Don't You Dare

Chapter 8: Shared Spaces

There was a beat of silence before Gabe let out a low, surprised laugh. "Papi, huh? You're really trying to kill me tonight, aren't you?"

Andrea grinned, feeling a rush of excitement as she glanced down at herself. "Maybe I'll give you something to think about," she murmured, her fingers hovering over her phone's camera.

"Now you've got my full attention," Gabe said, his voice low and teasing. "I'm all ears."

Andrea's heart raced as she snapped a picture of herself in bed, her hair tousled and the top button of her pajama shirt undone just enough to tease. She attached the photo to a message and sent it before she could overthink.

A moment later, she heard the familiar ding of his text notification. There was a pause, and then her screen lit up with his response: a string of emojis—wide eyes, a fire emoji, and a smirking face.

She laughed softly, feeling a flush of satisfaction and heat spread through her. "Better go take another cold shower," she typed back, adding a winking face at the end.

Gabe's response came almost instantly. "You're killing me, baby. Sweet dreams, and I'll be thinking about you all night."

She smiled, her heart light as she typed out her final message for the night. "Goodnight Gabe. Sweet dreams." She added a wink emoji, imagining him trying to sleep with that image in his mind.

As she placed her phone on her bedside table, she felt a sense of contentment and excitement settle over her. She could still feel the flutter in her chest from their conversation, and as she closed her eyes, she knew she'd be dreaming of him too.

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November 28th, 2015

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, waking Andrea slowly. She stretched under the covers, the warmth of her bed cocooning her. Reaching for her phone on the nightstand, she noticed a call coming in—Gabe's name lighting up the screen. A smile spread across her face as she answered.

"Hey," she said softly, her voice still a little groggy from sleep.

"Happy birthday, beautiful," Gabe's voice came through, warm and teasing. "How does it feel to be sixteen?"

Andrea laughed, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling up inside her. "I don't know yet. I guess I'm still getting used to the idea."

"Well, get ready for the best birthday ever," Gabe said, a hint of mischief in his tone. "Be ready by six. I've got a surprise for you."

Andrea's curiosity piqued. "A surprise? What kind of surprise?"

"You'll see," he teased. "Just wear something you can dance in, and be ready to have fun."

She could hear the smile in his voice, and it made her heart flutter. "Alright, I'll be ready."

"Good. I can't wait to see you," Gabe said, his voice softening. "Happy birthday again, Andrea. I'll see you tonight."

They hung up, and Andrea set her phone down, feeling a thrill of excitement. She sat up, brushing her hair back, just as a soft knock on her door pulled her attention. Her father stepped into the room, a small, hesitant smile on his face.

"Happy birthday, Andrea," he said quietly, his presence filling the room in a way that was both comforting and awkward.

"Thanks, Dad," she replied, surprised but touched by his gesture.

He stepped closer, leaning down to kiss her on the forehead. For a moment, he seemed unsure of what to say, his gaze flicking around the room before settling back on her. "I know I'm not the best at showing it, but I want you to know... I'm proud of you. I hope you have a good day."