46 Christian
I’m nervous, and for a moment I’m not entirely sure why.
It’s just Francesca. Just dinner. I’ve eaten dinner with her more times than I can count- hundreds, probably. Maybe more.
But I’ve never taken her on a date before.
Hell, I don’t think I’ve ever taken anyone on a date before, now that I think about it.
A few days ago, I decided I wanted to do this. After everything that’s happened recently- the emotions, the declarations, the decisions that followed- I wanted to do something simple. Just to remind her that not everything is different.
That it’s still me and her.
Well… and Jamie. And Ryan.
I told them my plan, and they agreed to give us space.
Because I know Francesca, and her first instinct is going to be that she’s leaving someone out.
So Ryan and Jamie are “helping Ryan’s mom” with some home repair this evening.
Or something like that. I didn’t ask for details.
The less I know, the more believable it probably is.
“Dude, relax,” Jamie says from the living room. “You’re starting to make me nervous.”
It’s not even like I’m particularly dressed up- I’m wearing jeans and a button-up, like I do most days- but I keep smoothing my shirt anyway.
“I know,” I mutter, dragging a hand down the front of my shirt again. “I don’t know why I’m freaking out.”
He pushes off the wall and walks over, stopping in front of me. “Yeah, you do.”
I glance at him.
“Because she matters more than anything,” he says simply.
I nod, just once, and my phone buzzes in my hand.
Ryan: Just got to my parents’. She’s all yours, C.
Me: Thanks.
He reacts with a thumbs up, and Jamie pulls out his phone, already typing.
Jamie: On my way.
Ryan: I’m already regretting this. We didn’t need to actually come here- we could have lied and gone to my place, but now my little sister has roped us into a full tea party situation.
I huff out a quiet laugh, and Jamie exhales like he’s already tired just thinking about it.
“Well,” he says, pushing away from me, “guess I better go. Can’t keep the tea party waiting.” He hesitates for a second, then adds, a little quieter, “Have a good night. I’ll, uh, see you later?”
I reach out, wrapping my hand around the back of his neck. He stills immediately, his eyes lifting to mine.
“I love you, Jamie.”
He holds my gaze for a second, then nods once. “I know.” A faint smirk tugs at his mouth. “Now go show her that you love her too.”
I lean in, pressing a quick kiss to his mouth before he can say anything else, and then he’s gone.
Francesca isn’t expecting me. I don’t think she’s surprised to see me standing on her porch a few minutes after Ryan leaves, but the knocking definitely throws her off.
“Oh- hi,” she says, smiling when she opens the door, though there’s a hint of confusion there. “Uh… did you lose your key?”
“No,” I tell her, shifting my weight slightly. “Just wanted to do this right.”
She tilts her head, studying me more closely now. “Do what right?”
I pull the small bouquet out from behind my back and hold it out to her. “Go on a date with me?”
The reaction is immediate and not at all what I expected. She glances at the flowers and tears fill her eyes. I step forward automatically, dropping the flowers without thinking as I reach for her. “Shit- love, what’s wrong?”
“No! My flowers!” She drops down to grab them off the ground, cradling them in her arms. When she stands again, there are tears on her cheeks, but she’s smiling, and I feel completely off balance.
“I’m… confused,” I admit, running a hand through my hair. “Are you upset or happy?”
“Happy,” she says, her voice soft, even as another tear slips down. “I’ve never gotten flowers before.” She lowers her face to them, breathing them in. “Thank you.”
That hits harder than it should. Fifteen dollars at a grocery store, and she’s reacting like it’s something extraordinary.
Hell, I should have been doing this all along- finding small ways to make her smile like this, making sure she knew she deserved it.
A flash of anger at yet another thing Gary stole from her- from us.
He took away our ability to court her like we should.
“Francesca,” I say more quietly, stepping closer again, this time careful of the flowers in her hands as I pull her into me. My hand comes up to brush the tear from her cheek, my thumb lingering there on her cheek. “You’re beautiful. Do you know that?”
I kiss her and she melts into it instantly, soft and warm, like this is exactly where she’s meant to be. For a moment, everything else fades out until it’s just this, just her. I start to pull her closer, instinctively, but she laughs softly against my mouth and presses a hand to my chest.
“Careful,” she says, pouting just a little as she pulls back. “You’re going to crush my flowers.”
I let out a quiet breath that turns into a small laugh as she slips out of my arms and heads into the kitchen. She grabs a glass, fills it with water, and sets the bouquet carefully in the center of the table, adjusting them until they’re just right before looking back at me.
“Thank you,” she says again, softer this time.
“You’re welcome,” I tell her, “You deserve- ” I cut myself off before I can go too far, forcing myself to keep it light. “You’re welcome.”
I shift my weight, trying to find my footing again. “So… is that a yes?”
She blinks at me for a second. “A yes to what?”
I can’t help the small smile that pulls at my mouth. “Will you go on a date with me?”
Her entire face lights up, bright and immediate. “Oh- yes! I’d love to,” she says, almost bouncing on her feet. “I’ve never been on a date before. Give me a minute- I want to change.”
She disappears down the hall before I can respond, and I lean back against the counter, exhaling slowly, already wondering what she’s going to come back in.
She didn’t have much before- a few worn-out clothes, nothing that really fit- and when I took her shopping a few days ago, she fought me on almost everything.
Still, I managed to convince her to get a dress.
Light pink, soft fabric, little flowers.
She said she loved it, but wouldn’t come out to show me.
She let me buy it, though.
And I can’t help hoping that’s what she’s putting on right now.
“I hope these shoes are okay,” she says, stepping back into the kitchen. “I don’t have heels or anything.”
She lifts her foot slightly, showing off a simple sandal.
And yeah- she’s wearing the dress.
Its fucking sexy as hell. Cute and soft at first glance, but it doesn’t hide anything, clinging to her curves…
I clear my throat, dragging my focus back up.
“Perfect,” I say. “You’re perfect.”
That earns me another one of those huge, unguarded smiles.
“So where are we going?”
I take her hand and lead her to the car. “There’s a little bistro close to our new place. I thought we could try it?”
She nods and I walk her to her door, stealing a quick kiss before opening it. “Thank you, Christian. This is already the best date ever.”
~
The little restaurant has some outdoor seating in a garden and Francesca doesn’t quit smiling the entire time we are walked to our seats.
“This place is adorable! I’m obsessed. Oh my gosh- do you see that? There’s a little fountain over there!”
She leans forward and whispers, “I think I want to live here. Do you think they’d let me?”
I shake my head, watching her more than the space around us. Her happiness is overwhelming, in the best possible way.
"So, first date,” she says, straightening up like she’s about to have a serious conversation. “What are we supposed to talk about? The weather? Not politics- I know that much. No religion or politics on a first date. Guaranteed way to not get a second date.”
I can’t help it and bark out a laugh. “Well, considering that we’ve known each other the better part of a decade and are, you know, moving in together, I think I can guarantee there will be a second date no matter what we talk about.”
“Whew,” she says, relaxing a bit. Then she bites her lip. “So, does that mean you won’t think poorly of me if I sleep with you on the first date?”
And just like that, I’m hard under the table.
The waiter arrives and we order several appetizers and two entrees to share. When I see her glancing at the prices, I grab her hand, giving my head a slight shake.
“It’s just so weird to think all this time you had money.”
“I really wasn’t lying. I mean, I always offered to pay for everything. And it’s not like I was hiding some huge fortune or anything.”
I’ve had this same conversation with Jamie a few times. He’s gotten over his original feeling that I’d somehow lied to him, but I still felt a bit sheepish about the whole thing.
“No, I know. It’s just. Never mind. Not important,” she says, sitting up straight. “So, exactly how many properties do you and your dad own?”
I start telling her about the company- how it all started with a single fixer-upper my dad bought right after he married my mom. After she left, it turned into something else. He just kept buying more places, more projects. Like if he stayed busy enough, it might fill the space she left behind.
Her expression softens, then dips. “I’m sorry she left,” she says quietly. “That wasn’t fair to you. You were, what- eight?”
“Nine,” I correct. “And no, it wasn’t fair.” I pause, then add, more evenly, “but neither was your mom getting sick.”
I glance at her, steady. “We both got dealt things we didn’t deserve.”
Her eyes get a bit watery. Then she grabs her fork and reaches over, piercing the last piece of steak on my plate.
“Hey- I was saving that!” I tease. She shrugs. “Sorry, you give me flowers and take me to an adorable restaurant and I just start expecting things. Like the best piece of steak.” A waiter walks by carrying a tray filled with various cakes. “And dessert.”
~
By the time we finish, the sky has shifted into a stunning sunset, golds and pinks casting everything in a beautiful light. Golden hour, I think they call it. She slips her hand into mine as we walk out of the restaurant.
“The new place is close, right?” she asks, glancing up at me.
“Yeah,” I say. “A few minutes.”
She smiles. “Can we walk?”
I nod, adjusting our direction without comment, and we fall into step together.
She talks as we walk- about the restaurant, about the little fountain and how she wants one at the new house and how it will be the perfect centerpiece to a ‘backyard oasis’.
I listen, smiling, soaking in this perfect moment.
When we reach the house, I pause for just a second before unlocking the door, letting her step in first.
It’s empty, exactly as we left it. Bare walls, open space, new paint and carpet installed. It smells clean. Fresh. Almost new.
She moves toward the center of the living room, stopping there, and I follow, watching as she spins once, her dress flying up a bit. The back wall has three large windows that look out to the yard and the sunset is pouring in the room, making her glow.
“It’s weird. There is nothing here but it doesn’t feel empty,” she says.
“No,” I agree quietly. “It doesn’t.”
She looks at me then, really looks, and something shifts in the air between us.
“Christian,” she says softly, reaching for me.
I step into her and kiss her, keeping my hand on her face, angling it exactly how I want. Her hands slide up my chest, gripping lightly, pulling me closer. I let her, my other arm wrapping around her waist, anchoring her against me.
There’s nothing rushed about it. No urgency, no need to prove anything. Just… connection.
"Christian, thank you," she says as she breaks the kiss. "For always taking care of us. And for never giving up on me.” Her voice is a quiet whisper now, but I hear every word loud and clear. “And for giving me a happy home."
"It's just a house, Francesca, we haven't had a chance to make it a home yet."
She looks up at me.
"No. I mean you. You are my home."
For a second, I forget how to breathe.
I can't respond. Not with how tight my throat is as tears burn behind my eyes.
So I just pull her closer and hope she can feel everything I can't seem to put into words.
.