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“Meeting the in-laws for the first time, I have to make a good impression,” I tease.
“Well, it’s off to a good start.” She grins.
“Pretty sure my baseline is in the gutter,” I joke.
She turns and chuckles. “True. I’m going to apologize right now for anything my family says or does today. My brothers are going to be assholes, I can assure you of that. I’m not sure about Allegra, she could go either way, and my parents, honestly, I don’t know. My sisters-in-law will be fine, and you’ve got me. Just say the word and we can leave,” she tells me.
“I think I can handle lunch with your family. I’m a big boy,” I say, wiggling my brows at her.
“Yes, you are, and if you are a good boy that big boy can have his fun with kitty.” She grins, grabbing her bag and her mother’s flowers from me as we head to the door.
We eventually make it to Natalia’s home without incident. Some of the paparazzi followed us, but thankfully, they can’t accost us as once we are through those gates we can drive underground.
“You ready?” she asks as I park the car.
“As I’ll ever be.” Walking into enemy territory.
“Alessandro,” she says, my name halting me. “Thank you for today. You didn’t have to come.”
“When will I ever get another chance inside the enemy’s domain.” I grin, giving her a wink.
“You’re going to play nice, aren’t you?” she asks, looking concerned.
“As long as your brothers do,” I say. She sends a prayer to heaven as we step out.
“One last thing, Sunday lunch is chaos. I don’t know what it’s like at your place, but it’s loud,” she warns me. My family doesn’t even do Sunday lunch, I don’t think my father has ever willingly hung out with us.
Natalia leads the way, and as soon as the door is open, I can hear someone singing, people happily chatting, and sounds of family which is a foreign sound to me. Just before we turn the corner, Natalia shoves the flowers and wine into my hands.
“You should be the one to give it to them,” she says before rounding the corner.
“Natalia, you made it and on time,” her father says, greeting her happily as he kisses her. “Oh,” he says, looking at me with surprise. Did he not know I was coming?
“Alessandro, it is so nice to meet you,” Natalia’s mother greets me.
“These are for you,” I say, giving her the flowers.
“Oh, aren’t you nice? These look beautiful, thank you.” She grins, taking the flowers from my arms willingly, then moves over to a cupboard and pulls out a vase for them.
“This is for you, sir,” I say, handing the bottle of wine to Francesco Fiorenzo.
“This isn’t poisoned?” He chuckles, taking the bottle from me, which makes me laugh.
“I’m not my father,” I joke.
“Good to know.” He grins. “Come, you are welcome in my home, Alessandro. It will be nice to get to know you outside of your father.”
“Are you fucking serious? Who the hell invited him?” Luca says, walking into the living room.
“Language,” a pregnant woman grumbles as she walks in with a cute little boy attached to her hip.
“Are you ducking serious,” the little boy says, copying Luca.
“Great, now Leo knows a new word.” She moans, rolling her eyes.
Luca glares at me as if this is all my fault. “Leo, you can’t say that,” he tells him.
“Ducking, ducking, ducking,” the little boy mumbles. The woman puts him down before he dances off around the room as most of the adults try not to crack a smile.
