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As soon as we stepped into the restaurant, a woman who wasn’t dressed as a waitress stood at the side, dressed in pink suits and skirts, two waiters standing behind her.
” Good morning Mr DeAngelo, ” the woman greets with a warm smile ” your table is this way ” she points towards the back, taking a path forward before we followed, hand in hand.
As we approached the table, Logan pulls back a chair for me and I sat down, beaming with a smile. Logan rounds the table and sits on his chair too.
” Would you like to drink any refreshments before I serve you sir? ” The pink suits woman asks, her blond ponytail cascading her chest as she spoke.
Logan looks up to give her a smile and replied ” yes. A glass of red wine for the both of us please. ”
She nods and leaves immediately. I guessed right that Logan had made advanced order of what meal we were going to be having before our arrival.
Logan leans back on his chair, fixing his suit buttons while giving me a lingering smile.
” So, ” he breaks the building silence, a mischievous smirk dancing on his lips ” tell me love, why do you wanna get married? ”
For a second there my heart stopped. Because I thought he caught on the game I was playing. But I tried to remain calm and not show the surprise his question caused me.
Instead I smiled and replied shortly after ” I am Logan. I love you, ” I reached for his hand on the table ” I don’t see why we can’t get married. ”
I intended to shut him up of whatever he intends to say afterwards. He seems to notice this and smiles too, pulling out his hand to hold mine, brushing his thumb tenderly over my palm.
Thankfully, one of the previous waiters comes back with a tray bearing our drinks. I mouthed a thank you as he placed mine down before he disappeared again.
” I want you to meet my family Layla, ” he said out of the blue and for that moment I googled at him, surprised. I thought that he hated his family and because of that I’d imagined we were going to be getting married with just the two of us, Dani, his other men and the priest. ” I know that . . . . . My family isn’t the best in the world but I just . . . . . Wanna show them how beautiful my girlfriend is and show them how extremely lucky I am ”
I tried to smile and not look too shocked by his revelation but I failed miserably. I’m never the type to be able to pretend, especially in situations like this.
” But . . . . ” I wasn’t sure if I was ready to meet his family. I should be happy that he was taking me to see his family, any woman would jump at the opportunity and if he were my boyfriend under different circumstances, I probably would have jumped too, but this is different. And meeting his parents would only make me feel more guilt than I already feel ” . . . I haven’t been to Italy before ”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
” Enough reason for you to come, love ” he pressed further ” I know you’re gonna love it there. Italy’s a beautiful city and I don’t doubt for a second that you wouldn’t love it. We could go out in the evenings and see the city. There’s a lot of places to go, Layla. I wanna show you where I grew up. ”
I saw how excited he was judging from the glow in his eyes and the joy in his voice. It was nearly impossible to turn him down.
” My mom would like you, ” he adds with a smirk that told me there was more he wasn’t telling me ” I mean, you’re the first woman I’d be bringing home. They would never be expecting that I’d be getting married ”
” So you’re the womans’ man ” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
I could tell that he was impressed that I said that.
” Is my dear wife-to-be jealous already?”
” No. ” I replied monotonically, looking into the distance.
He laughs gently.
” Don’t worry love. I am done with every other woman, Layla, as soon as we walk down that alter ”
I watched him and suddenly put so much meaning to that. He was gonna stop sleeping with other women after getting married to me. That only meant that he’d been sleeping with the lots of them even while he was sleeping with me before we agreed to get married. The thought hit my heart hard and I actually felt a surge of pain.
But I pushed it all away and smiled back.
” I’m glad, Logan. And I’ll be happy to meet your family ” I replied.
” I can’t wait for you to meet my favorite family, ” he said ” my cousin, Graziella. She doesn’t live in Italy anymore, she stays in Paris, working. She’s a whole vibe and I’m sure she’d be more than happy to meet you. I have to warn you, she’s a bit clingy. ”
I laughed at his joke. ” I can’t wait to meet her Logan ”
” We have your order sir ” the pink suits woman appears again with two waiters, their hands filled with two white plates carrying a dish I very well recognized. They were dishes I enjoyed very much as a kid. Even though my mother was Asian, she always made my father’s native foods every Sunday and made sure I knew how to eat many of the delicacies.
And I knew Logan had intentionally asked for these meals to impress me. It made my heart flutter.