â aw, you always say the sweetest things to me, carissimo. â karina leaned over to murmur in carloâs ear, taking great delight in speaking his language. ever since they decided to be officially exclusive, sheâd dived herself head first into learning as much italian as possible. it was easier for her to communicate with his family that way, and it was something that brought them closer together. unable to help herself, the blonde pressed a kiss to the underlying curve of his jaw, her attention wholeheartedly on him. â â remind me to repay you later. â she tacked on with a flirtatious grin, giving her boyfriendâs hand another squeeze as they walked.
   she only gave the paparazzi her focus when they pleaded for a few pictures. rolling her eyes good-naturedly, karina used her free hand to pull her sunglasses away from her face, obliging for a picture to sell to god knows where. blowing a kiss to the camera, she slid her sunglasses back on as she tugged carlo around the next corner, not surprised that others were falling.
      â oh please, they wouldnât be imposing. my parents would love to have them. you know my mother, she dreams to have as many people as possible in that house of hers. do you think your family would want to come ? â karina waved away his worries. her family loved carlo, even ana who had taken more time to warm up. theyâd be glad to have him and his at any time. pausing at the sight of the blinking open sign, the blonde paused as she noted the chinese menu. â this is the place, right ? â
   â i do my best. â the italian replied with a shrug and a smirk, his native language always sounding so beautiful from her lips. it had meant a lot that she had cared enough to learn too. granted living there now it might have been more of necessity, but he remembered the first time he had introduced the blonde to his parents and how well she spoke it. â i doubt iâll forget. â he muttered, his own tone playful as she shot her a grin, making sure that he kept his arm around her, an act of both endearment and protection. you didnât have to be in the limelight for very long to know the length people would go to for a photo. karina might have worked the cameras better than most, but it would be a bad move if some slimy photographer dared lay a finger on her to get an exclusive picture.Â
    â of course they would --- they love you. â a party might have been a bit more extreme than the local eater egg hunt, but both his mother and sister adored the girl, and though his father never showed it, carlo knew that he thought she was good for him, gave him some stability. he doubted a big party would be his scene but if anybody would convince him, it would be his mother. â besides, iâm sure theyâd be excited to meet everyone else. â it was hard getting a time that wold work for everybody with a family as big and as busy as the romanovs. his mother had always dreamed of a big family, though complications with marta had prevented her from having any more children and the male was sure that she would only embrace karinaâs family with open arms, no matter how different they might have been.
    â mhmm. â the man hummed in agreement, pulling the door open for her before he eyed the menu, â --- what were you feeling like ? âÂ