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“What’s a little rule bending between friends and family?”
“Like falling for your best friend?”I ask with a chuckle.
“Exactly.”She lifts up on her toes to smack her lips against mine for a far-too-brief kiss before we reach the door to the restaurant.“From my experience, that’s the best rule to bend, break, and ignore out of them all.”
I rub my thumb over her promise ring.Yes, it totally is.
Cap must’ve announcedour arrival before we walked in because the moment we do, every person in the booked out restaurant is on their feet, clapping and cheering, making evenmyface blush.We’re enveloped in a big hug by Mama with my father right behind her, his proud smile beaming at me.
When Mama and Mrs.Kelly pull Lonnie away from me, Dad comes up, cupping my shoulder and giving it a squeeze.“About time, son.I’m glad you finally saw what the rest of us have known for a while now.”
I groan and shake my head.“Yeah, yeah.All I care about now is that Ididpull my head out of my ass and Lonnie loves me.Nothing else matters.”
“Good, Luca.All Mama and I have ever wanted is to see you withthatsmile on your face.”
“The one that says he got some?”Scotty pipes up, earning a spluttered snort from me and a knowing wink from my dad as he moves to join the women.Cohen’s hand meets the back of Scotty’s head, and Marco and Rhodes laugh next to them.
Then I remember something and a cocky smirk tugs at my mouth.“Hey Scotty, did you hear the news?”
“What’s that?”he asks, his brows bunched together.
“You’ve gotta do what I say now.”His eyes narrow before he looks around the group and finally, the light bulb goes on.
“You passed?Oh my God, you actually passed!That is awesome, Luc.Congrats,” Scotty says, sounding more happy about the news than I was.“Wait, does that mean you’re leaving 101?”
I shake my head.“Nope.Shifting over to the other crew at the end of the month.”
“Even better.”Then I’m wrapped up in a Scotty bear hug.
I catch Lonnie coming back my way and carefully get myself out of my friend’s clutches, grabbing hold of my girl as soon as she’s within reach.“Everything good?”
“It’s great.”
“Good.”I drop my lips to hers for a quick kiss.“That’s better though.”
Lonnie moves her mouth to my ear.“No, Luc.Better will be later when you repay me for the couch.”
“Fuck,” I breathe.
She nips my ear with her teeth.“That too.”My previous physical impairment threatens to make a return, something I think is going to be an ongoing problem with Lonnie nearby.
Thankfully, I’m saved by the bell—well, by my dad tapping a fork against his wineglass.
“Everybody grab some champagne and gather ’round.Our Marco has a few things he’d like to say before we sit down to eat.”
I move Lonnie to stand in front of me, reaching out to swipe two glasses from a passing tray and handing one to her before resting my arm around her waist, holding her close.
Looking around the room, I lift my chin when I meet the eyes of Gio and Alex, and Rhodes and his wife, Dee, standing next to them.Then there’s Skye and Cohen standing with Val and a squirming Austin, Skye winking at me while Val gives me a thumbs up and mouths“Told you so.”
My attention shifts to the head of the table when Marco and Renee walk onto a small, raised platform, Mama and Dad joining them on Marco’s side, Renee’s sister, Hayley, and her Grams standing next to her.
“I won’t keep you long, but Renee and I, along with our families”—Marco looks to our parents and then Renee’s family—”wanted to thank you all for being here with us ahead of what will be the most important and memorable day of our lives tomorrow, when this onefinallybecomesMrs.Hamilton-Rossi.”
“Woohoo!”Scotty calls out, followed by an “Oww.What wasthatfor?”
“Shh,” his fiancée, Mandy, says with a smirk.
“Anyway,” Marco continues.“It seems fitting that as we embark on the next stage of our lives together and I get to call the love of my life my wife, that I acknowledge everyone that’s helped us get here.
