the end of a long dirt road. Mia had insisted on bringing a blanket and some food for an impromptu picnic, and although Marco had tried to persuade her that it wasn't necessary, he eventually gave in to her enthusiasm.

They sat on the sand, the blanket spread out beneath them, watching the waves gently break against the shore. The moon was full, and its light reflected on the water, creating a silvery glow that made everything feel more magical.

"It's beautiful," Mia said, her voice just a whisper as she gazed out at the horizon.

Marco nodded, not taking his eyes off her. He couldn't help it. There was something about the way the moonlight illuminated her face, the way her eyes got lost in the distance, that left him breathless. He felt lucky to be there with her, to share that moment.

Without thinking too much, Marco reached out and gently caressed Mia's cheek. She turned her head to look at him, and for a moment, time seemed to stop. Marco could feel his heart beating faster, could hear the sound of his own breathing as his eyes met Mia's.

"Mia," he whispered, not really knowing what he wanted to say, only that he needed to say something, anything to express what he was feeling.

Mia didn't say anything, but her eyes spoke for her. There was a softness in her gaze, an understanding that made Marco feel like everything was okay, that there was no need for words.

Driven by an impulse he couldn't control, Marco leaned forward and pressed his lips against Mia's. It was a soft kiss, almost shy, but full of an intensity that surprised both of them. It was his first kiss, a moment he had imagined many times in the past weeks, but that didn't compare to the reality.

Mia's lips were warm and soft, and as the kiss deepened, Marco felt as if the whole world disappeared, leaving just the two of them, on that beach, under the moonlight. When they finally pulled away, both remained silent, breathing heavily, their foreheads still touching.

"I'm sorry," Marco finally said, breaking the silence. "I didn't mean to…"

Mia stopped him with a soft laugh, putting a finger on his lips.

"Don't apologize," she replied, her voice just a whisper. "It was... perfect."

And it was. In that moment, under the starry sky and with the sound of the waves in the background, everything seemed to fit. Marco didn't know what the future held for them, didn't know if his life with Mia could fit with the world he knew. But for the first time, he wasn't worried about that. He was willing to let things take their course, to explore whatever might arise between them.

The following weeks passed in a blur of dates and stolen moments. Every encounter with Mia was a new adventure, an opportunity to know her more, to discover what made her eyes light up or her laughter resonate. There were moments of tenderness, like when they walked hand in hand through the city or shared a dinner in some secluded spot. And there were also moments of passion, where they couldn't help but get closer, their lips meeting in increasingly intense kisses.

But beyond the kisses and caresses, what Marco liked most was simply being with her. There was something in the way Mia looked at him, in the way she spoke to him, that made him feel seen, understood. With her, there was no need to hide, no need to maintain the walls he had built over the years.

One day, after a particularly fun date at an amusement park, they found themselves walking back to the car, their hands intertwined. Mia was laughing, telling a story about how Dominic used to take her to that same park when she was a kid, and how he always insisted on riding the tallest roller coaster, even though she was scared.

"I would hold onto him for dear life," she was saying, her eyes shining with the memory. "But he always told me I had nothing to fear, that everything was under control."

Marco listened to her, a smile on his face. He liked hearing Mia's stories, the little details of her life that had made her who she was. There was a warmth in her voice when she talked about her brother, a mix of love and respect that made Marco understand why Dominic was so important to her.

When they reached the car, Mia stopped and turned to him, her expression more serious than usual.

"Marco, I want you to know something," she said, her voice low but firm. "I'm really glad you're here, that you're with me. I know we haven't talked much about what this means, about what comes next, but I want you to know that I'm willing to find out."

Marco looked at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. He knew Mia was honest, that she wasn't the type to say things lightly. And knowing that she was willing to give them a chance, to explore whatever they had, filled him with a warmth he hadn't felt before.

"I want that too, Mia," he replied, his voice full of emotion. "I want to be with you, I want to see where this takes us. I don't know what the future holds, but I know I want to be with you."