BRIANNA

Adrian led me up the short steps to the main door, his hand resting warmly against the small of my back, grounding me with a quiet sense of comfort. The heat of his touch somehow calmed the flurry of nerves I’d been feeling. When he reached out to ring the doorbell, I took a deep breath and let the peacefulness settle over me, as if all my worries were on pause for just a moment. Moments later, the door swung open, and Stella appeared, her eyes lighting up as she took in the sight of us.

“There’s my favorite couple!” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement as she pulled both of us into a tight bear hug. She squeezed us so firmly I could hardly breathe, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Mom! I just styled that hair!” Adrian protested, huffing a bit as she playfully tousled his hair, which now had that perfect “just-rolled-out-of-bed” look.

“What?” She feigned innocence, batting her eyelashes at him with a mischievous glint. “I just can’t help myself.”

“Hey, Stella,” I greeted with a wide grin, feeling warmth bubble up at the sight of her enthusiasm.

“Brianna! I was beginning to think you guys wouldn’t show up.” Stella stepped back, looking between the two of us with a teasing glimmer in her eyes.

“Why would you think that?” I asked, smiling. “I promised to convince him to come, and I don’t break my promises.”

“Well, I’m glad to see both of you here,” she said, her voice full of relief. “And I can only imagine what magic you must have worked on him—this guy can be stubborn as a rock!”

“I guess it just comes down to persuasion,” I said, flashing Adrian a teasing smile.

She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. “You’ll have to share your secret with me one day. I could definitely use that skill in the future!”

We both laughed, though Adrian gave us an exasperated look. “You two realize I’m still here, right?” he grumbled, pretending to be annoyed but unable to hide a small smirk.

Stella rolled her eyes. “Oh, hush. Let’s go in. Everyone’s already at the table.”

With that, she practically dragged me inside, leaving Adrian to trail behind with a half-amused, half-displeased look on his face. We entered the dining room, where a man and a teenage girl were seated, both of whom turned to look at us as we came in. The man bore a striking resemblance to Adrian, just with a few more silver threads in his hair, while the girl had Stella’s wide smile and sparkling eyes.

“Guys! Adrian and his girlfriend are here!” Stella announced, her voice gleeful.

The teenage girl’s face lit up, and she sprang up from her seat, practically launching herself toward Adrian. “Adrian! I missed you so much!” She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, and they stood there, beaming at each other like long-lost friends.

“There’s my favorite sibling!” Adrian said, grinning as he affectionately messed up her hair.

She playfully swatted his hand away, her brows furrowing as she glared up at him. “I just straightened that! And for the record, I’m your only sibling, so I’m the default favorite.” She smirked, her smug expression making me like her even more. She was clearly full of spunk.

“Oh, please.” Adrian rolled his eyes. “If I had a choice, you definitely wouldn’t be my sibling.”

She flipped her hair and shot him a mischievous look before turning to me. “Hi, Brianna! I’ve heard so much about you. It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’m Rachel.”

“Hey, Rachel.” I smiled warmly as she pulled me into a friendly hug. The Carters were definitely huggers, and I was starting to love it.

“Alright, come on, everyone. Let’s sit down!” Stella called out, already making her way back to the table, her grin practically glowing.

We moved to the dining table, arranged for six. Adrian and I took seats on one side, while Stella and Rachel sat across from us. Mr. Carter sat at the head of the table, watching us quietly with a thoughtful expression.

“Good evening, Mr. Carter,” I greeted him, giving a respectful nod.

“Good evening, Brianna. How are you?” he replied in a deep voice, nodding in return. It was the first time he’d spoken since we arrived, and I felt the weight of his gaze.

“I’m doing well, thank you, sir.”

“Hey, Pops.” Adrian reached out to shake his father’s hand, their clasp firm and warm.

“Son.” Mr. Carter’s gaze shifted between the two of us, landing on Adrian with a small smirk. “So, you brought your girlfriend.”

“Uh, actually, Pops…” Adrian cleared his throat, glancing sideways at me. “We’re friends. Just friends.”

Though he sounded casual, I felt a pang at the word. Friends. Somehow, hearing him say it aloud stung, like a silent echo of something unspoken. I had wanted to be just friends, hadn’t I? But why did it feel like there was more, something simmering just below the surface?

Mr. Carter’s eyebrows lifted in mild surprise. “Friends, you say?” He sounded unconvinced.

“Yeah, friends.” Adrian bobbed his head, looking just a touch uncomfortable.

“We’ll see,” Mr. Carter murmured with a mysterious smile, leaving me to wonder what he meant.

Stella clapped her hands together, her bright voice cutting through the tension. “Alright, enough of all that! We’re here to eat, aren’t we? Let’s get started!”

She lifted the lids from several dishes spread across the table, revealing an array of mouth-watering food. The spread looked almost like a banquet—enough to feed a family twice as large as ours. My mouth watered at the sight.

“As our guest of honor, you get first pick, Brianna!” Stella said, gesturing grandly over the food.

“Thank you, Stella. I’d love to start with the Spaghetti Bolognese. It’s been a while since I had that.” I could barely contain my excitement as she dished up a generous portion.

The first bite was incredible—the rich, tangy sauce and perfectly cooked pasta made me melt inside. “This is delicious,” I said, meaning it wholeheartedly.

Stella beamed. “Thank you, darling! Cooking is my way of showing love. If you ever want seconds, don’t hesitate.”

The table was filled with lively chatter as we enjoyed the meal, sharing stories, laughing, and getting to know one another. Hours passed without us noticing, as Adrian caught up with his family and I found myself feeling more and more at home.

Eventually, as the night wore on and the hour approached midnight, we prepared to leave. Stella and Rachel walked us out to the car, both giving us lingering hugs before we parted ways. Adrian had promised we’d visit again soon, and the warmth in his mother’s eyes made it clear she was looking forward to it.

On the drive back, the silence felt easy, like an extension of the peaceful atmosphere we’d just left. Adrian and I were both exhausted, yet somehow the quiet was enough. After what felt like a serene eternity, he pulled up in front of my house. I turned to him, smiling softly.

Before I could say anything, he leaned in, his lips meeting mine in a deep, tender kiss that sent warmth spiraling through me. When he pulled back, his eyes lingered on me, his thumb brushing my cheek.

“Goodnight, Brianna,” he whispered, his voice gentle, like a secret.

“Goodnight, Adrian,” I replied, taking one last look at him before stepping out and heading into the quiet house.