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“She’s yours.” At my words, Vanna straightened up, bringing us close together. I leaned in, placing a whisper-soft kiss on her cheek. “Happy birthday,anghele mou.”
Her smile grew even wider. Then she threw her arms around me, placing a kiss on the corner of my mouth. “Best birthday ever.” Leaning back so she could look at me, she vibrated with excitement. “Thank you.”
Jude broke the moment by lifting her off her feet and twirling her around. Vanna giggled, her cheeks flushed, her body relaxed.
“Happy birthday, sis.” Jude released her. “Now let’s get drunk and disorderly.”
She laughed, the sound shooting straight to my dick. “It won’t take much for me to get drunk since I’ve never had more than a glass here or there.”
“I don’t think I know any twenty-one-year-old who’s never been drunk.”
I pushed Jude out of the way. “That’s because the only women you hang out with are strippers and opportunists.”
Vanna giggled. “Maybe I’ll meet someone nice in my online course I can introduce you to.”
“If you want to risk losing them as your friend, sure,” I couldn’t help but murmur.
She pushed her shoulder into my arm playfully. “Jude’s not that bad.”
Seizing the opportunity, I put my arm around her. “No, he’s worse.”
She leaned into me, resting one hand on my back, the other still on Daisy. Freya and Gunner joined our group, and Jude took off to get drinks.
As Vanna predicted, it didn’t take long for her to sway on her feet. Turned out she was a fun drunk, becoming everyone’s best friend and cleaning up at every card game. She was particularly good at poker, keeping a straight face even when intoxicated.
I didn’t move from her side, unable to make myself back up. But she didn’t seem to mind, and instead of putting space between us, she became more and more affectionate as the night wore on. She even went so far as to sit in my lap without even checking if there were any other chairs available.
Freya grinned every time she looked at us, waggling her eyebrows as much as she could get away with.
Jude had been playing waiter all night and was making his way back with a full tray that he put on the low table we all sat around. “Time for shots.”
Liam was sitting with Quinn, oblivious to anyone around him. Their mouths had been fused together for the past twenty minutes, and any attempt at getting them to join the conversation had gone ignored.
“That includes you, Liam,” Jude called out.
It was nearly midnight, and most people had left. My parents had said their goodbyes half an hour ago, leaving us with the few remaining guests. Vanna hadn’t talked to anyone outside our family except to greet them. Mom had been so excited to walk her around the party and introduce her to everyone, but I could tell Vanna hadn’t been comfortable meeting so many people.
Quinn and Liam finally separated. He didn’t let Quinn get far, though, his arm tight around her. The happiness radiated out of her for everyone to see. My brother had smiled more since stepping down as head of the family than he had in his entire life. He seemed to have done the impossible and found peace. Which made me think it wasn’t as impossible as we’d always thought.
The woman currently sitting in my lap made me wish for more. I liked having her there. Enjoyed talking to her. And wanted nothing more than to make her mine completely.
Jude handed out shots to everyone, then held his glass up. “To our growing family.”
Vanna stiffened at his words, the movement so small I wouldn’t have noticed it if she hadn’t been sitting on me. She downed her shot, shivering as soon as she’d swallowed it.
She took my empty glass and set it on the table next to hers, pressing her perfectly rounded ass into my groin. “That was disgusting.”
Jude mock-glared at her. “That was one of the most expensive ouzos you can get.”
I gathered her closer, and she relaxed against me. She fit in with my family seamlessly, having made friends with everyone.
She absently patted Daisy, who’d fallen asleep by our feet after greeting every guest at the party.
Putting her hand over mine that was resting on her stomach, she intertwined our fingers. “It doesn’t matter how much something costs. It can still taste like it’s come out of a donkey’s asshole.”
The table went silent, everyone’s attention on Vanna. Then howling laughter erupted.
“I knew you’d fit in just fine,” Freya declared, wiping her eyes, then breaking out into laughter again. Even Gunner was smiling at Vanna’s statement, something I’d previously thought only Freya could accomplish.
