21
Mark
Thursday goes by quickly, thank goodness. I spent most of the day imagining Ava spread out on my work table with remnants of me seeping out of her body, so that means I spent most of the day rearranging myself. It was single- handedly the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.
Trystan stops by my office door with a goofy smile on his smug face. “You heading out of here soon? You’ve been awfully distracted today.”
“Yes, I’m getting ready to leave. Ava’s meeting my parents tonight at the restaurant,” I say as I click the icon to shut down my computer.
“Oof, whose idea was that? That’d distract me.”
“My mother’s.” I roll my eyes at him but don’t divulge any more of the reasons as to why I’ve been spacey. “Brynnie’s coming, so maybe we’ll get to hear more about this jerkwad she’s dating. Perhaps Ava won’t feel like she’s sitting smack dab in the middle of an interrogation then.”
Trystan shifts as if he’s suddenly nervous. I frown, wondering what the hell that’s about.
“Hmmm, she still hasn’t gotten rid of him?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“You worried your dad won’t approve of Ava?”
“A bit. She said she’s part Italian, so that will work in her favor. As much as I love him, he still won’t change my mind about dating her though.”
“I’m sure he’ll like her once he sees how you are with her.”
“Oh?” I cock my brow at him in question.
“You’re different. A good different.” He smirks and raps his knuckles on the door. “I’m heading out. Good luck.”
“See ya,” I answer, pondering what kind of different he’s talking about.
I open my screen and shoot out a text that I’ll be at her place in thirty minutes to pick her up.
???
Ava fidgets with her nails as I close the truck door behind her outside of Marcketti’s. She looks adorably nervous, and the need to pull her into my arms and kiss her senseless to calm her down pumps through every cell in my body.
“You look beautiful in that dress. Don’t worry.
They’re going to love you.” I grab her for a hug and peck her lips then her forehead to reassure her.
As much as I want to slip my tongue into her mouth and make her pant against me, I don’t think my parents will appreciate me walking in adjusting a boner in my pants.
She smiles up at me, and I pinch that cute butt as she takes a step forward.
Her cheeks pinken a deeper hue than the pale pink of her sundress.
I snicker to myself as I open the door. Our senses are hit with the aroma of pasta, tomato sauce, and spices of oregano, garlic, and basil.
Smells like home. This place practically is a second one to me.
I can picture it like yesterday: Brynnie Mae and I sitting at a corner table doing our homework as Mom and Dad bustle around helping to serve people since they didn’t quite yet have enough money to hire a few extra servers. They’ve come a long way since then.
“Ava!” Brynleigh calls out, pulling herself from a nearby booth to rush over to us. “You look so cute! Are you nervous? You got this.”
“Well if she wasn’t already nervous enough…” I mutter Brynleigh’s way, and she shrugs sheepishly.
“Sorry. I ramble sometimes,” she says to my date while giving me the ‘get over it’ look.
“So, Brynnie… where’s your date?” I ask, enjoying the fire that burns behind her eyes at the nickname. She hates when I call her Brynnie, but if I tack on that middle name, fire will come spitting out. I’m slightly tempted.
“He had to work late,” Brynleigh mutters, but she doesn’t look positive.
“Did you even ask him to come?” I ask with amusement. Her eyes flash with annoyance. BINGO. I hit a nerve. She didn’t even ask him. “You know, that right there should tell you it’s time to get rid of him.”
Brynleigh rolls her eyes. I bug mine out at her because she knows I’m right. She deserves more than what this Ted guy is throwing her way. Mom uses that moment to swoop in.
???
Ava
“Ava! It’s so nice to finally meet you. Let’s get you out of their crosshairs while they duke out whatever it is they are arguing about now.
I know those faces all too well.” Mark’s mom grabs my hand and pulls me forward into a hug.
“I’m Nora. Hopefully, you’ve only heard good things about me from Marcus.
” She smiles affectionately toward her son, and his name on her lips catches his attention from the conversation between him and Bryn.
“Only the best, Mama.”
I swoon at his comment to her. He respects her and loves her. That’s plain to hear and see. He jumps straight back into his discussion with Brynleigh about Ted.
“Attentive, isn’t he?” she whispers to me.
“But I’m sure you’ve realized that by now.
At least I hope. He’s always been good with noticing the little things and making sure his loved ones know he cares.
He’s kind hearted. I just wish he’d show it more to the world, you know?
At first glance, he comes off as a completely different person. ”
I laugh because she nailed his personality to a T.
“When we first met, we were oil and water. He is definitely nothing like how he presented himself. I’m glad he wiggled his way in, albeit, I don’t think either of us consciously made the choice to do so.
We typically sneered at each other the majority of the time.
I guess it just goes to prove the ‘never say never’ saying. ”
Her eyes light with mischief, and she smiles softly.
“So I’ve heard. I find it fascinating how both of your bodies' chemistries fought each other so hard even though it was plain to see the attraction. I love how that whole fine line between love and hate blurs sometimes. Those relationships tend to bloom into something quite beautiful. I saw the way he looked at you out the front window that one day, and that, my dear, was the furthest thing from hate. His man brain just took longer to catch up to what his body and soul were screaming at him.”
I blush and nod in agreement with her. We did fight it hard.
But love? The second that word slipped from her painted lips, I shivered.
I mean, this thing between us is far from casual, but I guess I really hadn’t given myself time to consider it turning into love.
I glance over to Mark, and he notices right away, smiling at me like we share some secret.
He squeezes Brynleigh’s arm gently, cutting off the conversation, and walks over to me.
Slipping a reassuring arm around my waist, Mark pulls me into his side and drops a kiss to the top of my head.
I hear a happy sigh leave Nora’s lips and smirk against Mark’s shoulder.
“What are two of my favorite women talking about over here that has my girl blushing?”
“Oh, just young love and how it always makes a way,” she declares coyly, dropping the grenade in the middle of the three of us before turning toward the kitchen.
We both stiffen just slightly as it all kind of sinks in, and Brynleigh titters behind us.
“I’m just going to check in with Gianni to see if dinner is almost done.
We’ll be eating in the back room. There’s wine at the table.
” She winks at me over her shoulder. She knows exactly what she just did. I do recall Mark calling her a meddler.
“Well, leave it to Mama to get the wheels turning,” Brynleigh continues, the amusement written all over her face. “I wish you could both see how hard you’re blushing! This is as good as the crap she pulled when you were going to prom. Hold up, I need a picture.”
“Brynnie Mae…” Mark warns, and she sticks her tongue out at him.
It’s my turn to snicker. Their sibling squabbles make me miss someone that never even existed in my world.
I would’ve loved to have had a brother or sister, but it just wasn’t in the cards for my parents.
I sure do miss them. They’re off traveling in Europe right now.
The last time Mom checked in was about a week ago, and they were on their way to Greece after dropping in to visit Dad’s bachelor brother in Italy.
Grandma and Grandpa passed years ago. I don’t really remember them except from pictures and stories my father has shared with me.
They are both excited to meet Mark when they come back to the states from their trip. .
A light squeeze of my hand pulls me back into the moment.
I look up into hazel eyes that scatter all the feels about things I’ll never have, or people I miss, or the simple fear of falling hard for the one person that was on my never list. The fact is, though, I am falling.
I know it because that secret little smile he gives me empties out a basket of koi into the waters of my belly.
They swim freely, splashing and jumping for joy in their new space.
I swallow hard, my throat parched from my realization.
“How bout a glass of wine?” Mark asks, breaking the moment of tension.
“Ab-, absolutely yes,” I stammer. He squeezes my hand one last time before leading me to the back room.
It’s just him and me back here, and I can breathe a little easier.
I watch as he pours a glass of sweet red for me.
It’s my go to, no matter what I’m eating.
Wine snobs might tip their noses up that I don’t care much about pairing them perfectly to whatever dish I’m consuming, but it works for me, and I’m fine with that.
“You doing okay? You’re looking a little stressed,” he notes as he hands me my glass before taking a sip of his own.
“Just nervous.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about. I know they all come on a little strong, but that kind of runs in the family if you haven’t noticed.”
“You don’t say?” I cock my brow in amusement as I tip a smidge of the fruity liquid down the back of my throat, savoring the burst of sweetness.
“Do we need to disappear to the restrooms for a moment so that I can figure out a way to relax you?” He bends and runs his nose along my shoulder, pressing a soft kiss on the exposed skin.
Goosebumps erupt along my arms, and he hums, pressing his lips together as he eyes me like he’s thinking about throwing me over his shoulder to go do just that.
“No,” I answer a little more breathily than normal. I’m affected by this man so easily. “A reassuring kiss will suffice for now.”
His hand slides over my rear, and he tugs me closer for a kiss that is capable of melting my thong off. As if he just caught on to the fact that that’s exactly what I’m wearing, he growls against my lips.
“What color is it?”
“Hot pink,” I tease, biting my lower lip.
“This is going to be the longest dinner of my life.”
I toss my head back in laughter as he adjusts himself.
Not a few seconds later, his sister walks in carrying a basket of breadsticks, followed by his mother and father with the food.
I instantly see where Marcus, it’s so weird thinking of his full name like that, gets his good looks.
While I do see bits of his mother’s features in him, like his hazel eyes, Mark is practically a younger, more handsome version of his father.
“Hi there. I’m Gianni. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Ava. You sure are a pretty one.”
I blush and reach out to accept his handshake.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Gianni. Thank you.”
“Are we all hungry, famiglia?”