WE REACHED 100K READS BITCHES SCUSE ME???? anyways ahaha im here. hi hi hi hi. i need to edit this book so bad- just the format or whatever u call it. ITS all over the place afkslfer I cant. I'm trying to make my books more aesthetic-y but likee IM SO BAD AT IT

ugh ill just edit after i complete the book

anywayssssss~

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Meeting the

G I O V A N N I

≿————-　❈　————-≾

"Mom, Dad, this is Giovanni. Giovanni, this is my dad and mom."

The tension that filled the air as her father stared me down made clear the thoughts that were in his head. He reached his hand out to me and shook it with a firm grip, almost tighter than what I'd call usual. He held me in a solid gaze and a smile broke out onto his face– finally.

"So you're what's been keeping her busy? Haven't had a call from her in weeks— I was starting to worry that she might've died."

An amused smile played on my lips as she nudged me and I chuckled. "No worries, I'd never let that happen."

"I lost my phone, " Jeyri explained, shaking her head. "I've just been too busy to buy a new one but I will." I fought back the urge to frown hearing her say that, I thought I gave it back to her. I did...

"So how long have the two of you been dating?" Her mom asked, guiding us into the living room. I watched Jeyri stiffen as the question arose and she glanced over at me, searching for an answer.

"We—" She started but I cut her off, "A few months now. She's a good girl, I found myself infatuated the moment I saw her. Now I can see where she gets her beauty from."

Her mom blushed and waved her hand, fanning the air, "Oh well, aren't you sweet."

"Grazie." (thank you)

"I assume the two of you will be staying for a while?" Her dad asked, looking down at the bags we'd carried in. "Giovanni, was it? Come help me take these upstairs. I'll show you to the guest room."

"But–" Jeyri started and he cut her off. "Don't worry, I'll give him back, just keep your mother company."

He walked upstairs and I followed closely behind him, my eyes scanning over the framed photographs they had on the walls. We walked through the hallway and he paused in front of a door, her name was decorated across it with big block letters.

"This was her old room, " he said as he led me in. It looked as if they hadn't changed a single thing since she left. I smiled as I walked in and looked around. This is a side of her I've never seen up until now— The place where she grew up, her parents, her earliest memories...

I traced my fingers over the graduation cap that was laid out on her desk. There was a picture of her smiling along with people I couldn't recognize– probably from when she was in high school. I chuckled to myself.

"Eighteen years, " He pulled me from my thoughts as he spoke and I looked up to him. He set her bags down and he continued. "That's how long I raised her for until she left out on her own."

"You've raised her well."

He nodded slowly, " I think you can already understand what I'm getting at here. I don't know what your intentions are with my daughter but you look like a respectable young man. I'd like to think you'll treat her well. She's my only daughter– my only child... She's like an angel to her mother and I. If you ever hurt–"

"Your daughter means much more to me than I thought she would. She's grown up to be a good woman, stronger than you realize— She's like a treasure to me. I'd never let anyone, including me, hurt her. That's something that I've sworn to myself."

It's true. I couldn't say what made me so drawn to her— The more I get to know her, the more I want to know. Even with everything that's happened, she's not afraid of me anymore.

"What did you say you work in?" He asked, leading me to a different room, I could only expect it to be the room he wanted me to stay in.

"Business and trade, " I said, letting down my bags. "I make a decent living for myself."

"Oh? Hope our house isn't too shabby for you, " he said as I looked around the room and I shook my head. "I would exchange anything for a home like this when I was growing up..."

When we walked back downstairs, Jeyri and her mom were sitting back on the couch, having a conversation that cut off when we came in. Their attention turned toward us and I smiled as my eyes met hers.

"What did the two of you talk about?" She asked as I sat down and her dad flexed his arm. "I threatened to kill him if he ever laid his hands on you or made you cry."

Her eyes widened a little and I chuckled, "More or less..."

As the evening passed, her parents opened up to me more— her dad even lowered his guard around me. They showed me through their family albums despite Jeyri's protests against it and I couldn't help the smile that came to my face. I helped cook dinner with her mother and for the first time, I ate with someone as a family. My heart warmed seeing her interact with her parents—They look happy together.

So this is how it feels... to have a family? If things were different somehow then maybe, just maybe I could have lived like this.

"I'm sorry about this, " Jeyri said later on, when her parents went upstairs. It was after dinner and she was standing by the sink washing the dishes, her back turned toward me as she spoke. "You came all the way out here, I'm sure they need you there."

I hummed and stood behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. Her breathing hitched as I planted a kiss on her neck and I smiled, "What kind of man would I be then? Besides... I would have missed out on seeing little Jeyri–"

"I think I could live with that, " she chuckled, turning the water off. She dried her hands off on her shirt and turned to me, wrapping her arms around my neck. "But I'm happy you're here... Thank you, Gio."

"You're welcome, tesoro."

≪❖≫

She didn't end up staying in her old bedroom like her father had originally planned for. I was changing out of my clothes when she came in. She pressed her fingers against her lips and smiled, "Shhh," she whispered as she closed the door back softly.

My eyes trailed down her body and I pulled her toward me as I sat down on the bed. Her pajamas felt soft against my skin— she was wearing a pair of cotton shorts and a shirt to match. I wrapped my arms around her as she straddled my lap and she giggled, "I'll sleep in here with you."

"You're a bad girl, Jeyri." She let out a silent laugh and shook her head, "I meant to sleep, just sleep."

"I know..."

We shifted around a little and she laid across from me, her back facing toward me. She rolled over and rested half her body on top of me, a small yawn left her lips and she sighed. "Thank you," she whispered again, the tiredness clear in her voice.

"It's my fault, isn't it?" I murmured back but she didn't say anything in reply. I sighed as the room fell silent and wrapped my arms around her waist. It's true... I'm the entire reason for all of this.

Still... I would stay like this forever if I could— in this exact moment.

She looked beautiful as she slept. Her chest heaved up and down as light breaths escaped her lips and I could feel her heartbeat against my own. She's looked more relaxed ever since we came here. Compared to last night, the panic had completely gone from her eyes. I daresay she had a small smile on her face.

I tightened my arms from around her and pulled her closer to me— her body fit right into mine.

Her words from earlier echoed in my head, Lucifer, huh? The thought of her crying came to mind and I clenched my jaw. Since when did I care so much? I've watched people cry and beg me for their lives yet, her tears trigger a certain feeling in me.

A smile found its way on my lips as I stared down at her and I shook the thoughts from my head. I planted a kiss on her forehead and her eyes fluttered open slowly. "Still awake?" I whispered and she nodded. She looks half-asleep...

"Gio..." She mumbled into my shirt. "Did you mean it? You know... When you said we were dating or was it just a lie– like when you said I was your fiance?"

I lifted her face to mine and stroked my thumb over her cheek. "You tell me, Jeyri, " I whispered, looking into her eyes. "Do you want it to be a lie?"

She shook her head, "I want it to stay like this– stay with you. I want it to be true..." Her voice trailed off and I smiled again,

"Then it is."

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again guys tysm for 100K reads even tho I'm shit at updating