Gia stared out the window of the sleek black SUV as the cityscape of Philadelphia unfolded before her eyes. Who are you, Adrian? she wondered again, the question spinning endlessly in her mind. She decided to push the thought away for now—there would be plenty of time for answers later. Once she reached her hotel room, she tried to refocus her thoughts and ground herself.
Once inside her hotel room, Gia realized she hadn't yet called her mom, Laura. She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed her number. The familiar ringing tone eased her nerves slightly until Laura's warm voice came through.
"Hi, mum," Gia said, her voice soft but cheerful.
"Hey, cupcake!" Laura replied, excitement evident in her tone. "How was the flight? How's Philadelphia? Hope he's treating you well?"
Gia chuckled softly. "Slow down, mum. I'm fine. Philadelphia is beautiful," she said, glancing out at the historic streets bustling with activity. "And yes, mum, he's treating me well. I'm meeting up with him tonight for dinner with his parents."
Laura hummed thoughtfully before responding. "Alright, baby. Just remember, if you're feeling homesick, I'm only one ticket away from bringing you back home."
"Yes, mama," Gia said with a warm smile. "Bye, mum."
"Bye, cupcake. Love you."
Gia ended the call, feeling a twinge of homesickness but knowing she had her mom's support no matter what. She then decided to call Mia on FaceTime. She needed her best friend's energy to distract her.
Mia picked up almost immediately, her face filling the screen. "There's my globetrotting bestie!" she exclaimed. "Tell me everything! What's Philadelphia like? How's Adrian? Oh my gosh, how was the flight?"
Gia couldn't help but laugh. "Mia, calm down. One thing at a time!"
"Fine, fine," Mia said, leaning back. "Start with the basics. Where are you right now?"
"In an SUV Adrian sent to pick me up," Gia explained. "I just landed a little while ago, and his driver brought me to a hotel."
"Fancy," Mia said with a mock impressed look. "And where's Mr. Mysterious?"
Gia sighed. "He's at his family's house, but we're meeting later for dinner. With his parents."
Mia's jaw dropped. "Dinner with the parents? Oh, this is serious!"
Gia rolled her eyes. "It's not like that."
"Of course, it is! You're meeting his family, Gia! How are you not freaking out right now?" Mia asked, throwing her hands in the air dramatically.
"I am freaking out!" Gia admitted. "I just don't know what to expect. His family is... different."
"Different how?" Mia asked, leaning closer to the screen, her eyes narrowing.
"Well, for starters," Gia said, lowering her voice, "he sent a private jet to bring me here, Mia. A private jet! Who does that?"
Mia's eyes widened. "Adrian, apparently. Gia, he's rich rich. Like, beyond what we even guessed!"
"That's what's freaking me out," Gia said, biting her lip. "I don't know if I fit into his world."
Mia softened, her tone turning serious. "Gia, listen to me. He chose you. Out of everyone in his super-rich world, he chose you. You're enough, okay? Don't let all the flashy stuff make you think otherwise."
Gia smiled, feeling a bit reassured. "Thanks, Mia. I needed to hear that."
"Anytime," Mia said, grinning. "Now, what are you wearing to dinner? Do you need me to pick something out for you from afar?"
Gia laughed. "I think I'll manage, but I'll text you a picture for approval."
"Good. Now, go knock his family's socks off, babe," Mia said with a wink. "And text me updates!"
"Will do. Love you, Mia."
"Love you too, Gia. Bye!"
Gia ended the call, feeling lighter. Mia always knew how to put things into perspective. As she settled into the plush hotel suite, she decided to take a moment to relax before preparing for the evening ahead. Philadelphia felt like a whole new world, but she was ready to embrace it—one step at a time.