Chapter 38

I squeeze hishand and tug him to stop. "Wait."

He turns and lifts his fingers to graze my cheek. "What is it, cara?"

"I'm nervous."

An infectious grin spreads across his face. "E la tua famiglia, tesoro."

"What if they're mad at me for leaving?"

I gaze into his smoky gray-green eyes flecked with gold before I'm swept up into his arms. He kisses my lips, his touch lingering. "I promise they are not. If they're mad at anyone, it's me for taking so long to bring you back." He touches his forehead to mine. "I will never let anything happen to you."

The door flings open, and we jump apart at the sudden interruption. Noise from the party spills out onto the front stoop.

"Felice anno nuovo! I thought I heard you out here. Benvenuta a casa, Summer!" Stella pulls me into a tight squeeze. "Ci sei mancata così tanto."

I laugh as I hug her back. "I've missed you so much, too. Happy New Year."

She releases me and steps back, wiping a tear from her cheek, waving us forward. "Come in, come in, everyone is here."

"In bocca al lupo, tesoro," Lorenzo says from behind me.

"Why are you wishing me luck—"

"She's here! Felice anno nuovo!" Fiore screeches, launching herself at me as I cross over the threshold, knocking her brother to the side.

"Oof. Fiore, I can't breathe," I wheeze.

"I'm so happy you're here," she cries. "There's so much to catch up on."

"I've missed you too." I laugh as she clings to me. "Felice anno nuovo."

"Basta! Let her breathe," Nonna Rossi gripes from behind her. Fiore's arms release from around my neck. Nonna Rossi looks me over from head to toe. "Hai bisogno di mangiare. Sei troppo magra."

"Happy New Year, Nonna Rossi."

"I see you still haven't learned Italian," she grumps.

I smile slyly at her. "You said I was too skinny."

Her eyes twinkle with delight. "Ah good, so you agree. Come una gatta randagia. Let's eat and start fattening you up." Nonna, festively dressed in a satin green tunic and palazzo pants, pulls me through the living room and shoves a platter of antipasto into my hands. "Mangia."

"Uh…okay." I glance down at the plate and pick up an olive. "I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye—"

"Bah, you're here now. That's all that matters. You've come back and are here to stay, sí? Per coltivare le radici come un albero."

"Sí, I'm here to stay and grow roots like a tree."

Nonna shuts one eye as she peers at me, assessing. "Bene." She leans in and kisses my cheek, her familiar rose perfume bringing me back to warm summer days in Italy.

"I've missed you, Nonna," I whisper against her hair.

"I've missed you more stellina, my little star. I knew you would find your way back."

"Nonna, can I borrow Summer for a moment?" Lorenzo asks.

"Non te la meriti. Sei proprio un asino." Nonna lifts her nose in the air and grabs the plate out of my hands, before storming off to the kitchen.

"Did she call you an ass?"

Lorenzo sighs. "Sí. She said I don't deserve you and that I'm an ass."

"Oh no, Ren, I'm so sorry."

"Actually, this is progress." He chuckles. "She told me before I left, if I couldn't convince you to come back to Italy, I shouldn't bother showing my face around here again."

"What?" I laugh. "Oh my God, Harrison was right…Nonna Rossi is wicked scary."

"I'm just glad you said yes." He bends to kiss my lips.

"Me too."

"Well, I guess it's true. You're back," Nina's nasally voice comes from behind me. I turn around and she pushes her hand in front of my nose. "I'm engaged."

"Oh, congratulations, Nina. Engaged to…"

"Angelo, of course. Who else would it be?"

"Oh, I…" I stammer. Lorenzo covers his laugh with a cough.

Nina squints. "How long are you staying this time, Summer?"

I turn, gazing into Lorenzo's eyes. "I'm staying for good this time, Nina."

"Interessante. Benvenuto, Summer," she grumbles, before walking away.

"Sí, molto interessante. I think she's softening." Lorenzo grins as he circles an arm around my waist and kisses my lips. "Welcome home, Summer Andrews."