I never thought I’d see the day when he’d even consider settling down, but now he’s engaged with a baby on the way, even if he’s been great at hiding the pregnancy.
I knew the signs. The biggest one was that Bianca stopped drinking when she came to the bar right around the same time they announced their engagement. Hello. That’s the biggest clue ever. No one stops drinking all of a sudden unless they’re ill, pregnant, or gave up alcohol for Lent.
Her body’s changed some in the last few months, just like Marissa’s did when she was pregnant with Tate and Brax.
“Well…” Lucio pauses for a moment as he stares down at his beer. “I never thought about it that way.”
“It’s not until you’re balls deep into a chick and she’s moaning your name that you think—” Vinnie spreads his arms out, becoming more animated “—fuck, I think I’m in love.”
“You’re so romantic,” Leo mutters against the glass and peers at him over the rim.
“You ever loved someone you haven’t fucked, Leo?” Vinnie winces as soon as the words are out of his mouth.
The realization that he’s talking about our sister must’ve finally smacked him in that stupid head of his.
“Have you ever loved someone you weren’t attracted to?” He corrects himself because none of us can stomach the thought of Daphne fucking anyone, even her husband.
Leo shakes his head. “I’ve only loved one person in my life.”
“Loved?” I ask, catching his words and totally fucking with him because it’s so damn easy.
“You know what the hell I mean. Jesus, asshole. I’m head over heels for the crazy woman. I could never love anyone, beautiful or not, the way I love her.”
I knew his words were true. The man put his life on the line to be with Daphne. I don’t know many men who would go to that length to be with a woman. That’s when I knew he was truly in love with my sister. For that, he’s earned my respect.
“I don’t know how you put up with her shit all the time. She’s the biggest ballbuster.” Lucio lifts his beer to Leo. “You deserve a Husband of the Year award or some shit.”
“I wouldn’t have your sister any other way.”
They say there’s someone for everyone, and I’d say they’re right because there aren’t many men in the world who can put up with Daphne’s dramatics, bossiness, and overall pain-in-the-assness.
“Even when she’s being…” Vinnie’s voice trails off for a moment, and I can tell he’s choosing his words wisely for once.
“Don’t finish that statement,” Leo warns.
He’s always protective of his wife, even when it comes to us.
“Where the fuck are they?” Vinnie asks, being smart and changing the subject to something that isn’t going to get Leo all riled up.
I lean back, glancing at my watch. “The plane landed an hour ago. They had to drop the women off at my place, take the kids, along with Uncle Sal and Aunt Mar, to the hotel before meeting up with us.”
“Maybe they aren’t coming.” Vinnie shrugs, looking toward the doorway. “We can always go without them.”
“They’re coming,” I tell him because I’m not leaving without them.
The “they” we’re referring to are our cousins from Florida. This is the first time in years the entire Gallo gang will be back together since they couldn’t all make it for Lucio’s wedding.
They used to be part of our everyday lives until my uncle Sal uprooted his family and took off for the sun and sand in the South.
I wonder sometimes how life would’ve been different if they’d stuck around. I’d always been close with my cousins, but we were constantly getting into trouble. I’m sure that had something to do with the move, along with his utter disgust for my father and his inability to keep the family name out of the newspaper.
Before Vinnie can complain again, the door to the bar swings open and the motley crew walks inside.
“Honey, we’re home,” Mike announces, standing tall and towering over everyone else.
He looks good, better than I remember the last time I saw him. Even though he’s given up fighting in the ring, he’s kept in shape and is as big as ever.
I followed his fighting career as best I could. Our fathers weren’t speaking at the time, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want my cousin to achieve greatness. And he did too. He won a title, got married, and popped out a few kids. He looked happy. Content. I knew that look because I’d been sporting it too with Tilly.
