39. Lark

Chapter thirty-nine

Lark

B efore I can answer him, Luca comes sauntering up the driveway toward us.

I called him mon ciel étoilé. He’s right that it means “my starry sky,” but someday , I’ll have to tell him why.

“Well, hello there.” He greets us with a cocky grin.

I pull away from Gianni and move to head inside. “Hi, Luca,” I tell him as I pass Gi, entering the doorway.

My friends are sitting in the living room, each of them wearing a look that tells me exactly what they’re thinking.

I roll my eyes at them and take a seat next to Jade because she’s the least likely to poke fun at me. Gloria wheels out into the living room with a huge box in her lap.

“Okay, ladies! I’ve got some new merch I’ve been cookin’ up.”

“Ooh, gimme gimme!” Kira tells her excitedly, grabbing the box from her lap and digging through it. “Oh my god! Gloria!” she shouts, delighted .

Kira pulls a tiny pen out of the box, holding it up for everyone to see. On the top is a tiny, squishy penis with a little smile painted on it. It’s the cutest pen I’ve ever seen.

“Jesus Christ, Mother!” Charlie shrieks as she rushes into the living room, snatching the pen from Kira’s hand. Her eyes widen, but a slow smile spreads across her face. “Alright, fuck it. I’m all in. This is actually really cute. I think I’ll get over the embarrassment once we’ve made our millions from your merch line.”

“No.” Gloria huffs, folding her arms across her chest.

“No?” Charlie asks her, confusion lacing the word.

“You’re a hater. So see you later, alligator! You aren’t profiting off my good ideas. Not till I die and leave you my millions, anyway.” She chuckles, though, and her expression gives her away.

“I’m sorry I didn’t support your ideas, Mom.” She rolls her eyes. “These are really cute, though, and I think you’ll make a killing, so let me know how I can support you.”

“Could you help me set up my website?”

“Of course I can, and I’m sure Rose will be happy to help too.” She smiles lovingly at her wife, who’s now sitting on the love seat across from me, a small smirk dancing across her lips.

“She already is,” Gloria deadpans.

“What are you on about?” Charlie asks.

“Rose is helping me already. She set me up with a cosmetic chemist, and we’re working on these gorgeous eyeshadows,” she tells us as she flutters her lashes.

Charlie spins to face her wife. “Rose!”

She raises her hands, palms up. “Hey, if you can’t beat ’em, join them. And after being married to you for almost a decade, I can genuinely say that no one beats Gloria De Laurentiis. ”

“You’d think I’d know better,” Charlie grumbles, taking a seat beside Rose. She lifts her legs up into her lap and rubs small circles along her calves.

Kat and Arielle arrive a few minutes later, and once we’re all here, the guys start to head out.

“You know what? I’m kind of curious about what goes on in these book clubs. Maybe we should skip guys’ night and join the ladies,” Luca pipes up just as they’re almost through the front door.

“Why would you want to hear your mother talk about books with sex?” Angelo grumbles, with his hands on his hips.

“You know, I’ve always been curious too,” Alessandro adds, a grin playing across his lips.

Gianni’s eyes dart to mine, holding my gaze as Dante calls to Gloria. “Hey, Mom, would you mind if we intrude on your girls’ night, just this once? Feel free to tell us to leave, ” he adds almost pleadingly.

“Not at all, honey. Come on over.” She waves the men back over but looks around the room. “That okay with you, ladies?”

“Absolutely,” Kira says. Everyone else nods their agreement, each of them giving me a peculiar look that fills me with anxiety.

Gianni pulls a chair up next to Kat, sitting directly across from me. I’m regretting not sitting somewhere with space for Gi to sit beside me.

Over the next hour, we discuss this month’s novel and take a vote on what next month’s read will be.

“I vote for Shiver because we haven’t read a hockey romance in a while, and the tropes are top-tier in this one!” Charlie suggests.

“Yes! We love a single-father romance!” Kira agrees .

“And the FMC sounds super promising. I think we’re all really going to like her. She sounds like a badass lawyer,” Arielle points out.

“Completely agreed,” Jade chimes in.

“Alright, I think it’s settled then.” Kat chuckles. “ Shiver it is!” 1

Kat’s sitting on Alessandro’s lap with his arms wrapped around her waist, his head on her shoulder. They’re the epitome of relaxed when together, and I can’t believe I ever thought she and Gianni were dating. Just the thought makes me squirm.

I have no idea what Gianni and I are actually doing, but I know I don’t want him with anyone else. Ever.

***

We continue chatting, with Gloria telling us about all of her fun merchandise until the night winds down. As soon as I’m in my car, my cell goes off with tons of messages flooding in.

Kira

OMG! That man wants to eat you right the hell up!

Madison

He sure does!

Madison

All I want is a man who looks at me like Gianni does Lark. *Swoon *

Jade

As much as it pains me to agree with anything either of these two says… I agree. Wholeheartedly.

Jade

That man wants to take a bite out of you.

He does not. You’re all over-exaggerating.

Kira

You, my friend, are BLIND!

Madison

Please tell me how exactly you didn’t feel those piercing blue eyes searing into you? I don’t think he so much as looked away from you for even a split second.

Jade

Again, painful, but… True. Sorry chica.

My cheeks heat. I absolutely did feel him staring at me. His gaze on me feels like a delicious caress, and I can’t say I mind it even a bit. Though, if they all noticed, his family absolutely did too. I hope that doesn’t make things awkward for him.

You guys are ridiculous. Drive safe. Love you.

Jade

Love you too .

Kira

LOVE YOU!!!

Madison

Love you guys!

On my drive home, I can’t help but think of Gianni and the way he makes me feel. Like my skin is on fire, my heart is beating too damn fast, and I’m somehow always turned on around him. It’s the perfect mix of desire and emotions that I never felt with Tyler.

1. Order it here