Page 45 of Meet You Half Way
“Yeah,” he replied in a way that was less than convincing.
“You don’t seem all that enthused by the idea,” I returned, trying to keep the hurt in my voice to a minimum.
“I’m not opposed to the idea,” he said, eyes rising to meet mine. “I’m just … nervous. I’ve never done anything like that before and I’m …”
“It’s okay, I get it,” I said, wishing I could reach out and hold that hand that was now twisting the serviette. “I would love tomeet Dante and Giulia, properly at least and I will come for dinner if that is truly what you want. It’s your call.”
He nodded, nerves crossing his face before he sucked in a deep breath. “I want you there,” he said, quietly but confidently. That was enough for me.
“Okay then,” I agreed, unable to stop the grin from spreading across my face. Looked like it was time to meet the family, the unofficial one at least but the one I knew who mattered most.
I was feeling an unexpected burst of nerves in my stomach when I knocked on that baby pink front door later that week. It was Friday night and we were on our way to Dante and Giulia’s for dinner. I hadn’t met Mateo’s parents yet, something that seemed fairly unlikely for the time being at least, but tonight felt like I was meeting the ones whose opinions counted.
Which helped explain on one hand why I was nervous but not on the other because I was good at this stuff. I’d met the parents of other boyfriends in the past and had no issues being my usual charming, friendly self. Parents loved me. Mateo wasn’t even my boyfriend and yet a veritable swarm of butterflies were having an absolute field day in my gut.
My state of nervous energy wasn’t helped by the sudden arrival of Mateo on the other side of the door as I felt all the oxygen leave my body.
Fuck me. How was any human being this bloody perfect? And what was he doing withme? He left me utterly tongue tied as he stood there, ashy hair with its blonde tips perfectly in place, dark inky eyes getting darker by the minute as my eyes swept down his incredible body. He was in a pair of very snug black jeans that highlighted his figure and had me fearing for my sanity when Iglimpsed the even more tempting view of his ass from behind. He had on a low cut v-neck top in white that showed off his olive skin, perfectly complimented by that gold chain around his neck.
“What?” he asked when it became apparent that words and I had suddenly parted company.
“Just wondering what good deeds I did in a past life to get to take you out tonight,” I stumbled out. Mateo’s eyes lit up at my words, a soft smile tugging at those lips I was suddenly desperate to taste. But I knew his rules so I held myself back even though my body had lit up like a bonfire.
“You don’t look too bad yourself,” he returned, eyes skating down my body and stoking those flames even higher.
“Are you sure we need to go out tonight?” I all but whimpered. “I think I’d rather shut you in your room and do all manner of unholy things to you.”
“Keep talking like that and I’m pretty sure you’ll be getting lucky later tonight,” he grinned.
“It’s not really fair you know,” I huffed as we walked towards my parked car and I opened his door for him.
“What’s not fair?” he asked, stopping at the door, those pouty pink lips just inches from mine.
“Going to meet ‘the family’ with you looking like that,” I groaned. “I’m trying to make a good impression but all I’ll be doing is drooling over you all night.”
“Aw, you want to impress my aunty and uncle?” he cooed back at me.
“Remind me, they’re not really your blood relations, are they?”
“No but they’re as good as blood to me,” he returned, face serious.
“Well then, yes, I do want to make a good impression,” I admitted.
“You will,” he assured me. “You saved Dante’s life remember. Pretty sure you could rock up in a tutu and a hula hoop and they’d still love you.”
“Hmm,” I murmured, fighting back a grin.
“What?”
“Just picturing you in nothing but a tutu and a hula hoop now,” I grinned. “I gotta say it really works for you too.”
“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind,” he eyerolled, sliding into the front seat of my car.
I drove us the short distance towards Dante and Giulia’s house, Mateo acting as my navigator until we arrived at the luxe stone villa on the inland hilly side of Esperance. I tried to tamp down my nerves as I reached for the bottle of wine I had bought, Italian of course, and then followed Mateo as he led us up the lit paving stones to the front door.
I had to give Mateo more credit than I’d originally given him when he reached down to squeeze my hand, dropping his hold before the door swung open. Giulia stood on the threshold, positively beaming at the two of us as Mateo smiled and ducked his head.
“Zietta,” he smiled, stepping towards her as she enveloped him in a hug.
