After the three days I spent away in Italy with Gio, we eventually had to flew back home. Emilia had also came back with us. I believe she was more excited about my engagement than I was, when she saw the ring. She was really happy for me when she found out, and I'm talking about all squealing and jumping around with me. It was so crazy and funny at the time. And them Mr.Cavelli had congratulated us so I guess I was fully accepted into Gio's immediate family. I was a bit exhausted when I reached home, Gio had to leave to take care of some business and no one else was home right now except for me and Emilia so I guess I'd have to wait until later today to share my engagement news with mom and dad and with Dominic, Kathleen and the others at another time.

"I know it's probably a bit soon, but have you guys thought about when you guys are going to have the wedding and all" Emilia asked me.

We were currently in the kitchen having a snack.

"Em, we haven't even gotten a chance to talk about anything like that as yet" I replied. "Our engagement just happened Saturday night and then yesterday we've been busy and all then we flew here today".

" I get it but I just meant do you have a specific time frame in which you would want to get married?" Emilia asked. "You know like the next two months or three months?"

"I don't know Em. When Gio and I get a chance to really talk about this then I can say. I mean the engagement could even last up to over a year before any wedding takes place" I said to her.

"That doesn't make any sense. I never get it when people do that. Why get engaged and then wait that long to get married?" Emilia asked furrowing her brows in confusion. "Its a freaking engagement not a life long souvenir"

"An engagement doesn't mean instant marriage, it just means that a couple is serious beyond the typical girlfriend and boyfriend level" I explained.

"Well waiting that long before having the wedding especially when you can afford it, just makes it seems like you guys aren't sure you made the right decision engaging" Emilia replied. "It just makes it looks like the guy just gave you a ring to keep you satisfied and not run off leave him but he doesn't think you're good enough to actually get married to or he's trying to figure out if engaging was a mistake he doesn't actually wants to married again but he's too polite to call it off"

"Where do you get those ideas Em?" I chuckled. "I doubt that that's the case. Maybe some people just wants enough time to prepare"

"Well that's just my theory" Em shrugged. "Would you like it if Gio just engaged to you and you're just there wearing his ring for years with no talks or plans for any actual wedding?"

"Of course not" I replied.

"See my point exactly" Em grinned. "So you're going to tell the others later I presume? Or I don't think you'll have to tell them, they'll definitely noticed that rock on your finger"

Instinctively I raised my hand to look at the ring sitting on my finger. I could hardly get over the fact that I was now engaged and even more the beauty of the ring especially with those sapphire rhinestones.

"I'm actually thinking about calling over Dominic and Kathleen to join us for dinner. That way I'll only have to just break the news to everyone at once" I said to her. "You know as they say, kill two birds with one stone"

"Makes perfect sense" Emilia replied.

*** "So what's the occasion? You invited us over for dinner? I'm sure this isn't because you missed us that much" Dominic said as we were seated at the table.

"Why are you always so...I don't know cynical or negative?" I scoffed at him as I place the last bowl with bake Mac n cheese on the table and sitting down. "You're always thinking you're some psychic".

"Knowing you, anytime you do something like this and even more offered to prepare dinner then invite me its always something" Dominic replied. "So what's it this time, what's the news?"

"Dominic can't you at least wait until after dinner or I don't know when she decided to say something before doing that?" Dad said to him.

"No I couldn't. Since Lexi invited us here, I've been too curious to find out what's the occasion" Dominic replied.

"Why do you immediately thinks she has an ulterior motive for inviting you to and preparing dinner?" Mom asked.

"Its not like I haven't cook dinner from time to time before without an occasion" I said to him.

"But you specifically called me and Kathleen to come over so most likely you must have something important you want to say to all of us together one time" Dominic replied.

"You know think you're too smart for your own good" I said to him pursing my lips.

"Lexi, do you have something to tell us?" Dad asked stopping us from arguing further.

"Actually..." I said drawling on the word. "I do, I wanted to wait until after dinner but...since you guys decide to pry it out of me..."

"Spit it out already" Dominic urged me impatiently.

"Alright fine" I sigh as I lift my left hand displaying the ring. "So, Gio and I are engaged. That's all".

"Omg, seriously Congratulations" Kathleen said excitedly.

"What!?" Dad and Dominic said at the same time clearly shocked.

"Oh Honey...that's... that's great" Mom said after getting over the shock. "I'm so happy for you".

"Well at least three of us seems excited about it" Emilia commented.

"Let's see" Kathleen said as she and mom got up and came closer to inspect and admire the ring.

"Oh, that's so beautiful. And are those sapphire rhinestones?" Mom gushed.

"Yeah, its so pretty. I've never seen one like it before" Kathleen agreed as they admired my finger.

"You're marrying him?" Dad finally spoke up.

"Yeah, that's the whole idea of getting engaged Dad" I said to him. "Why? I thought you guys were okay with Gio now?"

"I thought so too but..." Dad began but Dominic cut in.

"This is a joke right? April's fool joke?" Dominic added.

"Babe, It's not April" Kathleen said to him as she went back to her seat.

"I know, but I had to make sure" Dominic replied to her before turning to me again. "You're marrying the guy, you haven't even known him for much more than a year".

"And? I know him enough and we're in love so what's the issue?" I asked him with an attitude.

"The issue is you haven't even known him enough or that long to be getting married to him" Dominic said as his excuse.

"What? You haven't even known Kathleen that long either yet you're living together" I said to him. "No offence Kathleen....but I don't see any difference".

" It's different. But that's besides the point, what could Cavelli done with you within the year to make you feel like you know him enough to married him?"

"You don't want me to answer that" I told him seriously.

"No, I do. I want you to answer it I'm curious" Dominic replied.

"He's given me the best se..." I started but mom cut me off.

"Do not finish that statement" mom warned. "Dominic why must you always be so negative. This is a happy moment for Lexi, she's engaged. Can't you be happy for her? And you too Alphonso, you both are being extremely negative and unsupportive".

" I couldn't put it any better mom" I said crossing my arms.

"I'm trying to be happy for her Kath, but this is a bit sudden" Dad replied.

"That shouldn't matter" Mom told them sternly. "Lexi is an adult, if she and Gio are in love with each other and decided to get married, we should be happy for her. Besides, Gio seems like a nice guy differently who genuinely loves her, so you both need to get over whatever stupid rival reason why you hate the guy".

"Amen" I heard Emilia muttered under her breath.

"Wow, mom. Well said. Thank you" I said smirking.

"If you want to marry the guy then fine, Io non sono quello sposarlo" Dominic replied.

(I'm not the one marrying him)

"What?" I asked not fully understanding what he just said.

"I said congratulations on your engagement sis" Dominic covered.

"Yeah whatever" I said rolling my eyes at him. "I'll make sure to invite you to the wedding".

" That's if there's ever a wedding " Dominic muttered but I heard him.

"I so hate you" I said to him glaring at him across the table.

"Of course you do" Dominic said sarcastically before starting to share the food.

"Congratulations Lexi, I hope he makes you happy" Dad replied.

**** "What do you think about doing it in the next two months then?" Gio asked as he rubbed the ointment on my almost healed wound.

Were we at his house discussing about the actual wedding and plans. Somehow we were talking and then the conversation about actually getting married came up and so Gio and I were discussing things pertaining to it right now.

"Babe, two months? I don't think that would be enough time to plan a wedding and all and get it perfect" I said to him as I rolled over on my back so I could now face him.

"What do you mean? I have enough resources and connection, I could get everything ready and prepare in a day" Gio replied.

"I don't want an hurry up wedding, I want us to have enough time to sit down and plan it all you know" I said to him. "Two months just doesn't seem like enough time, I mean we'll have to book a venue in advance, choose cakes, decorations, and not to mentioned my dress. I'd want it custom made by a designer that would take a while".

"Like what maybe three months? Don't you think we could pay a designer to focus solely and build your dress within two months?" Gio asked.

"I guess we could but still at times, they tend to be a bit busy beforehand" I responded.

"What if we could get all that sorted within two months then would you be okay with getting married within the next three months?" Gio asked.

"Well I guess so, if all the arrangements and dresses were to be taken care of by that time then yes" I replied. " But we don't really need to rush all that do we? I'm not going anywhere ".

" I'll be sure of that once I officially have you wearing my ring and my name" Gio said as he leaned his weight on his elbow looking down at me. "You do plan to take my name don't you?"

"Hmm... Alexa Cavelli?Honestly, I never really thought about it" I told him honestly. "Do I have to change my name?"

"Lexi, you're going to be my wife, of course I'm going to want you having my name" Gio replied matter of factly.

"Its just that I've gotten so use to Luciano and changing it again just seems hard to keep track of. First I was Miller then I became a Luciano and then I'd become a Cavelli. That's three times name changing, can't I just hyphenate?"

"You know what how about we discuss the name changes at another time, when you've thought about it well enough" Gio said as he used the back of his fingers to caressed my cheek.

"Alright" I responded smiling at him.

"So have you thought about who you want as your bridesmaids?" Gio asked. "And maybe what colors could be used?"

"I guess I'd used Kathleen, Emilia and Khadja and two of the other girls from LEXI'S and CHANCES for my bridesmaids. I dont really have much friends you know" I said to him. And for the colors... I don't know, I was thinking maybe black and red or black and purple. What do you think?"

"Cara, you really want to used black in our wedding?" Gio chuckled. "It's supposed to be a happy occasion baby, isn't black like a color they'd more likely used for mourning?"

"That's what people do but I don't have to think of it that way. I love black, you love black. So whats wrong with using it at our wedding?" I asked curiously.

"Nothing, nothing at all. I personally don't have a problem with it just that the guests maybe wondering" Gio said.

"Well its our wedding Gio, not their's. We can use whatever color we want in our wedding and who doesn't like it can screw themselves"

I'm so sorry about the long wait guys and I know this isn't even a long chapter 😞. Its just that I've been super busy over the week but I haven't forgotten about you guys. Please remember to add Rescued and Risen because Caught in the middle is about to finished very soon. Sorry about any bad grammar or errors. Hope you enjoy this chapter, stay tuned for another chapter. Don't forget to vote and comment.