Ciro's P.O.V
I should've known agreeing to this was a bad idea the moment Kenan laced our fingers together outside the building.
He hadn't let go since. Not while we climbed the short stairs, not while we signed in at the front desk, not even when the lady at the door called us adorable with that knowing grin.
By the time we slipped into the back row, my palm was practically glued to his. Kenan sank into the seat next to me, then dragged my chair closer like he owned both the chair and me.
Finally, he released my hand, only to drop a ball of soft blue yarn in my lap.
"Blue suits you," he said, his tone smug enough to earn him a smack.
I shot him a flat look but didn't argue.
Up front, the instructor, a bubbly woman named Mara clapped her hands for attention.
"Welcome, everyone! I'm Mara, and tonight we're doing a fun beginner project. If you've never crochet before, don't panic! I'll guide you through how to hold your yarn, make a simple chain stitch, and shape it into a tiny plush heart keychain! You'll swap them with your partner at the end. Oh and every five minutes, switch projects so you both work on each other's!"
Someone near the front giggled. I didn't even get to groan before Kenan nudged a ball of pure white yarn out of the basket for himself.
Mara passed out tiny keychain rings and hooks, then demonstrated how to loop the yarn and start the first chain. Kenan caught on fast and of course while I fumbled like my hands belonged to someone else.
"Relax your grip," he murmured, his voice too soft, too close. His fingers wrapped around mine, steadying the hook. "You're strangling the poor yarn."
"It will be you, next" I added. He only laughed under his breath, the bastard.
Bit by bit, my lopsided knot started to look vaguely like a heart if you squinted. I kept going, stitch by shaky stitch, while Kenan's perfect little white heart looked like something straight out of a craft store.
When Mara strolled by, she beamed. "Wonderful! Time to switch."
Kenan caught my eye, one eyebrow lifted like he was daring me to say no. I rolled my eyes but let him take my mess while I grabbed his flawless piece.
"Don't ruin it," he teased, brushing my fingers on purpose.
I ran my thumb over the tiny loops and paused when I spotted something crocheted neatly near the center. His initials.
"Are you trademarking it?" I muttered.
He shrugged, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "If I was it would of been the last thing I give you"
I rolled my eyes. I was about to come up with a smart reply when my phone buzzed on the table. I dropped my hook and grabbed it. My professor had finally replied to my draft , finally. I barely got two lines in before my phone vanished right out of my hand.
My blink was slower than how fast Kenan tucked it behind his back.
"No devices out, Ciro," he said, sounding disgustingly smug.
I leaned closer, voice low and dangerous. "Give. It. Back."
He turned more in his chair, shielding it with his stupid broad shoulders.
"Oh really? I don't believe you."
"Who asked you to? Give it back before I—"
I lunged for it, half climbing onto his leg, but he twisted smoothly away, muffling a laugh in his palm.
"Kenan—" I hissed, breathless. "I swear, I'll bite you."
"Do it."
Fine. I sank my teeth into his shoulder just hard enough to make him flinch.
"Oh fuck, Ciro—" He jerked so fast the phone slipped loose. I snatched it back, victorious.
"Serves you right." I said waving the phone in his face.In which he took back the opportunity to snatch it back this time shoving it under his thigh like a toddler hiding candy.
"You're not getting it back until we finish" he warned
I looked at the time and saw there was thirty minutes.Sighing,working with kenan for the past few weeks has taught me patience.I think I can wait.
Giving up I grabbed my half-finished heart, muttering curses only he could hear. I told the truth and he never believed me if I'd lied, he'd believe every word.
"Ciro!" he whispered suddenly. I looked up, suspicious. "What now—?"
Too late. My phone was pointed straight at my face, camera open.
"Smile."
I gave him the fakest grin in human history. If only people knew how badly I wanted to strangle him.
He snapped the photo anyway and grinned, satisfied. "Perfect. Now everyone knows you're cute when you're with me."
"Shut up, I looked like I aged by at least five years" I grumbled, pushing my hook through the yarn too forcefully.
At last, Mara clapped her hands again. "All done! Swap your keychains with your partner — carry them with you, and remember tonight whenever you see it!"
I thrust my blue plush heart at him. "Don't lose it."
Kenan took it gently, his fingers warm against mine. "Relax. It's staying right here." He tapped his chest over his heart.
Then he pressed his perfect white heart into my palm, folding my fingers over it before I could argue. "So you never forget me, obviously."
"Arrogant jerk."
He laughed, low and warm.
When we stepped out of the building, the evening breeze hit my face, cool and steady — a relief after being squished in that warm room.
Kenan didn't let go of my hand. If anything, his grip got more casual, like he didn't even notice we were still tangled together.
Outside the gates, he fished his keys from his pocket. I caught the faint clink before I realized he'd hooked the blue crochet heart I'd made onto his keyring.
"See?" he said, jingling at them once. "Now it's with me everywhere."
I stared at the ridiculous sight of my wonky blue heart dangling next to his sleek car key and couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled out.
"So stupid" I muttered. But when I pulled out my phone, I slipped his perfect white heart onto the charm loop of my case, next to my old strap. It looked annoyingly cute there, like it belonged.
Kenan caught the tiny smile I tried to hide as I tucked my phone away. I rolled my eyes and tugged him down the sidewalk by our joined hands.