AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You closed the whole restaurant?” Matt asked.
“Gage insisted this was one of those go big or go home occasions.”
“Okay.” Matt had no clue what to make of that. “Well, ready or not?” He’d intended for his words to bolster them, not come out as a question.
Conor gave him a “why not” shrug, and the two of them walked inside, stopping just over the threshold.
“See why I needed you?” Conor said. “I swear to God every single Moretti is here. Even the two female cousins who moved to Baltimore.”
Matt’s gaze traveled from one corner of the restaurant to the next, not that he was taking note of exactly who was there like his brother. He was searching for one person, and one only.
He wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed when he didn’t spy Liza anywhere in the crowd.
“You made it!”
Matt grinned as Gage approached, two beers in his hands. He offered one to Matt and one to Conor. Conor accepted it gratefully, chugging half down in one gulp. Matt took it but didn’t risk a drink. He’d need his wits about him if he was going to make his way through this land mine of—no doubt—angry relatives to find Liza.
“You weren’t exactly forthcoming about your guest list,” Matt said. Gage had used the words “small celebration with a few friends,” then he’d mentioned Liza was attending, dangling that carrot effectively. Matt had envisioned Liza and Gage’s much smaller group of friends, not the entire damn family. It had been his hope to pull her away for a moment to talk in private. There wasn’t a private corner in this entire restaurant. He recalled joking once with Liza about her family’s fondness of packing every house full of relatives. Tonight definitely fit that bill.
Gage laughed. “If I’d told you it was a big party, one with a bunch of Morettis on the guest list, would you have come?”
“This isn’t a bunch,” Matt grumbled. “This is all of them.”
Gage, the shameless bastard, just grinned. Matt wanted to be annoyed with his brother, but he couldn’t. For the first time since they were kids, Matt felt genuinely close to Gage and Conor. Both of them had called him daily since their intervention to check on him, and he got a feeling nothing was going to dim his happiness over that for a long time. Not even a Moretti party.
“I’m happy you’re both here,” Gage said.
“Are you going to tell us what this is all about?” Conor asked.
Gage shook his head. “Not yet. Soon. Promise. Come in, join the party. Stop blocking the entrance. It’s a fire hazard.” And with that, he walked away, joining a huge group of Morettis who immediately laughed loudly at something his brother said.
“Charming fucking bastard,” Conor muttered.
Matt chuckled. “Should we…” He gestured toward the dining area. Some of the tables had been shifted out of the center and lined up against the wall, where huge steaming trays of food were set up buffet-style. “Different menu tonight?”
Conor shook his head. “Catered by the Moretti women. Every style of pasta known to man is over there. And it smells fucking incredible.”
The area cleared of tables was now being used as a makeshift dance floor, though there were only a few people on it—Jess and Rhys spinning their son, Jasper, around to “Old Time Rock & Roll,” while the boy laughed; Liza’s brother Elio and his wife, Gianna, swaying slower, their baby daughter between them, her arms and legs flailing wildly as if she was trying to dance as well.
Matt felt—Jesus—a pang of envy as he watched the parents with their children. What would he give to be out there on that dance floor with Liza, the two of them spinning their own kids around, laughing and acting silly.
A family of his own. Matt wanted it so bad he could taste it.
“Regardless of the delicious food, I’m happy staying right here,” Conor said. “Close to the exit.”
Matt laughed, but the sound faded quickly when Tony approached.
“Matt,” Tony said, nodding his head once in greeting. “Conor.”
“Hello.” Matt braced himself. His last meeting with Moretti had been worse than the high school scene, but he’d vowed to start righting the wrongs of the past. Tony was a good place to start because he’d sure as hell wronged the man. “Listen, Tony—” he began.
Tony cut him off. “I didn’t have a chance to thank you the last time we were together.”
Matt wasn’t expecting it when Tony stuck his hand out. He accepted the handshake, moving by rote, confused. “Thank me?” He wondered why in the hell Tony thought he owed him anything more than a punch in the face.
“For forgiving my uncle’s debt.”
Matt was speechless for a moment, then he said, “No, Tony. I’m sorry. For your uncle, for all that shit I pulled back in high school. I don’t have any excuse other than I…well…I was a grade-A douche and this apology is long overdue.”
