“A…beach party?” I say, cocking my head to the side as I study the note. “It’s about an hour away,” Kent says, watching me closely as I read. “Friends and family, apparently.” I look up at Kent my eyebrow raised. “Did you…read my mail?” He stares at me impassively, not needing to confirm. I study
They had nodded their confirmation and then we had left. Now, we’re forty-five minutes out of the city, heading away from the stables and towards the beach. I can already smell the salt on the air. I love the beach – I always have, despite my lily-white skin and my tendency to burn as red as a lobs
My father settles me into a comfortable chair at the center of the group and Tristin, to my right, shoots me a cold smile. Baby Estrella, in her lap, coos a happy greeting to me, so I give them both a warm smile in return. It’s a happy affair, really – everyone seems eager to greet me, to bring me
He smirks at me and, predictably, I blush. I scowl, really wishing I didn’t do that all the time. “So,” he says, giving me a friendly smile. “Apparently you’re the lady of the hour.” “Am I?” I say eagerly, leaning in, hoping this guy can give me a clue about what’s going on. “Do you know anythin
Ivan laughs at me then, at my speechlessness, and I can’t help myself – I laugh too, putting my head in my hands. “Yes,” I say, blushing terribly. “I have heard of you. And I have to say, it has not all been good things.” “Oh, come on,” he says, still laughing a little. “It can’t have been all b
“Nah,” he says, smiling at me indulgently and leaning a little closer as well. Then, to my surprise and pleasure, he begins to tell me his life story. I find myself paying rapt attention to Ivan’s story for the next half hour, sipping on the glass of tequila that the waiter again delivers, savor
Daniel won’t let go of my hand once we’re back in the house. “Daniel,” I say, exasperated, trying to yank my hand free while he pulls me down the hall. “Let go – are you seriously going to tattle on me?” He just shoots me a look over his shoulder, saying nothing as we arrive at the doors to his da
I shake my head, my lips drawing to a firm line, and then I cross my arms over my chest, just as they’re both doing. There’s silence between us as we all glare around in a circle. Daniel gives first. I see him sigh and loosen his arms, putting his hands in his pockets instead. He sees that I have a
My dad greets him with such genuine joy and excitement that it makes my heart swell with joy. They talk for a few minutes about Dominic’s day before dad gives him a little nudge back towards the gate where Kent and I are waiting. Dominic gives dad a kiss before running ahead again. My dad waves to
“Papa!” Dominic shouts, startling me out of my reverie as he drops my hand and darts down the road. I look up, a huge smile breaking out on my face again as I see Kent on the sidewalk just ahead. His back is to us as he speaks companionably with the butcher, a heavy bag of his purchases already hung
As I walk down the street towards the little Italian kindergarten, the whispers start around me, as they always do. I listen to all of them, a big German Shepherd padding quietly at my heels. “Is that her?” “Yes, that’s the one – I heard she was her husband’s mistress before he married her – tha
Both Kent and I laugh, but Don Bianci – across the baptismal font from us – snaps his eyes up, perhaps not liking the joke as much as we do. But I just ignore it, because dad’s right, frankly – and it’s too happy a day to care. After the final blessing everyone applauds Dominic – he likes that, bl
“Well, it didn’t seem to affect your first very badly,” Ivan says with a shrug, peering around Kent to where Daniel is laughing with an arm around Jerome’s shoulders. “So…maybe keep it up.” I smirk, squeezing Ivan’s hand once more before standing and moving to Kent’s side, tucking myself against h
“Hey, gorgeous,” Ivan says, his mouth turned up in a smirk as I cross the churchyard, beaming at him. “Look who’s talking,” I say, laughing and reaching for him when I come close enough. Ivan wraps me in a hug, dropping a kiss to my cheek as I hold Dominic a bit to the side so he doesn’t get squis
He laughs, smiling at me genuinely. “Do I make you nervous?” he asks, blunt. I laugh, unable to help it. “Has no one bothered to tell you, in all these years, that you’re a little terrifying, Don Bianci?” He grins and shakes his head at me. “Well, considering what you accomplished, young lady, I
Two months later, we’re all gathered together again. And it is only with frustration that I see Gio and Janeen standing so close together that their arms nearly brush, even though they’re still not together. I roll my eyes, dismissing the problem for a moment as I move my eyes down to Dominic and
It's an incredible night. Kent didn’t lie, not at all, about the food either. I’m shocked by the mountains of dishes that continue to follow each other, one after another, long into the night. After a few hours of it I just mournfully watch the waiters go by because I couldn’t eat another bite if I