Nero(77)

“Oh, sorry. I’m a hugger, and I haven’t learned yet that everyone else isn’t. Nice to meet you, Chloe.”

Chloe tried to smile. “You, too.”

Elle quickly asked, “How many are there of you guys?” Elle wanted to know if she should prepare herself for another Caruso sibling.

Maria laughed. “There’s one more, Lucca. He’s the oldest. Then you just have me, Nero, and then Leo. Oh, and Dad, but that’s all of us that live here anyway.”

Elle knew Maria was older than Nero, but she also knew it couldn’t be by much, and another brother? Elle admitted she wasn’t very anxious to meet the oldest brother. She had a feeling, if the two youngest boys were heartbreakers, she didn’t want to see the oldest.

“That’s a lot of Carusos.”

“You did know Nero was Italian, right?” Maria pulled Elle over to the couch and waved for Chloe to come, as well.

Elle was taken off-guard by her. “Um, yeah, he mentioned it.”

After she sat down on the couch next to Maria, Chloe sat down on the other side of her.

Maria whispered to her and Chloe, “I haven’t talked to anyone besides my family since last semester. I just have to get through this week then classes start back again.”

Elle and Chloe both started to laugh. Now Elle understood the poor girl; she was surrounded by guys and had been dying for female companionship.

“They won’t let you leave?”

“I go to college, and they still treat me like I’m thirteen years old.”

Elle knew at one look why they treated her like that. She’s the definition of a bombshell. She just wondered what their parents looked like to create three knockout children—the fourth one remained to be seen.

“Do you go to the University here?”

“Yep. I didn’t have an option to apply anywhere else.” Maria shook her head.

“What are you going for?” Elle asked her.

“Business.” Maria looked over at Chloe. “I love your outfit.”

Chloe raised her eyebrows. “Thank you.”

Elle knew Chloe was shocked, not expecting or used to getting compliments from anyone. Elle started to like Maria. All the pretty girls at school were mean to her and Chloe, and none of them were even close to being as pretty as Maria. She felt bad for her, though; clearly they had gone to the next level in over-protecting.

“Maybe I can talk Nero into us three going shopping?”

Maria’s face lit up. “Yes! I am dying to go shopping! That would be so much fun.”

Elle smiled, knowing how well they were all going to get along.

They spent some time talking and laughing about movies, clothes, and makeup while the boys talked about God knew what. Nero had ordered some pizzas, insisting she needed to eat something. By the amount of pizzas he’d ordered, however, everyone benefited from her needing to eat.

Once the pizzas arrived, Elle noticed how uncomfortable Chloe was getting in a group and different environment. She saw her eyeing two doors that led into the backyard, and from what she could glimpse, a beautiful garden.

“Do you think Nero would mind if I walked out there?” Chloe whispered to her when everyone got up to go to the table.

Elle shook her head. “No, he shouldn’t.” Elle smiled at her, knowing she needed some fresh air. “Go on.”

Elle and Chloe both stood but went in opposite directions. Elle went to the table where everyone was around the pizza boxes, grabbing a slice, and Chloe walked out the back doors.

Vincent threw his arm around her. “How are you doing, sweetheart?”

Elle laughed at him, remembering him asking that the first time she had gotten hurt. “I’m fine. Just another bump on the head.”

“Yeah, I know you are.” Vincent laughed, dropping his arm to take a seat at the table.

Elle looked at the only seat left, which was beside Nero. All the other chairs were spaced a little bit out, but this one was really close to Nero’s chair.

She took the seat, her leg lying against his. She noticed he didn’t look very happy, though; he had obviously heard that it was just another bump on the head.

She watched Nero take a slice of pizza out of the box and throw it on a plate. He slid it in front of her. “Eat.”

Elle honestly didn’t feel hungry, yet Nero’s face told her she better eat. She figured she could take a few bites to make him happy.

“Where’s Chloe?” Amo asked, looking around.

Elle quickly responded, “She already ate before coming over and had been dying to see the backyard.” She turned towards Nero. “I hope that’s okay?”

Nero nodded to her as he took a bite.

They all talked around the table, and she watched the boys throw back pizza like it was nothing. Elle had taken her few bites and called it quits; subsequently, she just sipped on her water that Nero had put on the table, waiting for her.