Page 84 of Bound to You

When I look back to Isla, she has a small smile on her face while she watches them in the kitchen. “You okay, sweetheart?”

“I feel like I’m waiting to find out if I got the job.” She huffs a laugh through her nose.

“Just remember,” I press a reassuring kiss to her lips. “You’ve seen Vanessa swaying on tabletops after one too many margaritas, you have no reason to be nervous.” She laughs at that.

“She’s just being nosy, it’s her favorite hobby. Besides, this,” I look around the small house. There are family photos littering the walls, I even feature in a few of them. Multicolored rugs lay haphazardly over the brick floors, the soft leather couches holding them in place. “This is my family, at least the family whoaccepted me. This is home to me, and it’s nice, to have you here.” More than nice.

“Were your other girlfriends nervous when you brought them to meet Vanessa?” She asks innocently, no animosity behind her words. Just genuine curiosity that has me needing to right that wrong.

“I’ve never brought any woman here, Isla. Ever. Just you.”

A crinkle forms in between her eyebrows and I press my thumb to it, rubbing her frown away before resting my hand on her cheek. “Don’t you get it yet? There’s only you.”

Her eyes soften, chocolate melting underneath my gaze.

“Sorry, sorry, I know I’m late,” Marina busts through the front door, a bouquet of flowers in her arms.

“Marina…” Vanessa’s accent is thick as she leaves the kitchen at the sound of her daughter’s voice, but the stern look on her face drops as soon as she eyes the flowers.

“For you, Ma.” Marina holds a bouquet out for her. “I know you’ve been working extra hard lately, so I thought these would be a nice little treat.”

“Oh!Grazie, principessa mia.”Vanessa pulls her into a warm hug, kissing her on both cheeks. “Luca, look at the way your daughter treated me. Maybe you should take some notes.”

“I don’t need to buy you flowers. I treat you in other ways,Amore mio.” He winks.

“Papa!” Marina covers her eyes with her hands as Vanessa blushes.

Isla giggles from beside me as Marina flops down onto the couch across from us. “Well, that was something I did not need to hear,” she says.

“At least you know that they’re still, you know, passionate,” Isla teases, waggling her eyebrows at Marina.

“Ew, stop it right now or I’ll bring up your passion at the dinner table.” She points between the two of us.

That’s the end of that.

“Ok,buon appetito.” Luca’s timing is impeccable as he calls us all to the circular dining table where Vanessa has created a centerpiece with her new bouquet.

The table is silent for some time as we all eat our meals in peace. The flavors dance in my mouth and I couldn’t concentrate on conversation if I tried, this is too good. Luca is a culinary mastermind.

“This is amazing Mr. D’Angelo,” Isla says.

“Away with the formalities.” Luca waves his hand away in dismissal. “It’s Luca, please.”

“Well, it’s delicious, Luca. Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

I smile and knock my knee against Isla’s under the table. Marina was right, we are tucked in close, but I can’t complain when my knee is brushing up against Isla’s with every breath I take.

She turns to look at me, and the smile she gives me takes my breath away. Seeing her happy and comfortable in this place is almost as good as seeing her in my own kitchen, making a mess like she owns it.

Any time where Isla effortlessly fits into my life fills my stupid mind with pictures of a future with her.

Pictures of family dinners every week, maybe with a little family of our own. Of course with Marvin meowing in the background. She loves that stupid cat. Pictures of her baking me terrible cupcakes in our kitchen. Pictures that give me too much hope, but ones that I can’t ignore no matter how hard I’ve tried to.

I’m usually good at keeping my cool, but not when it comes to Isla. I don’t know how much longer I can pretend I’m okay with the unknown, because really, it’s tearing me up inside. Tugging me back and forth between wanting to give her my everything,and tell her how I really feel about her, while at the same time, wanting to act like this is all okay. I don’t know how long I can keep it up before I crack.

“Caio, did you hear about Nora’s?” Vanessa asks.

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