Turning to look at him, Mitch saw that he wasn't looking at the sky. Enrico was gazing at him.
"I mean the fireworks in your eyes," Enrico said into his ear and leaned against him again.
Another burst of color joined the stars, and Mitch looked from Enrico to Sammy, and he was filled with an indescribable warmth that started deep inside his heart. Her eyes bright with the colors raining down from above, Sammy smiled at him then hugged his neck and smiled up at the sky.
From there it was off to another party as everyone promised to see each other soon at Wyatt and Sam's. Mitch wished he could just go somewhere to be alone with Enrico. But since the party was only a week before their wedding, Enrico said that it couldn't be missed.
They arrived at the party just as Mrs. Del Rio was helping Sam set up some food. Sammy ran off to play with the kids and the dogs, and Enrico and Mitch went to say hi to Sam.
"Check it out. This stuff is Grandma's contribution to the party." Enrico pointed to the glass bowl and his grandmother identified it as ambrosia fruit salad. "Is that the one with marshmallows in it?"
"It is, and isn't it beautiful?" she said proudly.
"And this is your famous potato casserole from frozen hash browns. Come on, Grandma, for God's sake, you own a café," Enrico told her and pretended to disapprove.
"Oh hush up. I make good food. And if you're good, I might let you have some," she told him then went off in a mock huff.
"It's really tasty," Sam said after he spooned some on a plate and tried it.
"I know. All her terrible food is really good," Enrico said grudgingly and kept his voice low so his grandmother wouldn't overhear.
"So why do you call it terrible?" Sam scolded him.
"To keep her on her toes," Enrico said and threw an arm over his shoulders. "Need me to do anything to help out?"
"I want to move a few things so everyone will have room to sit for dinner," Sam said and the two of them went off to shift furniture.
Mitch went to say hi to Wyatt and found him with his friends Stan and Yu. Seeing Mitch hanging back, Wyatt waved him over. "Welcome to the party. I need reinforcements," he said. "These guys are ragging on me."
"No, man. Come on. We're happy for you, but this is your last party as a free man, man," Stan said.
"This is our last party as an engaged couple, you mean," Wyatt corrected him.
"I get a few more drinks in me, and I might just turn it into a bachelor party," Yu threatened.
"Don't you dare. And don't say anything weird to Sam," Wyatt said and looked from one of them to the other.
"What are you talking about?" Stan said.
"If your big mouth upsets Sam..." Wyatt started to warn him.
"I'll keep my pie hole plugged with pie," Stan promised but he chugged the rest of his beer instead.
"You," Wyatt said and pointed a finger at Enrico just as he came to join them. "As Sam's best man, it's your job to keep him from talking to these two for more than two minutes. Make that thirty seconds. I have to go take care of food."
"Want some help?" Mitch offered.
"I do, but I have a tradition to uphold so I'll do it solo," Wyatt said. "I'm doing bacon wrapped pork roast. It's ready, I just need to stick it in the oven."
"God help you if you ruin it," Stan called after him as Mitch disappeared into the kitchen.
"Wyatt is crazy," Enrico said, but he was watching over Sam anyway. As for Wyatt, he seemed to be joking, but Mitch could tell he was really protective of Sam.
"Is Sam really that nervous?" Mitch wondered as he and Enrico got a moment alone.
"I told you he gets panic attacks. So close to the wedding..." Enrico didn't finish just shrugged, like anything might happen.
As they hung out together and listened to Lara and Noreen argue about mixing drinks, Enrico pointed to his grandmother. Wearing a serious expression and carrying her phone, she had just come in from the front porch.
