Suzy shrugs. “It seems James likes the chase as much as Joe. And for some reason, that man can bring Izzy to her knees, and I’m not talking figuratively either.” Suzy waggles her eyebrows. “He’s straight up hot as fuck when he’s being all Dom and bossy. I’ve never seen anyone tame Izzy the way he does, still to this day.”
“I want to know all the stories. Tell me about Mike and Mia, Anthony and Max, and Thomas and Angel.”
“Girl, Angel and Thomas are a whole other story. It’s a wild one too.”
“I feel like I need to know everything.”
Suzy raises her glass, touching it lightly to mine. “I’ll tell you everything.”
An hour later, the bottle of wine is gone, and we’re both giggling like college girls who’ve never drunk before. The stories Suzy told me had me laughing my ass off, and the wine didn’t help me keep my shit under control.
“You ladies okay out here?” Angelo asks as he pops his head out the front door. “You’ve been out here awhile.”
“We’re perfect,” Suzy tells him. “Just girl talk and sharing a bit of family history.”
Angelo’s eyes linger on my face, and when he sees my tears are from laughter, a smile spreads across his lips. “Okay. Don’t get too drunk. You two want anything?”
“Privacy,” Suzy says easily. “We have some things that aren’t meant for a man’s ears.”
“Enough said.” Angelo puts up a hand and disappears.
“I know he thought we were talking about periods or something. It’s where a man’s mind automatically goes and scares the bejesus out of them. Doesn’t take much more than the mere thought, and they vanish quickly.”
I giggle louder. “Thank you for tonight, Suzy. I really needed some laughter, and your telling me all your stories helped me feel like I’m part of something bigger.”
She places her hand on mine. “Sweetheart, you’re a Gallo now. You are part of something special.”
I feel it deep in my bones. There’s something magical about being part of a family, having a tribe to call your own. I no longer feel like an outsider after being clued in on everyone and every crazy, sexy detail. I am now, and forever shall be, a Gallo.
20
Angelo
“That was ridiculously fast.” Vinnie wraps his arm around his new wife’s middle and pulls her close to his side. “It took us longer to drive there than for the entire ceremony.”
“The next one will be longer,” Bianca tells him as she rests her head on his arm and walks toward the pizza place. “But it doesn’t matter. I’m officially Mrs. Vincent Gallo.” She holds up her hand and stares at the ring as its light splinters in the setting sun.
“You made me the happiest man in the world today,” he tells her.
Tilly looks up at me, our hands linked, and smiles. She’s been like an entirely different person since her talk with Suzy last night. I’m not sure what they said, but whatever it was, it changed her.
“You ready for this?” Tilly calls out before Bianca and Vinnie make it to the front door.
Bianca stops and turns, taking a deep breath. “Let’s just hope my dad doesn’t lose his shit. The last thing we need is someone getting arrested.”
“You think that’ll happen?” Tilly’s mouth falls open.
Bianca shrugs. “Hopefully my parents will be happy. But my father has a temper, and I don’t know how they’ll feel about me being pregnant.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t tell them that,” Vinnie says as his shoulders tense. “We can wait.”
I slap him on the back, trying to knock some sense into him. “Stop the bullshit. We’ll all be here. Nothing will happen. Just tell the old man and give him a few minutes to realize he’s going to be a grandfather.”
Tilly stares at the happy couple. “Do your parents know we’re here to celebrate you two getting married?”
Bianca shakes her head. “Nope. It’s going to be like a one-two punch.”
“Oh, lordie,” Tilly whispers and bites her bottom lip.
