I fasten the last button on my white dress shirt with trembling hands, then quickly unbutton again popping the collar so it looks more relaxed. I've gotten jaw ache from the amount of time my jaws spent clenched today, my molars are probably worn down to the gum.

"Hey handsome, you ready to go?" I turn at the sound of Gigi's voice, she leans against my door frame in a mid-length green velvet dress paired with a set of knee-high boots, she's applied a nude lip which makes her blue eyes twinkle under her thick lashes. Her hair sits in waves down her back and rests under her breasts which are creating just the right amount of cleavage in the v-shape neckline.

"You look breathtaking Gigi," I say fiddling with my sleeves, I notice the blush creep up her neck, she tries to disguise by flipping her honey streaked waves, she's so cute.

"Maybe we could just skip dinner, I've already got a three-course meal here," I wink at her, her eyes flash with embarrassment but are quickly replaced with a darkening lust, I catch her like that sometimes, when she thinks I'm not looking. I can see in her eyes when she's turned on, like the night we kissed in Italy or the morning after, I know she was just as turned on as I was. But I can also see that mental block that's stopping her from going any further. She's still partly a mystery, one I'd be happy to spend years trying to crack.

She takes a few steps closer to me placing her hand on my chest, biting on her lip. That fucking lip bite, instantly makes every other woman in the world unattractive. Her head dips closer to my ear and I instinctively grab her waist,

"We could..." she whispers in my ear, a trail of goosebumps appears on my arms, "But... I'm dying to meet the woman who birthed such a massive... ego," She giggles, pulling away and fiddling with my collar.

"Tease." I pout at her as she saunters away humming to herself, leaving me flustered and completely aroused. Fuck.

Gigi's warm hand runs up and down my arm as we walk up the drive, I've nearly turned around three times but every time Gigi just drags me back. I'm fucking petrified, they all hate me.

"They don't hate you Colt, Everythings going to be fine." As if reading my mind Gigi soothes me, her voice reminding me to breathe, I feel bad for asking her to come. I can tell she feels uncomfortable but is hiding it for my sake.

"Promise you won't leave me tonight?" I ask quietly, unable to meet her eyes. She probably thinks I'm such soppy prick but there's no way I could do this without her.

"I promise," She reassures me. The drive suddenly seems really long, like it's trying to prolong my agony. We pass the dozens of cars parked around the property, I already recognise a few of them as my parents, sisters, brothers and my grandfathers Bently, alerting me to the fact we are defiantly late. Great start Colton.

"Hey," I feel a tug on my arm and look down to find Gigi staring up at me with her warm eyes, "Don't panic, take a deep breath!" I allow air into my lungs as we approach the door, my arms suddenly like stone Gigi swings the massive gold knocker back and forth against one of the double arched doors. A few seconds later and the door swings open and the smell of spices and fresh home-cooked food fills my nose, a scent I haven't had the privilege of smelling in years until Gigi came and started cooking me pancakes.

My mothers stands in the doorway, a smile stretching across the entirety of her face,

"My baby," she gushes wrapping her arms around me, I have to bend since she's so short but almost immediately tension rids my body. The simplicity of her embrace makes me feel like a teenager again, safe and loved in my mom's arms.

"Hi mom," I whisper, kissing her lightly as I get a waft of her signature white musk perfume, reluctantly she pulls away,

"Come in come in!" She beckons pulling me into the main hall of the house, not much has changed, she still had millions of family photos lining the grand staircase and hundreds of vases of roses on any clear surfaces.

"We didn't know if you'd make it," She smiles which immediately sends a pang of guilt rippling through my chest, she then gasps and clasps her hand over her mouth, "I'm so sorry honey! How rude of me, you must be Gigi!" She pulls her into a hug, I can see Gigi tense immediately but relax quickly and smile.

"I am! Your home is beautiful Mrs Hemmings. I love the roses!"

"Please call me Emma, Mrs Hemmings makes me sound so old!" She takes Gigi's hands and smiles brightly, "I'm so glad you could both join us!" Her pristine heels start clipping through the massive foyer as she beckons us to follow her. I walk into the kitchen, Gigi sandwiched close to my side, I can tell she's anxious but she smiles reassuringly at me. Placing my hand on her back we walk into the kitchen, most of my family is gathered in there chatting away or helping my mom behind the stove, immediately I'm tackled by mini figures- my younger sister and niece.

"Colt!" Arlo shouts as I crouch down to hug them both, picking niece Avery up in my arms. They've both gotten so big since I last saw them.

"Hey you little monsters," I tickle Avery enjoying the sound of her high pitched squeal.

"Aw look who's come home!" Elijah coo's sarcastically, pinching my cheeks. Well, at least some things haven't changed, he's still a fucking prick.

"Fuck off man," I slap his hands away from my face.

"Language!" Jessica and Mom both scold from the stove, another thing that hasn't changed.

"Nah I missed you for real though brother dearest." He adds moving back to his chair,

"We all have!" Jessica comes round to hug me as a low whistle fills the room.

"Well, who is this hottie?" Arrow slavers over Gigi who's moved so far behind me she's not been seen by my family yet.

"Arrow!" My mom shouts before I can, if my mom was ever hot on one thing it was that we respect women... another thing that sends a tone of guilt soring through my chest, I've been a dick and nothing can erase that but I can try to apologise, that started with Gigi and on the yacht and will continue until I've apologise to everyone I've ever met.

"Hi, I'm Gigi." She mumbles quietly raising a quick wave at the kitchen that's gone seemingly quiet, I bring her forward by wrapping my arm around her waist. Her body moving in and out quickly. I give her a light squeeze trying to make her more comfortable.

"I apologise for my son's vulgar behaviour, Arrow apologise now." My mom waves a wooden spoon in his direction but his eyes are far too fixated on Gigi, more specifically her breasts.

"Uh, yea... sorry." He murmurs, his sixteen-year-old horny eyes never once looking at her face. I clear my throat, glaring at him with an eyebrow raised which seems to scare him off since he walks over to behind Elijah who just chuckles.

"These are my brothers Elijah and Arrow and my sisters, Jess and Arlo."

"Is she your girlfriend Colty?" Arlo asks sweetly, staring at Gigi who immediately freezes at the question. I know the whole kitchens waiting for my answer, I can sense their nerves.

"No, she's just my friend." I clear my throat.

"Aw, she's really pretty." That she is.

"Nowhere near as pretty as you though," Gigi says crouching to her level, " I absolutely love those hairclips," She lightly plays with the glittery butterfly hairgrips that sit on her dirty blonde hair, Arlo smiles a toothy grin, her small six-year-old teeth gappy.

"Really? I have another one if you want one?" Arlo gushes, being the youngest sibling she never really has anyone to play with, Arrows ten years older than her and her cousins would be too young, so I imagen having Gigi in the house is like a breath of fresh air.

"You know what, I would absolutely love one!" Gigi says. Arlo removes an extra butterfly from the front of her dress and slides it into her hair, I savour this moment watching Gigi's motherly instincts take over. My siblings and I fall into conversation like no time has even been lost between us and Arlo sits on Spillers lap as they colour in a page of flowers together, Arlo reprimanding her whenever she goes outside of the line. Elijah spends every moment he can trying to hit on her and Arrow just stares at her in some kind of lovesick trance. Idiots. But I've missed them, I've missed being surrounded by my family- the people who love me and keep me grounded. My gran soon waltzes into the kitchen,

"I thought I heard my grandsons voice, hey love!" She pulls me down into a hug, my gran always gave some of the best hugs.

"Hey gran how are you?"

"Ugh you don't want to hear about me, I'm not getting any younger. Nope, I want to hear about you, what have you been up-" She pauses when she notices Gigi entertaining Arlo and Avery.

"Who's this pretty peach?" She asks making Gigi blush.

"This is Colton's friend, Gigi, Mom," Mom says mixing some liquid in a pot.

"Friend... sure," Grandma winks at me, Elijah howls with laughter, "I don't know what you're laughing at boy, you're the oldest! I was hoping you'd be the first to have great-grandbabies!" Elijah sighs and chugs his beer,

"I'll go set the table," he huffs and walks out of the kitchen, Arrow trailing behind him.

"I'm Grandma Trudy," She smiles at her, "Colton move so I can hug the beautiful girl!" She gives me a shove and wraps her arms around Gigi, "It's lovely to meet you dear! I've seen you on the television, you're a talented little thing aren't you." She situates herself next to Gigi, my mom quickly joins them and the three of them start gossiping about god knows what. Those three women together would definitely be a force to be reckoned with.

"I like her Colt," Jess whispers, handing me a fidgety baby Harper, "She's lovely and really good for you." I just smile at her laughing at something Grandma Trudy said. "You look at her like she's your world, she's installed this new happiness in you that I haven't seen since you were sixteen. Hold onto her." Jess leans against my arm, "Why are you just friends?"

"It's complicated. I don't do relationships Jess, not after her." Jess runs her hand across my back sympathetically, " And Gigi, there's something she's holding back on. I think she's had a bad relationship in the past and she's scared to go back down that route again." I sigh, with all the factors, it just wouldn't work... would it?

"It's only as complicated as you make it. Gigi is not Hailey, I only met the girl an hour ago and I can already see that. She's kind, caring and bubbly. Not a narcissistic bitch." I chuckle, my sister always had the ability to cheer me up and reason me, " It sounds to me like you're both scared to go back down the relationship route but maybe you need to show her it's not scary, show her how she makes you feel. If you want something bad enough, you'll do everything you can to get it. That's the kind of person you are Colt. Trust yourself." She places a peck on my cheek, "I've missed you, its good to have you home." Then she walks over to join mom, grandma T and Gigi.

Mom brings pans over to the kitchen island once a timer's gone off, placing various vegetables into clean white bowls.

"Can I help with anything?" Gigi asks watching my mom fluster around the roast potatoes.

'No honey, you're our guest-"

"No, really I insist!" Gigi gets up and goes to grab one of the hot plates from my mom. My mom smiles sweetly at her. It's in her nature, Gigi won't give up until she's helping.

"Thank you, Gigi. You and Colton can start taking these plates out to the table." I groan earning a stern glance from both my mom and Gigi, freaky. Spiller places two bowls of vegetables into my hands and I lead her through the house and into the dining room, I watch as she gazes around the hall like room. A large long-run table sits in the centre, decorated with vases of flowers and several hundred sets of cutlery, the room has three sets of French doors that overlook the golf course like garden and Californian Hills scenery behind the house.

"Wow- this is..." Gigi carefully sets down the food and admires the room, "You really do live like a Kardashian," she chuckles nervously and starts playing with the hem of her dress. Her face morphs into an uncomfortable look.

"My dad he... uh owns one of the biggest software and app development companies in the world," I rub my neck, Gigis eyes widen, "He is a normal person though, he bought the company up from nothing with absolutely nothing. Elijah's actually in the running to take over, he's COO at the moment. The company's also part of the reason me and my dad fell out." I look off into the distance watching the sprinklers on the lawn outside, "He wanted me to take over with Elijah, wanted to push me into the route of business. He was furious when I told him I was going to be signed, he thought it was a joke, never supported my music."

It was hard growing up, my mom was the most supportive person in the world, always encouraging me to play her my new stuff. She actually bought me my first guitar when I was six, my whole family was supportive really... except my dad.

My dad's business is his first child, neither of my parents were born into wealth, they've both worked so hard to get where they are now, I admire them in that way especially mom who worked two jobs just to put herself through law school, whilst raising a family.

However, that just meant that my dad liked to push his kids more, especially me and Elijah. My dad wasn't a bad parent by any means but he was pressuring and all I wanted to do as a kid was make music and play soccer.

"He hasn't had a proper conversation with me in years," Gigi nestles into my side slowing dragging her nails across my tensed back, she smiles up at me before placing a quick kiss on my cheek. She blushes and glances out over the garden,

"Well, today is a new day, right? They're all so happy to see you. Arlo is adorable, your mum is amazing, your gran is incredible," she giggles slightly, grandma T can be a handful, "and your sister is literally the sweetest."

I can see the pain resides in her eyes, she's surrounded by a tight-knit – loving family which is probably like a dagger in her heart.

"I'm sorry, I know this must be hard, I shouldn't have-"

"Oh shush!" She places her hand on my chest, electricity surging through me, "I wanted to come Colt and I'm glad I did, your family is great and so welcoming,"

"I'm the best one of this family though, obviously. Tell her boy." Both me and Gigi jump at the extra voice echoing around the room, my gramps hobbles in wearing a classic meme-worthy t-shirt and a Chargers cap.

"Obviously after me Gramps,"

"I see that ego hasn't disappeared lad." He ruffles my hair like I'm a five-year-old,

"Neither has yours old man," I counter, my gramps and I could go at it for hours. He likes to think he's cool enough to 'banter' with us kids.

"What can I say, you take after me. Especially with the ladies," He winks at me then pulls Gigi into a hug, "You must be the famous Gigi," he lets out a laugh, "Quite literally. I'm Larry, or Gramps, whatever you prefer." He draws back long enough to look at her in detail, "I take full credit in being the one who taught him to pick the beautiful girls." She lets out her signature giggle and blushes.

"Larry! Don't terrorise they young girl! Gigi, I apologise in advance for my brutish husband." Grandma T says walking into the dining room, Arlo beside her.

"Nonsense, he's been nothing short of a gentleman." She smiles at him once he winks at her, the famous Hemmings wink that's been passed down through our line of men.

'Right dinner is served!" mom places the last bowl on the table and beckons everyone to sit around the table.

"I want to sit with Gigi," Arlo says dragging her to a seat and forcing her into the space next to her, I follow them and sit next to Gigi, instinctively letting my palm rest on her bare thigh. My family files in, including my siblings, grandparents and aunties, uncles and cousins I didn't know where here. Eventually, my dad, who I've yet to see this evening walks into the dining room and takes the head of the table. The room clouds with tension, he watches me carefully whilst everyone just silently stares at their plates. Gigi places her hand over mine giving it a slight squeeze and I breathe.

"Well isn't this a surprise," he scowls at me but he looks undecided, like he's battling with whether it's a good surprise or a bad one. I refrain from making a snide remark and simply smile at him, tight-lipped. Tonight is about apologising, calm down Colton.

"Right then, everyone tuck in!" My mum says breaking the unwanted tension. Immediately rumbles of chatter relay around the table and people start loading their plates with food. I watch admirably as Gigi fills Arlo's plate first and cuts up her food for her, she even convinces her to eat at least four vegetables which makes me laugh because Arlo always has a tantrum about eating her veg. The table engages in small talk but I know they all feel like they're walking on eggshells, until my Aunt decided to dig a bit deeper.

"So Gigi, did you guys meet through work?" I can see the corners of her mouth turn up into a slight smirk, I sigh knowing she's now got the upper hand.

"Well sort of, the first time we met I was actually working as a server and he smashed into me spilling a whole tray of drinks over me."

"Hold on! It was you who smashed into me!" I protest,

"Oh shut up, you literally whacked into me so hard I ended up on the floor!" she bickers, we go back and forth arguing over who smashed into who when I realise my whole family is looking at us with amused looks on their faces. I clear my throat,

"So you haven't always been an 'artist' " My dad chirps mockingly from the end of the table taking a long sip of wine.

"Uh, I have but unfortunately it didn't pay the bills so I was working full-time as well." Gigi shifts uncomfortably.

"You worked as a server?" My dad asks judgementally.

"Yeah in the evenings but in the day I also worked at Berkely's PR." My dad's eyes widen slightly and he nods curtly, I smile slightly at his judgemental tendencies, he wasn't expecting that.

"Are you from England?" Arrow asks mouth full, my mom scolds him.

"Yep, London"

"That's so cool, I've always wanted to go to London!" he gushes trying to look cool,

"Since when?" Elijah smirks.

"Uh since like forever..." Arrow turns a bright red,

"Aw bless, you're embarrassing him E!" Jess says feeding Harper, "I think you're a bit young though babe," She snickers,

"Just out of interest how old... are you Gigi?" He says nervously making Gigi giggle,

"I'm twenty-two,"

"Ah, so would you happen to be... in a relationship at this very moment,"

"Arrow! You're sixteen! Cut it out!" I quickly reply. The whole table bursts into laughter.

"What! Can't blame a guy for trying!" he counters, sulking back into his chair. My dad coughs bringing the attention of the table back to him,

" So whereabouts in London are you from Gigi, there are some very nice areas down there. Knightsbridge? Kensington? Westminster?" I feel Gigi tense and wriggle in her seat, no doubt feeling so uncomfortable right now. I know what he's doing, he's trying to psych her out, I know he must have done his research.

"Dad," I warn.

"Oh, he speaks! How are you son?" he smirks from the end of the table, "So nice of you to finally come back and see us all? Been too busy for us?" I clench my jaw so tight I think my molars will turn to dust, my fists ball up with my rising temper. "How long's it been now, son? A few years? Then you waltz back in here with another piece of arm candy, " I jump up out of my seat with force, slamming my fists on the table, my anger is pummeling through my veins, my eyes are solely trained on his grin but in my peripheral vision, I can see my moms disappointed expression. She's scolding my father who just sits there like a Cheshire cat. My dad can be a prick to me all he wants right now, I deserve it but Gigi doesn't. He has absolutely no-

"Hey," A warm hand lands on my arm, "Calm down Colt-" Gigi tries to soothe me,

"But he said-"

"It's okay, take a breath." She links a hand through mine and rubs her thumb across my palm, she then leans in closer letting her wavy hair tickle the exposed part of my chest and her strawberry scent engulf me, she nears my ear, "You're better than this, you can control it, take a breath."

She's right, I'm in control and I just need to breathe but this room is suffocating with everyone's eyes on me,

"I need some air," I say dragging Gigi out of the dining room away from everyone else so I can just be with her, because that's all I really need around me right now.

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