Chapter 32

Liam

"Ryan, where did you put Em's things?"

"In your room." Ryan smirks, sending me a wink. Turning around I press my hand a little more firmly into Emilia's back. We head back through the kitchen and up the first set of stairs that we passed when we first walked in.

"Ryan and I's rooms are over the garage." Walking behind Emilia on this staircase is killing me slowly. Her ass looks incredible in her flared leggings. I feel my pants tighten, not ideal given the company downstairs. "Mine's the room on the left." Once you head up the stairs there's two rooms of the same size. My room is on the left and Ryan's on the right, connected by a jack and jill bathroom. Emilia heads in through the closed door and I give myself ten seconds to pull myself together before following in behind her.

"Wow, even your room is decorated." Emilia whispers, taking in the space as I take in her. Her emerald-green sweater makes the red in her hair more prominent, the dull lights in the room reflecting in the blue of her eyes. She's beautiful.

"So am I really the first girl you've brought home?" Emilia stands in the center of the room like she's unsure what to do with herself. I hate that. I want her to be comfortable with me.I take her hand and guide her back two steps so we're both sitting on the end of my bed. Keeping her hand in mine as we sit there, glad she doesn't pull away. Her hands are freezing, so I cup both of mine around hers, trying to warm them up.

"Thanks." She whispers, looking between our interconnected hands.

"You are." I study her, waiting to see her reaction. A look of something I can't quite place flashes behind her eyes.

"Why?" She looks startled that she even asked that question the moment it leaves her lips. "I mean you've dated before, why have none of them made it home?" A question I never quite knew the answer to until I met the girl sitting right beside me.

"It never felt right." The words are true but also don"t feel like enough to describe it. The girlfriends I had, two to be exact, were never serious; they lasted a few months and I could tell the girl wanted more. Something I never felt I could give them. I always questioned why I couldn't be more open with them but after meeting Emilia it hit me. She's the first woman I've ever been able to picture a life with, pictured being able to love and being loved in return. Some people are just meant for you, no matter the capacity that you have them in, your souls just connect.

"That makes sense." She bobs her head, still having that unsure look plastered on her face. Asking if she should be here, be in my space with my family. It's a risk telling her how I feel but it tears me up knowing she could feel unsure when the only thing I am is sure.

"Emilia, I have something I -" I'm cut off by the sound of a knock on the door, Ryan appearing in the doorway. Emilia uncurls her fingers from mine but I don't let go, I just give her what I hope is a reassuring squeeze while sending Ryan a death glare. He just holds up his hands in defense.

"Dinner's ready." With that Emilia springs to her feet and I follow behind her.

Seeing Emilia interact with my family is everything. She fits in so well here. Everything about today is making me fall for her even harder. She has easy conversation with my mom, complimenting each dish she tries. She laughs at all of Dean's dad jokes and talks about her favorite rom coms with Eliza. Plus the little smiles and happy eyes she keeps giving me? My heart is soaring.

"Ann, this garlic bread is delicious." Emilia hums, eating her slice.

"You keep complimenting me and it's going to go to my head." Mom laughs. She spread out an Italian feast tonight. Everything from the garlic bread to chicken parmesan with homemade sauce and a caprese salad.

"Hey, we compliment you all the time." Dean fake scoffs.

"Yeah but that's different." She brushes him off with a laugh. Their banter is one of the things I love about having Dean in our family. After my dad passed I never knew if I would hear my mom truly laugh again but Dean came in and swept her off her feet. As dinner finishes up I bring our plates to the sinks while mom and Dean start clearing the leftovers off the table. Emilia is right behind me, turning on the sink and starting the dishes.

"Oh sweetie, you don't have to worry about that. You're our guest." My mom scurries over with the salad, placing it back in the fridge.

"Please. It's the least I can do after that amazing meal." Emilia turns to face my mom, who places a gentle hand on her arm.

"You're too sweet." She sends me a you better not mess this up look. I give her a small nod, doing my best to assure her that I don't plan on messing anything up if I can help it. "But you really don't need too."

"Honey." Dean interrupts, bringing over the leftover silverware from the table. "Let them. We can go watch that new movie in bed." He wraps my mom in his arms from behind, slightly swaying to a beat only they can hear. A pang of jealousy but also admiration sweeps through me. I want what they have. Specifically I want it with the ocean eyed beauty who's right next to me.

"Well that does sound nice." Mom hums, still swaying in Dean's arms. "Thank you Emilia."

"Hey, what about me?" I ask, Emilia giggles at my fake offense and I take that small victory.

"You better not let her do these all alone, Li."

"Never. Good night you guys." With that my mom and Dean head up the other set of stairs where the main bedroom is as well as Eliza's room and a guest room. Emilia turns back around to the sink picking up right where she left off, humming a tune to herself. I can't help but watch her in awe for a minute before picking up a towel to help dry. We work in tandem, silence enveloping us but not the kind that makes you itch, it's more of a comfortable silence that lets you enjoy the moment.

"Your mom is great." Emilia hands me the last dish in the sink, leaning her back against the counter.

"She's the best." I nod, drying and then placing the cast iron skillet back in its rightful spot.

"This is how I always imagined family dinners would be." She casts a longing look at the table we were just eating at. "Full of life, love, laughter. It's beautiful." Her shy gaze meets mine. I move towards her, engulfing her in a hug that she sinks into and damn that feels good.

"I wish you had that growing up." I wish I could fix it all for her. Maybe I can't fix the past but going forward I can make sure she has that family. The one full of love.

"It's okay." She lifts her head slightly from my chest, tilting her chin up to look me in the eyes. "I think I appreciate it even more now. When I see other families who have it. One day it'll be my turn and it will be so special." My heart squeezes in my chest. I vow to myself to make that a reality for her. Even if it's not with me, she deserves that kind of happily ever after.

"C'mon. Let's go get cleaned up." I take Emilia's hand, curling my fingers around hers, giving it a light squeeze. Her hand feels so right in mine and I'm taking her not pulling away from me as another small victory. Hand in hand Emilia and I head back to my room.

When we enter the room I turn on the lights of the small Christmas tree and flick on the mounted tv to a yule log that plays instrumental Christmas music in the background. Creating the perfect cozy space I know Emilia's so fond of.

"Umm..." Emilia clears her throat, looking around the space.

"Am I sleeping in here with you?" I try to discern the look in her eyes but can't quite make out what's hiding behind those baby blues.

"That's up to you." I walk over to her, taking her hands in my own. I could do it right now, lay my heart out to her but I don't want her to fall away from me, now that I feel so close to having her.

"Yeah," the word comes out on a whisper, her eyes on the floor. "I think I'd like to stay here with you." Her eyes flick up to mine and behind them I can finally see the look I've been dying to see, desire. This is her being bold, taking a risk, and now it's my turn to do the same. I reach up tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, leaving my hand there I cup her cheek in my palm. She sucks in a deep breath like she doesn't know which way this is going to go and fuck I hate that. I need her to know I'm sure of her.

"Emilia," I keep my eyes locked on hers. "I like you, a lot." She finally exhales the breath she's been holding in and then a smile graces her lips.

"Liam, I like you too. A lot." Now it's me who"s letting out a breath.

"The smartest and dumbest thing I ever did was saying we should be friends. I hate myself for making you think you were in the friend-zone but I also love how it's given us time to get to know each other. I just wish I would've been braver, sooner. It felt like such a risk but I want-"

"Liam." Emilia cuts off my sentence, stopping my rambling.

"Please kiss me now."

Who am I to deny her? I move, pressing my lips to hers sweetly at first as we explore each other but it quickly becomes more passionate. I move my hands down under her thighs, picking her up without breaking the kiss, she instinctively wraps her legs around my waist. There's a sweet little moan on her lips that has me moving us over to the bed, gently setting her back to the soft surface I cover her body with mine.