Page 57 of Made For Romeo
“The one that looks like it’s five houses?” He just nods. “Get out.” I point at him. “Go get flowers, and then get dessert.”
“Why?” he groans but the glare stops him and he holds up his hands.
“I’m going to go and you take your time. You look beautiful,” he assures me, and if I had something that I could throw at him, I would.
Instead, I jump into the shower, rushing the whole time. I walk back into the closet, looking at the choices I have. “What says I love your son and I want you to like me?” I ask the universe before grabbing my nude bra and matching thong. I move one hanger after the other, settling on a pair of tight white jeans and a champagne-colored, long-sleeved, V-neck silk top. The cuffs of the sleeves are elastic and they ruffle out. I’m tucking the shirt in when I hear the front door slam shut. I hear his sneakers squeaking as he walks up the stairs toward me.
“I got flowers and two cakes,” he announces and I just nod at him. “How are you doing on time?”
“I just need to brush out my hair and I’m good to go,” I reply, trying to ignore the way my stomach is rising to my throat. I look at myself in the mirror before I grab the champagne Valentino belt. Making my way back to the bathroom, I brush out my hair and apply just a coat of mascara, before joining him back in the bedroom.
He is looking at something on his phone and then looks up and just smiles at me, making everything okay. “You look beautiful.”
THIRTY-TWO
ROMEO
I grab the paper bag that holds the dessert in one hand while she grabs the flowers wrapped in brown paper. “Ready?” I ask, and she lets out a huge sigh.
“No,” she says honestly and then smiles at me, making me laugh. She slides her hand in mine as we walk down the beach toward my parents’ house. “What if they don’t like me?” she asks as she looks down at her feet instead of me.
“Then it’s going to suck for them.” I lift our hands to my mouth, kissing her fingers.
“There he is.” I hear someone say and look up to see Ryleigh walking down from the steps of my parents’ house. “The prodigal son.”
I groan. “Why are you here?” I huff and feel Gabriella squeeze my hand to shut me up.
“I’m glad to see you, too,” she replies, wrapping the shawl around her shoulders. “Wow, she’s beautiful, and she’s with you.” She shakes her head. “Excuse my brother and his rudeness. I’m his favorite sister, Ryleigh.”
“She’s my only sister,” I whisper, making Gabriella laugh.
“I’m Gabriella.” She lets go of my hand to offer it to my sister to shake. “His favorite girlfriend.”
“Also, my only girlfriend.” I glare at her as she laughs. “Now, move out of the way so I can come in.” I walk past my sister up the steps. “Now, who is rude making Gabriella wait on the sand?”
“I’m fine,” Gabriella says. “It’s nice to meet you.” I look over at her as she gets on the steps, and she and Ryleigh walk up side by side. “Thank you for coming all this way to meet me.”
“I came to be your council,” Ryleigh says, “pro bono.”
“You work for the city,” I point out, “it’s all pro bono.”
Ryleigh looks over at me and glares. “Why don’t you look in front of you and try not to trip over your dick. I would hate to see you fall into something.”
“I can hear you two bickering all the way inside,” my father grumbles when he walks outside onto the deck. He smiles when he sees me and then smiles even bigger when he spots Gabriella walking behind me. “Can you two behave one time?”
“Don’t look at me,” I defend. “She started it.”
“Real mature,” Ryleigh says, rolling her eyes. “She started it,” she mimics me. “What are you, nine?”
“That’s enough,” my father reprimands between clenched teeth and a smile. “Gabriella.” He walks over to her. “It’s so nice to see you again.”
“What he means is, thank you for forgiving my asshole son,” Ryleigh interprets, and I put my head back and groan while Gabriella just rolls her lips, “for being a dick.”
“Well, now we know what side she’s on,” I mumble as my father hugs Gabriella. “Can you just go away?”
She shakes her head. “What fun would that be?” She smirks at me and walks past me to the door leading into the house.
“Thank you for having me,” Gabriella tells my father as we slowly walk inside, and it leads us straight to the big massive kitchen island and family room.