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Chapter 4: Confessions Under the Stars

Days went by slowly for Marco after his last conversation with Mia. Every time he saw her in the shop, working behind the counter or talking with customers, he felt a tug at his chest. It was a mix of longing and confusion, an internal battle that he couldn't ignore. He knew he had to tell her what he felt; the weight of his emotions was becoming unbearable.

One night, after the shop closed and everyone had left, Marco decided that he couldn't put it off any longer. Dominic had gone out with some of the racers to plan the next race, and Mia was cleaning the counter, like she usually did at the end of each day. Marco watched her in silence, noticing the way her hair fell over her shoulders and the softness of her smile while she hummed a tune.

Finally, he felt like he couldn't keep his feelings to himself any longer. He walked up to the counter, his heart beating fast, and took a deep breath.

"Mia, I need to talk to you," he said, his voice barely a whisper.

Mia looked up, surprised by the seriousness in Marco's tone. She put down the rag she had in her hands and came closer to him, with a look of curiosity and concern.

"Sure, Marco. What's up?"

He struggled to find the right words. For weeks, he had tried to understand what he felt for her, but now that he had the chance to be honest, the words seemed to escape his mind. He stayed quiet for a moment, watching Mia's face, which was full of patience and worry.

"I don't know how to say this…" he began, avoiding her eyes for a moment before finally looking up at her. "But I need to be honest with you. I can't keep pretending that I don't feel something for you."

Mia looked at him with surprise, her eyes searching his for an explanation. Marco continued, his voice shaking slightly.

"Since I met you, I've been trying to figure out what it is that draws me to you. And the truth is, I can't get you out of my head." He paused, moving a little closer to her. "You make me feel things that I haven't felt before, and no matter how much I try to ignore it, I can't. I don't wanna keep lying to myself or to you. I like you, Mia, more than I can explain."

As he spoke, Marco lifted a hand slowly, hesitating for a second before gently touching Mia's cheek with the tips of his fingers. The touch was soft, almost imperceptible, but strong enough to send a current of electricity through both of them. Mia's eyes widened a bit in surprise, and a slight blush spread across her cheeks.

She felt the warmth in her face and tried to look away, but Marco's eyes caught hers, holding her in the moment. There was something in his gaze that made her feel vulnerable but at the same time safe, like she was exposed but protected by the sincerity of his words.

"Marco…" she began, her voice soft and trembling. "I've also felt something for you for a while now. But…" Mia hesitated, feeling her heart beating faster under the intensity of Marco's gaze and the touch of his hand on her skin. "I don't wanna rush things. You're someone important to me, and I don't want this to just be an impulsive reaction."

Marco nodded, his fingers still gently caressing Mia's cheek, enjoying the contact and closeness he had never experienced with anyone else.

"I understand. I'm not asking for us to change everything overnight," he said calmly. "I just want to be honest about how I feel. And if you feel something too, maybe we can see where this takes us."

Mia looked at him, a slight smile appearing on her lips. The blush on her cheeks deepened, and Marco could feel how she melted a little more under his touch.

"I think that's fair. Maybe we should take some time for ourselves, go out on a few dates and see what happens. I don't want our emotions to complicate things unnecessarily. I wanna be sure that this is what we both want, not just now, but also later on."

Marco smiled, feeling a wave of relief and hope when he heard Mia's words. It wasn't a promise, but it was an opportunity, and that was more than he had hoped for.

"That sounds good, Mia. Let's take all the time we need," he replied, his eyes filled with determination and a new sense of hope.

She nodded, stepping closer to him and gently placing her hand over his, the one still resting on her cheek. The warmth of the gesture sent a wave of emotions through Marco, making him feel more connected to her than ever.

"Thanks for being honest with me, Marco. Let's see where this takes us, okay?"

"Okay," he answered, squeezing her hand gently in gratitude.

The two stayed in silence for a moment, enjoying the closeness and understanding they had just shared. The night seemed quieter now, with an air of peace and possibility that filled the space between them. As they walked out of the shop together, under the starry sky, they both knew they were at the beginning of something that could change their lives forever.

The stars shone brightly above them, as if they were also waiting to see what would happen next. Walking side by side, with their steps in sync, they realized that this was just the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, one full of promises, discoveries, and maybe, love.

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