Page 82 of Bound to You

I look down at my phone and dial my cousin’s number.

“I am so, so, so, sorry, it just slipped out,” she says as soon as she picks up the phone.

I chuckle beneath my breath, I knew it. “It’s okay. She was going to find out one way or another. Odds on how much of the town knows already?”

“She’s quick with that phone you know. She’s figured out how to call in group chats, so I think it’s safe to say the only person who doesn’t know is Riccardo.”

Riccardo lives down at the dock on a houseboat kind of situation. He doesn’t have a job, he just fishes, swims, takes the boat out and brings it back to the dock. No one really knows how long he’s been here or if he has any family here. No one even knows his last name, he’s just Riccardo. He pretty much just sticks to himself, being the reason why he would be the only one that’s not up with the gossip train in this town.

“I don’t want Isla to feel any pressure. I mean I’m essentially bringing her home to meet the family.”

“Yeah…”

“Maybe we should invite Miles, her brother? Make it a bit more casual?”

I bring my phone away from my ear to check the line is still connected after Marina goes silent. “Marina?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Ma and Papa don’t know him at all,” she says in a completely different tone to seconds before.

“Well, it’s a good chance for them to meet, no?”

“There won’t be space for anyone else, we’ll barely fit around the table with just the five of us, it will be fine Caio, Ma will be fine. I’ve got to go but I’ll see you tonight.” She hangs up the phone.

Well, that was weird, but I guess Marina’s right. We’ll already be shin-to-shin around the dinner table without an extra person there, so hopefully Isla won’t think of it all too seriously. She already knows Vanessa, and Luca is the warmest soul I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. It’ll just be a casual dinner, with adelicious panna cotta for dessert. Maybe I should go for family dinners more often.

I’m fixing my collar in the mirror when the elevator dings, the thing is so loud you can hear it in every room.

I’ve given Isla a keycard for my level so she can stop struggling with the intercom. No matter how much I secretly enjoyed it myself.

I step out of the bedroom to see her waltzing in, her hair is wind thrown from her ride back, and she has paint everywhere. On her fingers, in her hair, she looks so precious. My little artist.

“I need to talk to you about something,” she says, before stopping dead in her tracks when she sees me, I’m surprised her shoes didn’t squeak on the marble beneath her feet.

“And where are you going looking like that?” She looks me up and down, taking in the casual jeans I picked out with a vanilla colored linen shirt.

“Like what?”

“Like,” she puts her hands in front of her, her palms to me as she moves them all around. “That.” She’s looking at me with her googley eyes that boost my confidence through the roof.

“Dinner with you,” I respond with a chuckle.

She walks up to me wrapping her arms around my neck. “Since when?”

“Since Vanessa called insisting we both attend family dinner tonight.” I wrap my arms around her before she can run away.

Her eyes widen a fraction. “Why am I invited to family dinner?” Her voice is skeptical.

“Cause Marina accidentally told her that we are something.”

She rolls her eyes. “Of course she did.”

“Vanessa said there will be lemon panna cotta?”

“Ooh! Sold,” she presses a kiss to my lips. “When do we leave?” She doesn’t seem as worried as I had originallyanticipated, and it somehow eases my concerns and doubles them at the same time.

“Mmm,” I look down at the watch on my wrist. “About half an hour.”

“Caio!” She smacks my arm, pulling out of my arms. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

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