Page 83 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

“I think we both did well,” she said.

“We did.”

“Are you ready to face my parents now that they know we are more than just friends?”

“Are they going to grill me or something?”

“It’s too cold to light the grill. But you’ll be fine.”

Because she’d already warned her parents not to overstep.

They’d just given her a sly look like they knew she’d been lying to them—and herself—all along.

But she really wasn’t.

Just because she had felt more than friendship for Luca weeks ago didn’t mean he did the same.

Or hadn’t until they had sex.

Now she knew it was more. Just not sure how much more.

“I’m going to be fine because I’m sucking up,” he said, getting off the floor.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I remembered you said that your mother liked cinnamon buns and I picked up a box of them at the bakery last night.”

“That’s super sweet of you, and might be just a tad bit dangerous.”

“Why is that?”

“Because they might jump from us not being friends to being in a relationship.” She slapped her hands to her cheeks.

Hamming it up, but maybe that was the only way she could broach this and see his reaction.

“That’s a skip over dating, right? I need help with the lingo and status now.”

She bumped her shoulder into his. He wasn’t giving her much but didn’t look panicked either.

“Seems you’re catching up pretty fast.”

He put one arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “For a second I worried I was falling behind.”

“I don’t think that’s possible. Let’s go face the firing squad. It’s not just you getting grilled, trust me.”

“Good. It’s nice not to be alone.”

And she was positive there was a deeper meaning there for him, because there sure the hell was for her.

25

NEEDED TO HEAR THAT

He stared at the ringing phone in his hand the next day.

Susan. Zoe’s mom.

Did he answer or let it go to voicemail?