Chapter 3

• ***
• Writer's POV:
• Two weeks later, as expected, Leàina returned from Pisa. Her family welcomed her happily and warmly. The noise and laughter in the house was back and everything was perfect.
• Lea was very happy to be back with her family. The night she'd arrived, they chatted for a long while at the table while they had dinner. She told them all about her stay in Pisa and how life on her campus was. The family was finally reunited.
• ~
• Noemi's POV:
• "You made new friends?" mom asked.
• "Yeah, sort of. I wasn't really social. Like, I didn't just talk to anybody. I'm kinda picky now with the people I talk to and make friends with."
• "Good." dad replied and we all chuckled, "Hope you do same when it comes to dating."
• I laughed again. Dad had never appreciated any of my boyfriends. They were either too immature, annoying, weak and just not good enough for me. It amused me greatly. He just didn't like the people I dated and I wondered when he would finally accept one of my boyfriends as being good enough for me. I didn't blame him though, I was his princess after all and I sure was proud to be. My dad was everything.
• "Yeah," I giggled, "Though you still end up disliking everyone I date."
• "I don't know what your father's problem is." mom laughed, "He forgets you're a young woman already and you know what you want."
• "Exactly." Meema and aunt Donnie agreed.
• Dad chuckled.
• "I don't care. None has been good enough so far."
• "I agree with him on this one." uncle Anthonio chuckled.
• "You agree with him on everything, Anthonio. Your opinion isn't solid enough." mom stated and everyone laughed.
• "We should ask the twins." Meema mused and I shook my finger no.
• "Don't even bother, grandma. They're just as overprotective as dad. I never introduce my boyfriends to them. They intimidate every single person I date." I laughed.
• "Good job, boys. I'm proud." my dad laughed out, clapping.
• "Noemi, we only intimidate the fishy ones." Alejandro chuckled.
• "So all of them were fishy? You intimidated them all. Even when you came visiting me in Pisa, you intimidated Dimitri." I mused.
• "Who the fuck is Dimitri?" my father's brows shot up and we laughed.
• "Language, Leandro." mom stated, referring to Roulian's presence.
• "Not important, dad." I laughed, replying to his question.
• "How did we intimidate him? We were nice." Al chuckled.
• "Nice??" I asked with wide eyes and turned to my mom, "Mom, Lorenzo always gave him the creepiest stares while Al would make some terrifying jokes about beating him up or something. Everyone I've dated all said my family was weird." I laughed.
• "We're just unique." Lorenzo mused.
• "Well, now I'm single. All thanks to the men of this family." I shook my head and they laughed.
• "You see? If they really wanted to be with you, your family wouldn't have bothered them."
• "Facts." uncle Tony agreed.
• "Are you hearing yourselves?" aunt Donnie mused.
• "You'll all thank us, someday." my dad chuckled and I shook my head in amusement.
• It felt great to be back.
• -
• As we ate and chatted, I thought of something. Of someone, rather.
• "Is our neighbor back?" I asked, trying not to be too direct and everyone looked at me.
• "Who?" they asked, lost.
• "Dino?" Meema guessed.
• "Yeah."
• Dino's family house was just a few houses away from ours. We lived in the same quarter.
• "He was supposed to be back already but I called and he said he will be back in the next two days." Al replied.
• "Oh, okay."
• 'I missed him. I wonder what he looks and sounds like now. I can't believe I cut all contact with him for so long. Luckily he understood me... Well, I hope he did.'
• "I can't wait for him to be back. I actually missed him a lot." uncle Tony admitted.
• "We all did, I think. He's part of the family actually and it'll be nice to have him around again." dad added and everyone else agreed.
• "We'll go the park tomorrow, Lea??" Roulian that had been busy eating, asked with a bright smile.
• 'My heart!'
• "Of course, sweetheart. But after tomorrow, okay? Tomorrow I have to accompany mom and aunt Donnie to the grocery stores."
• "Okay!"
• ***
• Writer's POV:
• The next evening, the twins were at Dino's family house to welcome him. He'd finally arrived a day before than planned and the twins were very happy to have him with them.
• ~
• "You two are fresh. It's crazy!" Dino laughed, putting his clothes into his closet. They were all up in his room.
• "Says who? When did you get yourself tattoos? And you seem taller, man." Lorenzo mused and his twin chuckled in amusement.
• "It's the sweet life. Belgium was great. But I missed you guys like crazy. It would've been way better if you were with me." he said, sitting down with them.
• "We missed you too. All these years of video calls and finally we're here." Alejandro said, "So tell us, how's your girlfriend?"
• "Louisa? She's fine. We arrived together. I dropped her off at her parents house before coming here."
• "You two started dating like a month ago, right? You two seem to have a lot of chemistry already." Lorenzo replied.
• "Yeah, she's cool. And what about you guys? Sophia and Luena, still going strong huh?"
• The twins had a similar reaction that made their best friend laugh out. After the question, both had shrugged and nodded almost nonchalantly.
• "What was that about?" Dino laughed.
• "I'm not gonna lie," Alejandro started, "My first year with Sophia as a couple was amazing and I almost thought I was in love. But she's changed a lot. She's unnecessarily demanding and I really hate being bossed around."
• "Then why are you still with her?" Dino asked, surprised.
• "Well, because I really like her and I'm trying to be responsible and make things work between us."
• "Oh, okay." Dino nodded and turned to Lorenzo, "And you, Enzo?"
• "Same shit." was the twin's simple reply and his friends laughed.
• "But like Al, you want things to work out?" Dino said.
• "I'm trying to make it work. She's great and I think I want us to last."
• "You think?" Dino noted with a laugh, "Sheesh, you two sure seem happy in your relationships." he joked and they all laughed.
• "We are." Lorenzo said, "We're just having a little trouble presently. Other than that, we're good."
• "Hmm, alright." he looked at them, "Is Lea back?"
• "Yeah. She returned yesterday and even asked about you."
• "Really?" Dino smiled a little, "I missed her."
• The twins smiled knowingly at each other.
• "She missed you too, for sure. You should come to the house tomorrow." Lorenzo proposed.
• "That was already in my plans. You guys are my second family after all. I'll definitely be coming tomorrow."
• "Great. It's been hot recently and so we'll just take a dip and chill by the pool tomorrow. You'll tell us every detail of your stay in Belgium." Enzo said.
• "Yeah. As for now, you need to rest." Al added and they stood.
• "Alright. I'm happy to be with you guys again."
• "Same here."
• The friends hugged.
• "See you tomorrow, then."
• "Alright."
• ***
• The next day, Dino surprised the family by appearing at the their mansion. The twins had kept the news of his arrival from their family.
• Dino was welcomed warmly and with loving arms indeed. And of course, everyone noticed how even more handsome the boy had become. He'd grown into an attractive young man indeed and the women of the family were first to notice of course. Meema wasted no time in asking if he was single and it made everyone laugh. They had a great time and chatted for a while. Leàina had gone out with little Roulian to the amusement park and so wasn't around to welcome Dino. It wasn't a problem however because he was sure to spend the day there and so would wait for her return.
• ~~
• While the boys were behind the house and sitting by the pool, Donnie and Kloe were assisting the maids to prepare the ingredients that would later be used to cook dinner. Meema sat in a corner, watching them.
• "Dino has grown so much. He's very handsome." Kloe said as she chopped the onions.
• "Indeed." Meema and Donnie agreed.
• "I really wanted him and Noemi to date. At a point I thought they would." she went on.
• "Me too." Meema replied, "I guess they see each other as very good friends and nothing more."
• "True," Donnica started, "I think it has to do with the fact he's a close family friend and they all grew together. Maybe she even considers him as one more brother or so."
• "That's disappointing to me." Kloe laughed a little.
• "I'm not giving up. I have hopes." Meema added casually and they laughed a little.
• *
• By two that afternoon, when the sun was still up and the heat was intense, Leàina finally returned with Roulian. She then went to the kitchen to meet her mother, aunt and grandmother.
• "Oh, you are back already?" they asked.
• "How was it?" Meema asked.
• "It was great. Rou had a lot of fun. The heat was way too much, though. And still is."
• "True."
• "Where are the twins?" she asked.
• "At the pool." Kloe smiled at her daughter, "Dino is with them."
• "Dino??" she asked surprised and the women smiled knowingly.
• "Yeah. Go welcome him."
• "He's here? When did he–" she didn't finish her sentence and turned, leaving the kitchen.
• The women chuckled.
• "Those two have something. I don't care what you say." Meema stated and they laughed.
• ~~
• Noemi's POV:
• I headed for the back. I reached the backdoor that led into the gardens and to the pool. I stopped in my tracks when I saw a blonde guy from the back, leaning against the veranda's balcony, through the glass door. It was definitely him and I smiled.
• I opened the door and stepped out. At that moment, he turned to see who it was.
• I smiled even more when his expression brightened and his brows shot up
• I smiled even more when his expression brightened and his brows shot up.
• "Dino?" I giggled opening my arms when he approached me with a bright smile.
• 'Gosh, he is so fine. That smile.'
• "Lea!" he immediately wrapped me up and I hugged him back happily. When he carried me, I laughed and held him tight.
• "Oh my gawd, it's been years!"
• "I know right!" I laughed as he put me down.
• "How could you do that to me?" he chuckled.
• "I'm sorry. I was just so preoccupied with school." I giggled and hugged him again. My heartbeat was racy as crazy.
• "I missed you." he hugged me back, rubbing my back gently.
• "I missed you too, Dino." I stepped back and admired him, "You've changed so much. You went from cutie to daddy. You are sexy!" I gasped, eyeing him.
• He laughed nervously, reddening. I giggled. Some things never changed. I used to make him redden back in our teen days and I was still able to do so.
• "You don't change." he chuckled, "Though you have." he added, holding my hand and making me turn. I did so with a little dance and he admired me, looking at me from head to toe.
• "Mmhmm. I'm a young woman now." I said proudly and he chuckled.
• "You're gorgeous."
• "Aaw, thank you very much. You too."
• I couldn't help it but eye him again.
• "You worked out?"
• "Yeah." he laughed.
• "Gawd, you look good." I laughed and he joined me.
• "I missed you so much." he hugged me again and I hugged him back, "We have a lot to talk about."
• "Yes we do. Come."
• I led him into the house and little parlour where I sat on a comfy chair and he sat opposite me. I smiled at him and he smiled back. It actually made my breath hitch a little. Dino was sexy and I made him know it. I'd missed him a lot.
• "So," I began, smiling at him,
• "So," I began, smiling at him,
• "How was Belgium, honey?"