I go back to reading the textbook and try to get caught up on my class work. I have to force myself to sit here instead of reaching in my bag for my phone to text Marco. I told myself when I left him last night that I wouldn’t talk to him again until I told my family what was going on. I want this to be a gesture of my love for him. He can see I’m really in this if I tell my family. He knows they’re a big part of my life but hasn’t pressed about meeting them. I’m not sure if that’s a good sign or not.
I want my family to accept him with open arms and give Marco a taste of the family he should have had when he was younger. I’m not sure that’s how this will go down, but a girl can dream. They can throw a fit if they want, but I’ll be coming to our next family dinner with Marco or not at all.
I haven’t brought a man home before because I never dated before Marco. They should realize that this means I’m serious and they should also trust my judgment. I’m giving myself this pep talk as I hear people come into the house—five big men tromping in make a lot of noise.
“Where have you guys been?” I ask when they come flooding into the kitchen and everyone gives mom a kiss and hug.
My oldest brother holds up a pie from Mom’s favorite bakery, earning him another kiss on the cheek. Everyone falls into easy conversation, but for some reason I think everyone is looking at me. I put my book away as the words I’m dying to blurt out bubble in my throat. No one is looking at me, but it feels like they are.
“Spill it already,” Mom yells.
Of course she knew I had news. She always knows everything. Everyone turns to look at me as Mom points the wooden spoon in my direction.
“I’m seeing someone,” I blurt out and rip off the Band-Aid. The room goes completely silent before my older brother speaks.
“Who?” he asks.
I want to say, “no one you know,” but I swear they know everyone.
“Marco Taylor,” I say.
“What?!” All of my brothers yell at the same time.
Mom and Dad stay quiet as my brothers lose it and start talking over each other.
I guess they do know him, and now the secret is out.
Chapter Two
Marco
I was having one of the worst days of my life the day I met Gia. I was late for a meeting after an ice storm came through and knocked my power out. I was rushing around and then I got out to my car and realized the battery was dead. By that point it was pouring rain and I couldn’t get a cab to save my life. I ducked under a nearby coffee shop awning just to get out of the storm and that’s when I saw her through the window.
She was sitting at a table alone with a pile of books around her and a pencil in her mouth. Her hair was in a messy bun and she had on sweats. There was an uneaten pastry in front of her and a mug of coffee that was half empty. She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen and one look at her and I knew.
I grew up with nothing and worked for everything I have. I was given up for adoption when I was only a couple of days old and I never knew anything about my birth parents. I made good grades but kept to myself while I was in the system. That didn’t stop me from getting into trouble a few times in school, but I don’t like to think back on those times. No one ever said it to my face, but I heard the whispers about what an ugly baby I was. I think it was the reason I was never chosen for adoption and aged out of the system when I was eighteen.
Luckily I had a business professor in college who took me under his wing and when I graduated he helped me get a job. I worked in the stock market for a couple of years before my boss realized that I was good at what I did. Really fucking good. I was promoted up through the ranks at an unprecedented speed and eventually I took over as chief executive officer.
I was running late for a board meeting when I saw Gia and I didn’t have a second to stop. But there are some things in life worth throwing it all away for, and she was it.
Thunder sounded behind me as I opened the door and it caused her to jump in her seat and look up at me. When our eyes locked I smiled at her as I walked over to her table and sat down like she’d been waiting on me.