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“Oh yeah? It’s possible to get a person all wrong?” I challenge.
“Yes,” Luca confirms, walking right into my trap.
“Good. Then you’ll be glad to hear Harrison and I are married. We eloped shortly after Ellie was born.”
“Oh shit,” Harrison mutters as he chokes on his wine.
I smile.
Luca glares.
Birdie looks around the table, mostly just confused.
Billie bursts into giggles, and Bailey picks his head up at the sound.
But then Luca looks toward his fiancée. “You find that funny, princess?”
“Oh yeah,” she retorts, completely unfazed. “I think your sister has quite a way with delivering news. I like it.” Billie flashes a wink in my direction.
“You like that she’s fucking with me right now, princess?”
“Uh-huh. Because then you get all caveman angry, and I think it’s hot. Although, I don’t think you should get all caveman angry this time.” A soft smile covers her face. “I think you should just be happy for your sister.”
Luca sighs, but eventually, his eyes meet mine. “So, you got married and didn’t invite me to the wedding?”
“Actually, we didn’t invite anyone. It was just me, Harrison, and Ellie. Small and intimate. That’s the way I wanted it.”
“Are you happy?” he asks, and I don’t hesitate to answer.
“The happiest I’ve ever been.”
Abruptly, my brother stands up from his seat and walks around the table. He stops at Harrison’s chair, and as my husband stands up to meet him at eye level, all of a sudden, I have a moment of panic.
Oh man. Did I just light a freaking fire?
Are they going to fight? Right here? Like when we were freaking kids? Smashing into the table and shit?
Dear God, save the mashed potatoes!
“Uh…Luca, I—” I try to be the voice of reason, but I am quickly cut off.
“Harrison, I have to give it to you,” my brother says with what could be a hint of a smile, but I can’t be sure. I hold my breath for what feels like forever as I wait for him to finish.
“You might’ve been a real dick when we were kids,” he continues, “but you’ve grown up into the kind of man who takes care of my baby sister. Anyone who can put that kind of smile and happiness in Rocky’s eyes is good in my book.” He holds out his hand. “Congratulations, man.”
“Thanks,” Harrison says and shakes his hand. “I really appreciate that, Luca.”
And before I know it, they’re both doing some kind of weird bro-hug thing.
Holy hell. This is…unexpected.
“You’re not allowed to leave me for Harrison, caveman,” Billie chimes in around a mouthful of mashed potatoes.
Luca just laughs and sits back down beside her, rubbing a hand over her belly. “Like I’d ever leave you. Get real, princess. You’re stuck with me for forever.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
I watch as Luca presses a kiss to Billie’s forehead and then proceeds to extend another olive branch toward Harrison, asking him all sorts of small-talk questions. Which is really something since my brother loathes small talk.
But he makes the effort, and that says everything.
Who knows? Maybe my brother and my husband just might end up being friends.
Stranger things have happened, right? I mean, I was a virgin who got pregnant during a one-night stand and ended up marrying the guy.
My perfect guy.
I look over at Harrison and press a soft kiss to his cheek. He smiles back at me briefly before pressing his lips to mine.
What a beautiful life this is.
I can’t believe I get to be the one to live it.
THE END
