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“That I am.” He knocks on the door of the bridal suite before he opens it to let me in.
“Look at you with the bouquet.” Juno wiggles her eyebrows at me, and I drop it down onto a chair.
“Your brother-in-law is mean. He tossed that thing right at me.”
“Every heart in Pink Springs shattered in that moment.” Juno pretends to do a dramatic faint.
“I wish Luca would find a girl and slow down. I don’t think he realizes how much he’s missing.” Lux turns around so we can help her out of her dress. “Like today, of course he made it on time and he always follows through, but we’ll only get him for this small time slot. I bet he’ll be gone before sunrise.”
Lux steps out of her dress, and Juno hands her the simple flowy white one to put on. We get everything put away, and soon Lux is all set for her and Bastian to do their final walk. The party is far from over from the looks of it, but they are ready to be alone, and who could blame them?
I watch my brother head down the walkway outside as fireworks start to light up the sky. He opens the limo door for Lux, and she and Bastian slide inside and wave goodbye as the car drives away. I stand there for a long moment, wondering what now as I feel him come up beside me.
“You okay?” Luca comes to stand beside me with his hands in his pockets, and I realize everyone has gone back inside and I’m standing out here all alone.
“Yeah.”
“That was a halfhearted yeah if I ever heard one.” It is, but I sure as hell don’t want to talk about it.
“Should we get a drink?” I say, changing the subject.
“I’d love nothing more than to get to know my new sister-in-law.” He holds out his elbow, and I take it so he can lead us back inside.
I don’t miss the people of Pink Springs watching Luca and me as we head toward one of the many bars.
“People are staring at us.” I try not to fidget as I whisper.
“Nope, they’re definitely staring at you,” he responds.
“Me? Why the heck would they be staring at me?”
“Because I’ve got a girl on my arm that isn't Juno or Lux.” He shrugs as we slide up to the bar. “The lady will have…” Luca looks to me to answer, but the bartender cuts in.
“An old-fashioned. I knew you’d be back for more, sweetheart.” He winks at me. “For you, sir?” Luca glares at the bartender. “I’ll do the same as my lady,” he responds.
The bartender scurries off to get our drinks, and I laugh. Then I realize I’ve been doing that a lot tonight when I’m with Luca. Maybe it’s the whole wedding vibe that’s making me happy.
“I thought you grew up here?” I ask, wanting to know why everyone in Pink Springs is so curious about us.
“I did.” He brushes away one of my curls that has escaped my updo. His fingers brush my cheek in the process, and my stomach tightens.
“But you said they aren’t used to seeing you with anyone.”
“They aren’t. This is a small town and I don’t shit where I eat,” he teases. He’s right, though, because the fallout could get ugly, and people like to take sides.
That hits home more than I think he realizes, because we could do the very same to our brand-new family.
4
Luca
I manage to get Selma away from the prying eyes of the bartender without a scene, but my possessive hand on her back should have been enough of a signal to fuck off. After that we end up back out on the patio next to the fountain where we can still hear the music and see everyone inside. We’re not alone, exactly, but it’s private enough.
The whole time we talk I have to remind myself to play it cool, but it never works. Every time she smiles, I smile. Every time she leans closer, so do I. From the moment I looked at Selma I’ve been tethered to her. Seeing her laugh is like watching a miracle, and knowing I caused it makes my ego just a little bigger.
I’m sitting next to the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, and all I want is to know more. My dick certainly wants to take her to bed and have her under me, but there’s an even bigger part that never wants this night to end.
“You know, I was used to wearing heels all the time, but somehow bridesmaid shoes are different. My feet are killing me.”
She slips off the strappy heel, and I see the red lines crisscrossing the tops of her feet. Without thinking, I pull her legs into my lap and begin to rub the aches away.
