Deep Breaths (Garcello x Reader) [Slow Updates]

Part 21 - Cold Hands

For a moment, you're floating idly in the space between consciousness and slumber. It takes a second for you to swim further into wakefulness, but once you do, you register a few external senses.

One, a persistent noise-- knocking, you think-- from outside your apartment door. Two, a soreness in your throat that makes itself further apparent when you swallow, the unpleasant spike of pain causing you to open your eyes. And now with your eyes open-- three-- light. Streaming through your window.

...What time is it?

The knocking sounds again. You groan, willing your aching bones off of your mattress. A bit huffily, you try to get your bedhead under control on the short walk to the door, straightening out the comfy long pajama pants that Calvin's mom gifted you a long while ago.

"Hello?" you call through the door, starting a bit when you realize how hoarse your voice sounds. You clear your throat, though it does very little to help. "Who is it?"

"Hey,"  comes that warm voice you're far too familiar with, and you swear all the breath leaves your lungs, "(Y/N)? Uh, it's Garcello."

"...Yeah." Internally, you curse. Could you function like a regular human being for maybe two seconds around this gorgeous man? Apparently the heck not. Fumbling with the lock on your door, you murmur, "Hold on a sec."

The lock clicks and you tug the door, stepping to the side to peek through the opening. As expected, there stands Garcello, tilting his head a bit awkwardly to match the angle of your eyes. He waves, smiling in that way you so adore, and you stumble back with your heart in your throat and let him into your home.

"Nice to see you," you manage, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed in your ever so slightly dorky pajama pants and shirt. You rub your hands together. "Is, uh, there a reason for... why you came to see me?"

"Mm, yeah," he says, shuffling off his shoes. "Calvin asked me to check up on you... He went to visit you at your shift today, but you weren't there."

You blink, stomach suddenly full of ice.

"My... shift?" 

"Yeah. He tried calling you about it, but you didn't pick up." He shrugs. "Maybe the shifts got mixed up."

"I--" You pause, mouthing a swear under your breath. "Garcello, what time is it?"

"It's... 10 AM, I think," he replies.

Ohhhh, that's definitely not good.

"Shoot," you hiss as you turn on your heel and dash back to your bed, catching a glimpse of Garcello's surprised face as you do. 

Feet feeling like boulders on your legs, you scramble for the phone lying face-down next to your bed, connected to a charger. You unplug it and turn it on, heart dropping at the number of missed calls you've received in the short period of time since you went to bed and since you woke up.

"Crap, I--" you pant, "I forgot to unmute my phone. I missed my alarm and everything. How in the world did I sleep in so late?! I'm-- I'm gonna lose my job, I'm beyond screwed--"

"Hey, hey." You feel Garcello's hand on your shoulder, and the panic rushing in your veins calms just barely. "Take it easy. Calvin's covering for you. That's why he sent me here instead of coming himself."

"I..." Mouth dry, you swallow, trying not to wince at how your throat stings when you do. "Oh."

"And... um, well..." You turn to face Garcello, catching the sight of him rubbing the back of his neck. "Not to sound rude, man, but you... really don't look too hot right now. Not that you're not usually, um, hot-- wait, no, that's not-- I mean--"