"You can start by telling me everything after you left the club."

Sara insisted on riding with me to mom's house, making Alex and Luca go together a bit later. I haven't properly seen her or really talked to her since we went clubbing together on Friday. Today is Sunday and Saturday was spent with Luca.

"I think you know what happened." I look in my side mirror and then switch lanes.

"Yeah, but I would still like to know. And what did you do yesterday. Did you spend the whole day fucking?" I laugh and shake my head. I tell her what we did Friday night, with less details than she would have wanted, and about yesterday.

"Aww that's so cute. Did you guys make out on top of the Ferris wheel?" I nod. "That's a really great date idea actually. I've never gone there with Alex. I need to start dropping hints."

"He said that yesterday was our second date."

I can see her in my peripheral sight shifting so that she is facing me completely. I don't look at her, I think I know what she's about to say.

"So are you guys like dating?" Here it is.

"No. He was just joking." She scoffs.

"Maybe he said it as a joke but he meant it." I bite my lip and contemplate if I should tell her about the girlfriend comment.

"He even said he should start calling me his girlfriend." I say in one breath.

"What?"

"I made him coffee and was wearing his shirt so he said 'I should start calling you my girlfriend since you are wearing my clothes and know how I take my coffee.'" I deepen my voice to imitate him.

When I look at her, I see a big grin on her lips. I roll my eyes and look back at the street.

"Well, you make a great and sexy couple. So I approve." I take the exit that leads to my childhood home.

After I park my car and greet my mom, we start helping her set the table. Another thirty minutes go by when Benny, Jace and Brian come through the door.

"Boys." My mom goes and gives everyone a kiss and a motherly hug. I go to give Ben a hug and when I pull away he messes my hair.

"I didn't see you Friday night."

"I went to club Lusso with my classmates." That isn't really a lie but also not the whole truth. I did much more than just going to the club.

I give Brian a quick hug and slap his chest when his hands start going lower toward my butt. He smiles innocently at me and I roll my eyes. Behind him is Jace, and I feel a pang of guilt in my chest. I've been ignoring my phone for the last two days and I saw he sent me a couple of messages this morning when mom called.

"Hey stranger." He hugs me.

"Hey you."

"You finally finished with your designs?" He asks when we pull away. I nod and he smirks. I have to talk to him, but later.

The bell rings and I take the opportunity to walk away and open the door. Alex kisses me on the cheek and gives me a hug. He messes the hair on top of my head when he walks past me. I slap his back and I hear his laughter when he walks further into the house.

My eyes take in Luca's appearance. His khaki shorts and black short sleeved dress shirt tucked into it. Only the top button is undone this time.

He walks forward and wraps his arms around me. I melt at the now familiar warmth that radiates from him.

"Long time no see." He jokes in my ear. I pull away and stick my tongue at him. He boops my nose and suddenly unwraps his arms and takes a step back when the sound of laughs echoes behind us. I take his hand in drag him to the kitchen.

"Mommy." Her head lifts from the pot, she puts the stirring spoon down and comes to us. She enfolds Luca into a hug. I catch his eyes and I give him a nod, then his arms loosely wrap around my mother.

"You must be Luca. I've heard some stuff about you." He lets out a nervous laugh and scratches the back of his neck. "Don't worry, all good things. I'm Lillian but just call me Lilly."

"Nice to meet you, Lilly."

She claps her hands and turns to the rest of the group that's sitting in the living room. "Alright everyone. Food's ready. Take a seat." She sits in her usual place at the head of the table. Ben and I each sit on neither side of her. Brian sits at the other end of the table. Alex and Sara sit on either side of Brian. They always want to sit opposite of each other. I see Luca hanging back and when I catch his eyes I motion for him to sit next to me. Jace takes the seat next to Ben.

"Bon appetite ladies and gentlemen." We all stuff our mouths with food and eat in almost complete silent for ten minutes. My mom is the best cook I know. Her food makes you eat non stop. That's why everyone is silent as they eat the delicious food.

"When is you next game?" My mom asks, looking at the football players.

"Tuesday. We'll go tomorrow and come back Wednesday." Jace answers. She look at Luca and I feel him tense beside me.

"What's your major Luca?"

"Architecture." He clears his throat.

"Wow. That's great. Where did you go before here? Isabella told me you transferred beginning of semester."

"Yes. I went to NY university. My family moved here for business and I wanted to stay close." She nods.

"Family's important." She nods then asks, "What kind of business?"

"We own a hotel chain." He takes a sip from his water. I can feel the nervousness radiating from him.

"Oh really? Which one?" She further asks.

"Monaro hotels. It's my surname too actually." He chuckles. Nervously. I give his thigh a squeeze and he rests his hand on top of mine.

My mother's eyes lit up in recognition. "Yes. I know it. I once stayed in the hotel near the outskirts of the city." It's the same one Luca took me too.

"Oh yeah, it's a great hotel. Luca took me there a couple of weeks ago." I say to give Luca a moment without being questioned. I hear someone cough and I look up to my mother's raised eyebrows. My eyes wides when I understand what I said. "Not like that perverts. It's under renovation. We just ate there."

And he ate me out too. But they don't need to know that.

We continue talking and mom asks Luca more questions, he answers them and I can tell he's beginning to feel more comfortable around her.

My mom is not intimidating in the slightest, he shouldn't be nervous around her. Maybe it's because he slept with her daughter and he's afraid she'll find out. Maybe he should take a couple of tips from Jace. First time we slept together was during a swimming pool party in my house. Ten minutes after, he was talking and joking with my mom like he didn't just fuck her daughter in the spare bedroom.

"The food was amazing. Thank you for having me." Luca says as he puts his plate in the sink.

"Of course. Every friend of Izzy is a friend of mine." She pats his cheek like how a mother would.

"My grandma is an amazing cook too. You two would make a killer combination in the kitchen." He says.

"Well, set us up then." She laughs. I don't hear the rest of their conversation as I walk to the living room to take the empty cups back to the kitchen. When I reenter the kitchen, I see them still standing and laughing together. Setting the cups in the sink, I call out his name.

"Yeah, love." He clears his throat and glances nervously to my mom. I bite my lip to hide the grin from taking my whole face.

"Let me give you a tour." I catch my mom's eyes and she nods enthusiastically at me.

"Sure." I lead the way to the bedrooms. Mom's room is the first one, I open the door and he takes a step inside. When we reach my room I close the door behind me. He takes in my room, my drawings, the pictures I have on the wall of my friends and family. He sits on my bed and it creeks.

He smoothes the bedding and looks up at me with a naughty smirk. "Is this where your lost your virginity?" I take a couple of steps until I'm standing between his legs.

"It is."

"Mhmm." His hands sneak up my dress and tease the edge of my thong.

"Oh, so now you're not so nervous anymore?" He rolls his eyes and pinches my ass cheeks.

"I kept thinking she'd find out that I fucked her daughter."

"I think she knows. Benny told her he walked in on us making out in his room." I still want to smack him for that. Sara too.

"Wow, your really are close with her."

I laugh and rest my forearms on his shoulders. "One time we walked inside to hear Ben moaning from his room." His eyes widen. "He just told us to put on music." He leans forward and muffles his laughs into my stomach.

The door opens in that moment and Luca remove his head and arms from me. Ben stands by the door looking between us.

"Dessert is ready... Unless you want another kind of dessert?" He cocks an eyebrow at Luca. He abruptly stands up, which makes me take a step back.

"Your mom's dessert is fine. Oh God, that came out wrong." He shakes his head. "We're coming."

"I don't think you're coming anytime soon bro." He mumbles and shuts the door behind him.

Luca turns to me with a pink tint to his cheeks. I squeeze them and peck his nose.

He's so damn cute.

"He's just messing with you." I assure him then grab his hand and l lead him back to the kitchen to eat dessert.

After spending some more time together, it becomes time to get back to our dorms. Everyone hugs my mother and thanks her for her hospitality. Sara decided to go ahead and ride with Alex and Luca since I'm going to stay a little longer. Luca lingers in the threshold and I know he is waiting for everyone to get in the car and go so he can have a moment with me. Sara and Alex are already seated in the car and Ben with the rest have already departed. I stand by his side and look up to him waiting for him to talk.

"Sleep at mine tonight?"

"I have early lectures tomorrow."

"Then bring a change of clothes and your books." He caresses my jaw. I bite my lip contemplating, I really like spending time with him and falling asleep in his arms. I look back into his eyes and he gives me an exaggerated puppy eyed look. I roll my eyes and nod.

"Okay. I'll have to go to my room first to bring some stuff. So it'll be late when I come." A big grin stretches across his whole face and he leans down to connect our lips. I want to deepen the kiss, but I pull away from him so my mom doesn't walk in on us. And seeing my luck, I'm sure she would have.

"See you then." He gives me one last peck and goes to enter the car. When I enter the living room I see my mom laying in the couch with her legs sprawled in front of her.

"I really have fun when your friends come over."

"Yeah, me too."

She hums and has a smile tugs at her lips. Great. I know what she's about to say. 

"I really like your new friend Luca." She watches my expression, I try to keep it neutral but feel my cheeks getting warmer and I'm sure I'm blushing.

"Mhm."

"And I can tell he really like you too." I stand up and take the empty cup on table back to the kitchen. I'm usually really open and comfortable taking to my mom. Why is the topic of Luca making me nervous all of a sudden?

Her footsteps follow me to the kitchen. "Talk to me, honey."

I turn around to face and sigh. "I don't know. I like him too I think?"

She smiles softly at me, "it's okay to let yourself fall. I can tell he's a great guy."

"I don't want a relationship right now mommy. It's too distracting."

"And sleeping over at his is not?" She cocks an eyebrow. My mouth hangs open.

"What?"

"I heard him ask you before he went." She waves her hand around like it's no big deal.

"I like hanging around with him. But...I'm afraid of taking it any further." My bead hangs down and I whisper the last part.

Mom comes up to me and pushes my face up with her hands. "You don't have to hold back your feelings just because of what happened between me and your father." My eyebrows furrow and a pang of anger bubbles inside of me.

"How am I not supposed to do that when he's meant to be my 'role model.'"

"I understand. But, not every male is like him."

She fills the kettle with water to make tea. This conversation is about to take long. You'll know that when she starts making tea. She takes a seat on one of the stools at the island and motions for me sit in the opposite stool.

"I know you don't want to get hurt. But you can't spend your life in a safe zone. When you're old you'll sit and think 'what if' and I don't want that for you." I think about what she said. I know mom has already made peace with what father did, and now she doesn't have to wonder about the possibility of how certain things may have played further. Because she took a risk, and according to her it was worth it because it gave her Ben and I.

I do a lot of things outside my comfort zone, even without thinking about the consequences. But when it comes to my feelings I'd rather stay clear of hurting them.

A mug full of tea is put in front of me, taking me out of my thoughts. I look up and meet my mom's eyes. She takes my hand and squeezes.

"I want you to be happy but I can't make you do something you don't want to. What I can say is to take it slow. Day by day. See where it goes." I squeeze her hand back and nod.

Day by day it is.