"You got the job!" Rachelle screamed as she and Cara Mia jumped up and down in the small dance room at Danvers Dance Academy. "This is amazing, Cara! How excited are you?"

Cara Mia sat down with Rachelle as they began stretching. "I'm honestly still in shock. I never knew a dream job for me would ever exist, but here it is and it's mine." They smiled happily as they talked about the audition.

Rachelle Wilson was one of Cara Mia's best friends and a fellow dancer. The two met when they were 18 and she had first moved to New York City from upstate New York at auditions for Danvers. The two bonded over their love for dance, Cara Mia's ability to love so deeply for those she cared about and Rachelle's wit and hilarious sense of humor. Rachelle and Cara Mia were very protective of one another and that further fortified their friendship.

They had known one another for about ten years and there never seemed to be a dull moment in their friendship. Rachelle Wilson came from money as her mother was a best-selling author of numerous New York Times Best Sellers, while her father came from old money and was the CEO of one of the top Fortune 500 companies. Growing up the way she did laid the foundation for who Rachelle would become as an adult.

Unlike the children of her parents' friends, Rachelle took pleasure in using the wealth she had for good. Rachelle had various charities she donated to, as well as, sponsored a dozen of inner-city seniors with college scholarships every year.

Rachelle did a world of good for others, but she held a destructive streak when it came to herself, mainly when it came to relationships. Cara Mia would tell her that the time would come for her to settle down and she would simply cackle in her face. Rachelle wasn't going to worry about her love life or lack thereof, but rather on having the most fun spoiling her friends.

After a few months of knowing one another, Rachelle got Cara Mia to move out of her shoebox of an apartment and into the five-bedroom home she owned with her and her best friend, Ava Johansson just outside of the city.

When Ava and Cara Mia met, they instantly liked one another. There was no drama or jealousy over Rachelle's friendship. It was as if Cara Mia was the missing piece to their inevitable trio. Ava and Rachelle had known one another since they were 16 years old.

They had literally bumped into one another outside of a charity event that Rachelle's family was hosting and Ava worked. They balanced one another out in ways that was needed. Rachelle was wild and carefree, while Ava seemed to take on the maternal role and care for everyone.

Ava and Cara Mia were close from day one and bonded deeply through tragedy. Like Cara Mia, Ava's parents were murdered. While her parents were shot and killed in a drive-by, Cara Mia's parents and grandmother were shot and killed while being robbed. Rachelle couldn't begin to understand the pain they were dealing with when they first met, but she was the best friend they needed in that she found ways to liven them up and make them laugh no matter the scenario.

"We're going to celebrate tonight!" Rachelle cheered, fist pumping her arm in the air. Cara Mia laughed. "I have a date." Rachelle ceased all movement and clutched her chest. "Well excuse the hell out of me!" She gasped. "Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?" Cara Mia rolled her eyes and went to grab her bag.

"Oh, no you don't. You don't get to leave without giving me some answers." Cara Mia looked back at her best friend and sighed. "The Cara Mia I know would never be caught dead going on a date. And I quote 'I don't have time for dates and relationships, Rachelle. I have to stay focused on me and my goals.' Do you remember that mantra, CM?" Rachelle asked with a smirk.

"Yeah, I remember, but this guy is different. He's worth it." Cara Mia couldn't help but think of Gianni in that moment. She was still freaked out that they had just met that morning, but she felt like she had known him for years. Everything about him was effortless.

He was the most gorgeous man she had ever met with a deep voice that seemed to do things to her insides. Gianni's appeal went far past the physical and that made her swoon even more. He made her laugh like no other and seemed like the kindest man she'd ever met. He was good, she knew that deep down and it drew her to him.

Rachelle looked her friend over and smiled knowingly. "You really like this dude." Cara Mia smiled and nodded. "What's his name? What does he do? What does he look like? How old is he?" Cara Mia laughed at the barrage of questions. Rachelle was always the nosy one out of the three best friends. She knew this conversation would go much differently had it been Ava. Cara Mia placed her bag on her shoulder and sighed.

"His name is Gianni Petrillo. He's a real estate genius and businessman like almost every other man in his family. He's muscular and quite tall, but it suits him. He has jet black hair, a nice beard, the cutest pouty lips and the prettiest blue eyes I've ever seen. I think he's 30 years old, but I'm not sure. Are you happy with this information? I'm pretty sure I answered all of your questions."

Cara Mia laughed seeing her best friend jaw wide open. "YOU'RE GOING OUT WITH GIANNI PETRILLO!" Rachelle screamed. Cara Mia covered her mouth so quick. "Will you shut the hell up?!" Cara Mia scolded. "We're just getting to know one another. No labels. No titles. Just two adults learning more about the other and seeing how things go." She eyed Rachelle wearily before lowering her hand. "Are you calm now?"

Rachelle nodded and then looked at her friend. "So, what are you going to wear? I don't care about this "we're just friends" bullshit you're trying to sell. You need to look sexy as fuck!" Cara Mia chuckled as they walked out to her car. "I was thinking some high waisted jeans and maybe a crop top and heels. We're going to a Movie in a Park on 8th, so I want to keep it-"

Rachelle interjected. "We get it. You want to keep it casual." She rolled her eyes as she began thinking of outfits for her best friend to wear. "I'm serious, Rach! I don't want or need to get my hopes up. I just want to take things VERY slow per his request." Rachelle nodded.

Rachelle knew this was a big deal. She also knew that the fact that Cara Mia had agreed to a date meant that she really did like him. Cara Mia hadn't had a boyfriend since she was 16-years-old and even that dude was a total dud. The moment her parents were taken away from her it was as if Cara Mia had closed herself off from any form of happiness outside of performing.

No matter what she tried, she just couldn't get her best friend to go out and enjoy the company of a man, until now. Rachelle was a little bummed that she hadn't been the one to find the guy that would put a smile on Cara Mia's face again, but she knew no other guy would compare to Gianni Petrillo, V. If any guy could put pep back into a girl's step it was him.

"It's a warm day today. You should wear the cutoff denim shorts I bought you with Ava's white off the shoulder top and your brown wedges." Rachelle smiled as they pulled into their driveway. "I love that," Cara Mia said as she grabbed her dance bag and purse from the backseat of her red Honda Civic. "What time is he coming to pick you up?" Rachelle asked as she opened the backdoor to their contemporary home.

Cara Mia always loved coming home. The earthy tones of the walls and décor always seemed to center her. The living room was open, yet welcoming and homey. The guest room and dance room were also on the first floor along with the very modern kitchen. They all agreed on how to decorate the common areas for the house and it seemed to speak to all of them.

Ava was the hippie out of the three and made sure the feng shui was in check, while Rachelle's obsession with the color black was seen in the statues used to decorate. Cara Mia was a fan of bold and bright colors, which found its place around the house along with what Ava and Rachelle liked.

Their rooms are where their true individuality shined brightly. Cara Mia's room was a blur of reds, teals, yellows and white. The girls never understood how she made all the colors work, but they did and her room was perfect for her. Ava's room was a terrarium of plants and zoo of animals. The green and gray color scheme highlighted her one with nature vibe and Cara Mia nor Rachelle could deny the level of peace that engulfed them when they entered her room.

Rachelle's room was the darkest room in the house. Dark gray walls engulfed a black furniture and black mirrors that hung around the room and above the bed. There were a few decorative items that were light gray, while the stark white bed stood out. Ava and Cara Mia felt Rachelle was so full of life and yet her bedroom told a different story.

Cara Mia and Rachelle sat on their leather couch with a happy sigh. "I was thinking about meeting him at the park." Rachelle looked at her like she was crazy. "And miss out on a prime make out session? I think not!" Cara Mia laughed at her best friend. "What prime make out session?"

Rachelle looked at her as if she were stupid. "There is something about the nighttime after a date that get the lips to pucker on up. Text your boy toy and tell him to pick you up." Cara Mia shook her head, but for some reason found herself pulling out her phone.

She text Gianni her address and asked if it was cool that he pick her up for their date tonight. "Alright now you have all this time to figure out what we're going to do with your mane before I have to go back to the academy." Cara Mia stood in front of one of the decorative mirrors in their living room and sighed. Her mother had always told her to take pride in her long locks.

"A high pony?" Cara Mia asked uncertain. Rachelle thought on it for a moment and nodded. "I think that would be perfect. It'll give him easier access to brand you with hickeys." Cara Mia laughed loudly. "Now go take a nap because I want you alert and ready for the sexy shenanigans that will be happening tonight." She wiggled her eyebrows as she headed to her room.

"Nice and slow is my motto, Rach! You know this." Cara Mia called out to her best friend who was blatantly ignoring her. She heard her phone ping and looked down to see a text from Gianni.

She smiled widely at his text. Talking with him was so easy and she took that as a great sign. They spent the morning texting, even though she scolded him for not paying attention in his meetings.

He told her he could multitask and a subdued part of her wondered if that applied in other areas not just with business. Get it together Cara Mia! She thought to herself as she entered her vibrant room and smiled. The various shades of bold colors made her feel alive.

Her décor and pictures hung proudly, while her keyboard and guitar stood off to the side. Her two teal chairs and small coffee table were opposite her queen-sized bed for the moments where she had an idea for a performance or lyrics to a song.

Cara Mia sat on one of her chairs as she dialed Ava's number. It was her break time and she needed to fill in her other best friend on her already busy day. As she expected Ava was cautious, but ultimately excited for her. She agreed that the outfit choice was appropriate and wished she'd be home in time to see her off.

As a nurse at Bellevue hospital, Ava didn't have the same lax luxury as her roommates to come home during the day to take naps or hang out. She worked 7 am to 7 pm and had been for the past 5 years. She was grateful as that was one of the better shifts, but she missed her friends.

She was one of the younger nurses at the hospital and got along great with the older women, but she knew Rachelle and Cara Mia had moments together that she would never experience as they were in the same field.

They always made it a point to spend as much time together as possible and weekends were when the trio could go out together and paint the town. She was truly happy for Cara Mia and Gianni. She read various articles about the Petrillo family and they were doing great things nationwide.

She wasn't sure what that type of limelight would mean for her friend, but she trusted that Cara Mia would be vigilant and careful. They were alike in that romance was the farthest thing from their minds since their parents died. Ava couldn't see herself getting lucky and meeting a handsome stranger that piqued her interest, but she was glad it had happened for her bestie.

"I'm going to be baking tonight since we have that event at work tomorrow. You and Gianni should head straight back to our place and try my famous Apple Crumble. That is if you don't mind cutting into prime make out session time." Cara Mia knew she was smiling through the phone and laughed. "We'd be happy to try your baked goodies! I'll see you tonight, love." She finished as she hung up and made her way to Ava's closet.

She pulled out the white off the shoulder top that was one of her favorites. It was a little longer than a traditional crop top, so the shorts would complement it but she was having second thoughts. The shorts looked shorter than usual and she didn't want Gianni to think she was trying too hard. She went to find the jeans she originally wanted to wear, but they didn't seem to go with the top.

Cara Mia was trying not to freak out. By the time Rachelle came to check in on Cara Mia before she left for the academy it was 6pm and Cara Mia's room looked like a tornado had ran through. "What the fuck, C?" Rachelle saw the exasperated look on her best friend's face and softened her approach. "It's okay my Tasmanian devil! Bestie is going to fix it."

Rachelle sat Cara Mia in her chair and went to look for a pair of jeans. She found a pair of light denim jeans that were hip huggers with holes on the upper thigh and left knee and perfect for her body. She laid it out on the bed and went back to the closet.

She pulled out a white wrap around top that was tied off center and would show just enough midriff to make the outfit sexy without trying too hard. Rachelle placed a pair of white converse sneakers beside her bed and smiled at herself.

"There. Your outfit is complete. Now clean up this mess, because as God is my witness, I know that you and Gianni will be in your bedroom by the end of the night and this is a crime scene." Rachelle laughed as she looked over the room once more and shook her head.

Cara Mia hugged her best friend and began folding and hanging things back up where they belonged. By the time she was done it was 6:30 pm and Gianni would be there in thirty minutes.

She quickly hopped in the shower and took care of business. After drying herself off and putting on lotion, Cara Mia put on light and natural makeup before dressing. She was putting on the final touches of her hair when she heard the doorbell ring.

She grabbed her phone off the charger. "7 o'clock on the dot!" She smiled as she looked herself over one more time and grabbed her purse. Cara Mia headed down the stairs and hoped that this would be one of many dates to come.

She didn't understand why she was so willing to let her fortress of walls down when it came to Gianni, but there was something about him that told her she could trust him. That she'd be safe with him. She wanted safe. She longed for stability. He could give me that.