Cesare Fierri [Book #4]

The next day consisted of me working out at the gym, face-timing my daughter, and calling my parents to fill them in on how I've been doing these last couple of days. I, of course, left out anything that had to do with Cesare.

If I tell them about him, they'll start planning a wedding. It didn't matter if we were just friends, because to them, he was already my husband.

"I love you too. Bye," I said, ending the call with my parents.

Shoving my phone into my pocket, I exited my car and headed up to the door of Amara and her husband's house. I rang the doorbell and waited patiently with my housewarming gift in hand.

Amara's husband, Levi, was the one to open the door. He smiled wide when he saw me, pulling me into a friendly hug.

I handed him the bottle of wine and followed him inside. "It's been awhile Evelyn. How are you and my goddaughter doing?"

"Good. She's spending the weekend with her dad, so I'm hoping to have a little fun of my own before I have to be a responsible mother again," I tell him, following him into the living where everyone else is waiting.

He chuckles and says, "I second that. The kids are with their grandparents and truthfully," he says, leaning in to whisper, "it's been absolutely great."

"Is that for me?" Amara squeals, ending our conversation by grabbing the bottle of wine from her husband. He shakes his head at his overly excited wife, and a sifts a hand through his black hair.

Leaving them to converse among one another, I wave at the two couples already seated. I couldn't stand either of Amara's rich friends.

Camille has a habit of making everything about her. Her husband Cole is fine though. And then there was Margo and her husband Ben. Margo was a bit more tolerable than Camille, but always feels the need to make comments on my attire.

I get that she's a famous fashion designer and all, but I never asked for her opinion, and nor do I care for it.

"You do know that this is a couple's game night, right Evie?"

I absolutely hated when Camille would call me that. And even after I politely mentioned my disdain for the nickname, she proceeded to address me by it anyway.

"Yes, I am aware, Camille."

"So you and Jackson are back together then?" Margo chimed in. "I always did enjoy his company."

"So did I," Camille added.

I glanced at Amara, pleading her to save me with my eyes. Thankfully, she understood and swooped in. At least I thought she understood, but she just ended up making things a whole lot worse.

"Alright everyone," she said, clasping her hands together and grabbing everyone's attention. "We will begin momentarily. We are just waiting for Evelyn's boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" Margo and Camille gasped aloud in unison, snapping their heads back in my direction.

"He's not my-"

My words were cut off by the sound of the doorbell ringing. Speaking of the devil. Levi disappeared down the hall and returned shortly after with Cesare beside him.

Eyes tear away from me and onto him. "Ciao(hello)." No one says a word as they -particulary Margo and Camille- watch Cesare walk over and take the empty seat beside me.

And then the questions started flooding in. They asked him all kinds of questions like, how tall he is and if he has any brothers as handsome as he is.