Fighting for Us - Bella Emy Page 0,41

“Uh, can I come in?”

I shake my head, snapping out of my daze. “Oh, yeah… Of course, I’m sorry.” I step out of the way so she can walk in.

Before she does, she looks past me and stops dead in her tracks. “Hi, you must be Gianna. I’m Carissa.”

I snap my head to the left, and standing next to me is my little girl with her backpack sitting on her shoulders and her teddy bear clutched closely to her chest.

I wasn’t planning on introducing Gianna to Carissa, at least not for a long time. I’m very overprotective of my daughter, and anything I do has her best interests in mind. I don’t know if introducing her to someone I’m seeing—especially when I’m not sure if it’s going to lead anywhere—is such a good idea. Are we technically even seeing each other? We’ve only just started hanging out a few times.

I gently place a hand behind Gianna’s back and nudge her forward. “Go on. Be polite. Say hello to daddy’s friend, Carissa.” Was I supposed to call her that?

Gianna brings a finger up to her mouth and whispers, “Hello.”

Carissa looks back at me and smiles. “She’s so precious.”

I smile back. “Thank you, come on in.”

She walks in, and I close the door behind her. As she makes her way into the living room and places her coat and purse onto the couch, Gianna stays close to me. She’s shy when she doesn’t know someone. Plus, we’re not used to having new people over.

“Wow, that smells incredible,” she says.

“Thanks, it should be just about done.”

I pick up some of Gianna’s toys from the living room and try to apologize. “Please excuse the mess. I’m sorry, my sister should be here any moment to pick her up. She’s running late at work.” I sit on the arm of the couch and Gianna places herself in between my legs.

Carissa smiles. “It’s not a problem, really. I’m happy I got to meet her. I know how important she is to you.”

I nod, but is it possible for her to already know just how much Gianna really means to me?

“Can I get you something to drink?” I ask, searching her big brown eyes. Damn… gorgeous.

She shakes her head. “No, I’m good, thanks.”

Carissa’s gaze wanders back to my daughter, and I can tell she wants to say something. Just as she opens her mouth, the ringing of the doorbell stops her.

“Okay, now that’s Aunt Mari,” I say to Gianna. She’s trying to hide her smile as her eyes flash back to Carissa.

I chuckle softly and carefully move her to the side so I can answer the door. “Hang on, sweetheart.”

As I open the door wide for Marianna, she barges in without noticing Carissa. “I’m so sorry! I tried to leave on time, but this time of the year is absolutely nuts. Wow, the food smells amazing! What did you—” Marianna’s eyes meet with Carissa’s, and I just stand back watching. “Oh, I’m sorry. Hi, I’m Marianna, Lorenzo’s sister.” She steps forward, extending her hand.

I had already told Marianna I had a date with Carissa tonight, but I was hoping not to have to introduce them to one another. Not yet anyway.

Carissa’s radiant smile lights up the room. “Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Carissa.”

I’m never going to hear the end of this once I’m alone with Marianna on Christmas Eve.

“Auntie Mari!” Gianna shouts, throwing herself at my sister.

Marianna lifts Gianna up into her arms. “Hi, princess!” She places kisses on both of her cheeks. “Are you ready to go?”

Gianna nods fiercely a couple of times. “Yes! I’m ready!”

Marianna smiles. “Okay, go on and say bye-bye to Daddy.”

“Okay.”

Marianna places Gianna back down on the ground. My daughter comes darting at me, and I pick her up.

“Bye, Daddy!”

I give her a kiss and hold her tight. “Bye, sweetheart. Be good for Nonno, Nonna, Aunt Mari, and Uncle Maxy. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

“Okay, Daddy.” I place her down, and she goes straight for my sister’s hand. “Come on, Auntie Mari, let’s go.”

“Okay, let’s go,” Marianna repeats. She looks at Carissa and says, “It was nice meeting you. I’m sorry, she’s in a rush to go.”

Carissa shifts her weight from one foot to the other. “Oh, it’s fine. It was very nice meeting you too. Bye, Gianna.”

“Bye,” Gianna answers, finally smiling at Carissa. That smile right there tells me she likes her. That’s a damn relief for me.

Once they’re out the door and on their way, I