Be ready by 7. Wear something nice.

I reread Karter's text over and over again.

This morning, we started off carefully. Neither one of us trying to push the other. It didn't take long until we were back to normal. I forced it. I asked about his family, told him how I argued over the pronunciation of amygdala with my biology teacher who was a native speaker of French. Karter eased quickly.

Now he asked me out on a date. I think.

"That's so a date," Manny said from over my shoulder. He was sitting on my bed scrolling through Instagram before this happened.

"Right?" I raised my brows.

Manny's excitement was radiating. I think he was more excited than me. "It better not be ice cream again."

"What's wrong with ice cream? I like ice cream," I frowned.

Manny gave me a small smile. "I mean it better only be you two, not his whole family."

My lips shaped into an "o". I liked the sound of alone time with Karter.

Manny hopped off my bed and walked to my closet moving from hanger to hanger. He starts pulling out a few outfits throwing them on my desk chair beside him. It was his maybe pile. "So how sexy are we dressing?"

"Manny!" I blushed.

I could see the smirk creeping on his lips. I knew I was not going to like his next few words. "Are we dressing sexy under too."

I gasped, my cheeks feeling like they were about to melt off. "Manny!"

He threw his head back in laughter. I knew he was just saying this to get under my skin. "Alright, alright, we'll stay PG. But, you still need to tease him a bit or else it's no fun."

I think my cheeks have reached the point of no return.

"Are we talking LBD or taking her home to meet the parents?" Manny asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. "He just said to dress nice whatever that means."

Manny nodded his head. "Okay, maybe somewhere in the middle."

We finally decided on a off the shoulder bodycon dress, some strappy heels and a choker to accessorize. I did my hair in loose waves and kept my makeup soft.

I waited with Manny for the remainder of the time, it mostly consisted of him saying things to make me blush and make him laugh.

Finally, there was a knock on the door. Seven on the dot. I tried running down the stairs as fast as I could in heels. To my dismay, my parents had already opened the door. Uh oh.

"Have her home by 10, by 10:01 I call the cops," my dad said sternly.

"You also keep your hands to yourself, if I see one hair out of place then I'll have your life ruined faster than you could say criminal record," my mom added.

God, they were frightening.

"I promise I will--"

Karter was cut off.

"That's the thing, I don't believe in promises," said my dad, taking an intimidating step forward.

"Whoa," Jared said stepping into the foyer. He put hand on my dad's shoulder pulling him back. "If he promises, then he promises, I trust this one."

Jared sent a discreet wink my way.

Our hero.

Upon moving my father, my presence was noticed by Karter. His eyebrows flew up to his hair line, his eyes roaming me from head to bottom, the gleam that can only be described as lust, his lips parted before he licked them.

I had to say he looked amazing himself. I always said Karter cleaned up nicely. The dark grey dress shirt tucked into darker pants hugged his body just right, he had his hair in a man bun how I liked it showing off his handsome face. In his hands was a bouquet of flowers, sunflowers, my favourite. How did he know?

The only sound came from my mom who gasped. "Oh honey! You look wonderful!"

She walked over to me giving me a tight hug.

"Thank's mom," I hugged her back just as tightly.

I think I hear my dad sniff.

My mom pulled back before pushing me towards Karter. "Pictures! We need pictures!"

They seemed to forget their little showdown with Karter as they bombarded us with pictures. Me getting a man, one of their many dreams. Jared finally came to the rescue shooing us out before my parents could get any more emotional.

As soon as the door closed behind us, Karter turned to look at me. "You look amazing."

I couldn't help but blush. "You clean up nicely yourself."

"I thought it was bad having Maddy as a sister, now I have to worry about guys checking you out too," he said, I could hear the irritation in his voice.

This made me laugh. "It doesn't matter, I only have eyes for you Mr. Pierce."

This time, Karter blushed.

He put out his hand and I took it. He led me to a unfamiliar car, opening the door for me. I raised a brow questioning the appearance of this car.

Karter shrugged his shoulders. "I borrowed it from a friend, I hope you don't mind."

I shook my head. "Of course not."

I entered the car, it was thankfully clean. Karter got into the driver's seat. He was looking a little nervous. I reached over, putting a hand over his hand that was placed on the shifting gear as a form of habit. Karter turned his hand around, wrapping his fingers around mine. This seemed to calm him down a bit.

We made small talk before arriving to a restaurant called Mangiare. I've been to it a few time with my parents. I whipped my head in Karter's direction. "We can't eat here!"

He furrowed his brows. "Why not?"

"Do you know how expensive this restaurant is?" I asked him. A salad alone cost over twenty-five dollars.

Karter clenched his jaw. "Livia, I told you before, don't worry about my financial situation."

"I am going to worry about your financial situation," I said stubbornly. "I worry about you, I worry about Maddy, I worry about Harley. You don't have to go over and beyond for me."

Karter's eyes softened. "If I wasn't able to take you here, I wouldn't. Really Livia, I just want to enjoy this with you."

It was hard to deny him that. "Okay fine, but I'm serious Karter. No more expensive dates. I am perfectly happy with PB&J sandwiches on the front porch of your house."

Karter smirked. "How else am I supposed to see you dress this nicely?"

I smacked his arm. "Fine, I'll wear a ballgown to Smokes."

This made Karter laugh. He put out his arm, I looped mine with his walking up to restaurant together.

"Reservations under Pierce," Karter said. It still boggled my mind how he was able to get reservations. They didn't do it for anyone. You needed to be somebody.

We were led to a table where we were handed our menus as well as asked for drinks.

I eyed Karter curiously as he flipped through his menu wondering how he got reservations here. "Are you like secretly famous?"

Karter raised his head, a look of confusion on his face. "What?"

"You know," I twirled my finger around. "Getting reservations here is close to impossible."

"Oh," Karter blushed. "I know someone who owed me a favor."

"Pierce!" said a voice nearby. I'm assuming it was this person.

One of the restaurant's chef's was standing at the edge of our table. I recognized him. He was the head chef. How did he know Karter?

Karter stood up, a wide smile on his face and he hugged the chef. "Matteo, so nice to see you again."

The chef patted him on the back before pulling him away. He looked at me now, he seemed impressed not bothering to hide this as he looked between me and Karter.

"Ms. Murphy, what a pleasant surprise," he said reaching out to shake my hand. My parents had the restaurant cater a few of our events, I was well acquainted with the staff. "An even more pleasant surprise to see you here with Karter."

I think both Karter and I were wondering how each knew Matteo.

As if to answer my question, he put an arm around Karter's shoulders. "I owe Karter big time, he saved my life."

"It really was nothing Matt," Karter blushed.

"Nothing?" Matteo frowned. "You changed me man. Listen, I need to go back to my kitchen. If you need anything let me know. And no funny business Kar, I warned the staff here."

Matteo did a little bow in a my direction before dismissing himself.

I raised an amused brow in Karter's direction. He looked like he was debating telling me what just happened, but he sighed in defeat. "Fine. We used to work together, before he made it big."

"And?" I urged him. How did he save his life?

Karter sighed again. "He was an addict like my mom. I recognized the symptoms. I was a kid when my mom needed help, but I was older when it came to Matteo. I could actually help him. Of course, he hated me at first. He wanted me to leave him alone, but I kept nagging him. One day, on the job he disappeared. No one noticed, but I always watched him afraid he would do something. He had been in the washroom for a while. I went to knock on the door but no one answered. I broke down the door and found him choking on his own vomit. I ran to him and helped him until the ambulance arrived. After that, I made sure he went to therapy. He's been clean for years now. He looks like a completely different person."

My lips were parted in surprise. "Wow."

Karter blushed. "It's nothing."

"That's definitely something, you really did save him Karter. That is amazing," I told him even though he kept denying it's awesomeness. "Let me guess, Matteo was the one who hooked you up with this dinner for two?"

Karter nodded. "He's been telling me for years to bring a date here."

I smiled to myself liking that I was the only one Karter has brought here.

It was his turn to ask. "How does he know you?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "My family comes here a lot. They sometimes cater our events."

Karter shook his head. "Of course, how could I forget your parents are lawyer celebrities."

I tucked my hair behind my ear nervously. "Is that a bad thing?"

Karter's expression softened. "No... They're successful, I shouldn't be bitter about that. It's just... it's a whole other world than the one I'm living in."

"And what world do I belong too?" I asked quietly.

Karter's eyes met mine. His hand reach across the table, I met him half way. He ran his thumb in tiny circles. "I'm hoping somewhere in the middle?"

I nodded my head. "That's a good answer."

Karter laughed. We continued having small talk, my hand never leaving Karter's until the food arrived. The staff seemed extra nice to us. I did not know if it was Matteo's influence or the Murphy name. We finished our meals, and my Matteo's command we didn't pay a dime. Karter took me home after. He walked me to my door, lingering a bit.

He took a step closer to me, his hand reaching to tuck my hair behind ear before his fingers skimmed along my jaw leaving a burning trail. "Can I kiss you or will you parents give me a life sentence?"

"They'd have to lock me up too then," I said tilting my head closer to his. Karter smiled before leaning down and capturing my lips. This was the perfect way to end the night.

Karter pulled me closer to him and deepened the kiss. Before it could really get somewhere the door opened. We both jumped back as if we were caught doing something really inappropriate. Jared stood on the other side. I could see he really did not enjoy seeing his twin sister and her man locking lips.

"I'm really trying to be cool about this," Jared said painfully. "It's harder than it looks."

Karter shared a look with him telling him he understood completely.

"Right..." Jared stretched. His eyes met mine. "Livia, inside and away from the lip eater."

I blushed so hard I think I stained my cheeks. I snuck a quick glance at Karter to show him I was sorry. He was blushing too.

"Goodnight," I said softly. He returned it sweetly.

I walked past Jared who was still sizing up Karter. "You followed all of my parent's rules right?"

Karter nodded looking a little frustrated. "Obviously. I respect Livia."

"And I respect Maddy," Jared tried.

"Drop it," Karter growled.

Jared put his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay. Thought I'd give it a try."

I barely noticed the smile Karter was hiding.

Karter gave me one last look before walking away. Jared closed the door after him before turning to face me. "So? How was it?"

I let out a happy sigh.

"Perfect."

————————————————————-

Don't be silent readers!

Vote and comment!

I'd love to hear what you have to say!

Love ya!

XO