AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You two are made for each other, like the moon and the stars. You fit together so beautifully. I’m so glad you found a great love, Dante. And Kat, you are the only woman I have ever met who is strong enough to stand by his side. To Dante and Kat.”
Everyone toasts again and downs their shot while I slug my iced tea.
“Me next,” Toni insists. “Kat, I don’t know you very well yet, but I do know Dante. When he told me he was getting married, I almost fell off my damn chair. I thought Sal had finally convinced him to do the unthinkable. That was the only explanation that made sense to me. But then I met you and I saw the way he looked at you, and it all fell into place. The only explanation is you. You two are so meant to be, it’s kind of sickening. And I hope you know what you’re letting yourself into, honey. To Kat and Dante,” she adds with a wink and the shot/ toast process is repeated.
“Ah, I guess I’m up next,” Maximo says with a sigh.
“You sure are,” Dante replies.
Maximo turns in his seat and looks at us both. “Kat. You stole my best friend,” he says with a shake of his head, and everyone laughs. “But you made him a better man for loving you. He’s way less grumpy these days…”
I laugh now too.
“And he no longer works one hundred hours a week, which means that I don’t either. I’m not gonna lie, I really wanted to not like you, Kat, but you make it kind of impossible. And now you’re Dante and Kat and I don’t know when that happened but you’re just a part of him now, and I can’t imagine you not being a part of my life too.”
“Aw,” Joey says, staring up at him with a huge dopey grin on her face.
“To Kante,” Maximo finishes.
“Kante? Fuck no,” Dante says with a scowl.
“Dat?” Anya chuckles.
“True dat,” Joey giggles, and I almost snort the liquid out of my nose.
“Dante and Kat is fine.” Dante sighs.
“Dante and Kat then,” Maximo says with a wink before he stands and gives his best buddy a bear hug.
“It’s all on you now, big guy,” Joey says to her oldest brother with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
I swallow as I look at Lorenzo. He didn’t do a toast at the wedding. Dante told me it’s because he doesn’t like speaking in public, but I figure he doesn’t like speaking much in private either. Because he barely does. He observes.
Maximo refills everyone’s glasses again and Lorenzo raises his. “Katerina, you’re one of us now. I don’t mean just a Moretti, it’s more than bearing our name. I would die for every single person in this room. You’ll be one of us until your dying breath. It can be a blessing or a curse, but only you get to decide which. Choose wisely.”
“Fuck, Lorenzo,” Dante says with a shake of his head and a dark laugh.
“Jeez, dude,” Joey giggles while Toni and Maximo laugh too.
“No, I get it,” I say as Lorenzo’s dark eyes burn into mine from across the table. I understand what he’s telling me about the family I’ve become part of. Being the object of Dante’s affection could well be considered a curse, but not to me. “There’s no choice though. It can’t be anything but a blessing to me. I’ve never felt part of a real family since my mom died. Not one who looks out for and protects each other like you all do. My whole adult life, I’ve never really felt like I belonged anywhere. And now I do. So thank you all,” and now I’ve given my own toast and everybody except me drinks a shot of whiskey.
Thank God there is only Dante left or they would all need to be carried out of this room.
Lorenzo nods his head and gives me a faint smile.Wow, two of those in one day.
“I guess it’s my turn,” Dante says as he takes a seat beside me. He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me closer so that I shuffle a few inches along the bench until I’m almost sitting on his knee.
“I guess it is,” I smile at him, almost breathless with anticipation at what he’s about to say.
“The only people I truly care about in this entire world are here in this room, but until a few months ago, I thought this circle would never get any bigger than this. Because let’s face it, I’m not going to like anyone that either of my sisters marry, and the chances of Maximo finding a woman to handle his crazy are slim to none.” He turns and winks at his best friend. “But then I met this incredible woman, and she changed my life in so many ways that I would never have imagined. So, this final toast is just for her.” He raises his glass and the rest of them do the same while I press my face against his shoulder. I’m so unused to being the center of attention. “To Kat, my best friend. My wife. The woman who made me a father.Vita mia. Sei la cosa più bella che mi sia mai capitata .”
I don’t know what it means, but it makes Anya sigh softly and Joey sniff loudly. “To Kat,” they all say as Dante hugs me tighter.
He kisses the top of my head and I find the courage to look up and see them all drinking and smiling, except for Lorenzo who has already used up his lifetime quota of smiles today.
“But now it really is getting late and I can’t have any more to drink because it’s my wedding night,” Dante says.
“Of course. You have duties to take care of,” Lorenzo replies, and it’s met with more laughter.
