Page 66 of One Breath After Another

But barely.

He recognized most of the faces—people from the Puzza side, but a lot from Naz’s family. Waving a hand to say hello to the people who called to him from across the entry, he didn’t bother with more. Heading into the coatroom, he shrugged off the tweed coat he’d thrown on over the blazer he managed to keep from getting wrinkled in the back of his car. Alongside the button-down and slacks he tossed in just for good measure.

He knew better than to show up wearing jeans and a hoodie. He didn’t go for the whole three-piece look for the baby shower, forgoing a tie and vest just because that shit hadn’t been specified. If he could avoid the whole suit and tie get-up, then he would by whatever means necessary.

Despite what men around him seemed to think about proper dress wear for people of their name and status, he just didn’t care. Or liked it all that much. Too confining for his tastes, honestly.

By the time Luca stepped out of the coatroom, the entry had cleared of guests. Well, mostly. A few remained but they were halfway in and out, standing on the threshold of the entry to the ballroom where he could already see the pale blue and white decorations hanging down from the high ceilings.

Balloon archways.

Tulle everywhere.

White lights, probably tall centerpieces on every table, and that was only the beginning. No one threw a party quite like their families did. Even Luca knew that—it was something they took pride in never mind the fact that very rarely did they invite event planners to help.

The women liked it, though.

And it always looked great.

Fixing the middle button on his blazer, Luca glanced up at the same time to see a familiar face making her way down one of two curving staircases in the grand entrance. Penny, that was.

In a black dress with long sleeves and a skirt that fell to her knees, the item hugged her form in all the right places. Even he noticed, not that he should. In his excuse, it was the first time he saw her in anything other than sweats or jeans, and an oversized hoodie. The dress was none of that.

She looked older.

The smile on her face helped, too.

She was smiling. Something she rarely did, although he did notice she was doing it more often lately.

Penny found him in the space, her smile stretching wider as she raised her hand to wave. He only nodded back, but it wasn’t her fault. The man approaching him from the side grabbed his attention, and it took every ounce of effort for Luca not to frown at the sight of his father.

Because Zeke was frowning.

“You’re late,” his father muttered coming to stand directly in front of Luca. Zeke folded his arms over his chest, the silver of his vest matching the silk pocket square and tie. “You know tonight is important, Luca.”

“Are the guests of the hour here?” he returned easily.

He wasn’t doing this with his father. Not tonight.

Zeke pursed his lips. “No, and that only means you’re lucky.”

Lucky for what?

Avoiding yet another lecture?

Luca didn’t think so.

“Lecture ran late,” he explained. “I’m already behind on enough shit as it is; forgive me for trying to play catch up where I can.”

Zeke sighed, and opened his mouth to speak again. Luca knew, before the words even passed his father’s lips, what the man planned to say. It was the same shit he always said whenever his son dared to bring up the fact he was still trying where the law school thing was concerned.

A waste of time.

Wasting your potential.

Family ... family ... family.

“Is it time, Luca?” Zeke asked.