“Come on,” he laughed. “Let’s go say hi to the grooms.”
Dom spotted us first, his face lighting up. “There you are! I was starting to think you two got lost on your way over.”
“Or distracted,” Enzo added with a knowing grin, pulling me into a hug. “Hola, sister. You look stunning.”
“So do you two.” And they did, Dom in a deep burgundy button-down that made his eyes pop, Enzo in cream linen coveredin embroidered florals that looked both masculine and elegant. “How are you holding up?”
“Terrified,” Dom grinned. “Excited. Ready for this to finally happen. All of the above?”
“That sounds about right,” Finn clasped his twin’s shoulder. “You ready for your last night as a free man?”
“I’ve been ready since the day I met him,” Dom softened, his gaze landing on Enzo across the few feet between them. “Tomorrow can’t come fast enough.”
“Sap,” Enzo teased, his voice rough.
“Your sap,” Dom corrected.
“My sap,” Enzo agreed, pressing a kiss to Dom’s lips.
“Go get food,” Dom gestured toward the buffet tables set up along one side. “Mom and Tony have been panicking that there won’t be enough even though there’s clearly enough to feed half of Wyoming.”
The buffet was an Argentine asado feast that made my mouth water just looking at it. Grilled meats, chimichurri, roasted vegetables, empanadas, fresh bread, and at least three kinds of salad filled a long row of tables in one side.
“This is amazing,” Finn breathed.
“Wait until you try the asado,” I grinned as he filled both of our plates. “I can’t believe the restaurant let Tony come up to help.”
We found our seats at the head table near Dom and Enzo, surrounded by the comfortable chaos of family. Marcus and Holly wrangled their kids while Tony told some animated story that had half the table laughing, and Mom chatted with Bridget.
Belle slid into the seat next to me, looking impossibly grown up since I’d last seen her in July. “That dress is gorgeous, Aunt Alex. Very celestial.”
“Thank you, honey,” I smiled at her. “How’s school going?”
“Good. I made the volleyball team.”
“That’s wonderful! Are you liking it?”
“Yeah, coach says I have good instincts.” She picked at her food, then looked up at me with her sharp hazel eyes that never missed anything. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“How did you know?” She glanced at Finn on the other side of me. “That he was the one, I mean. How did you know for sure?”
I glanced at Finn, who was saying something to Enzo while Lucas hung on every word.
“I’m not sure I can explain it,” I began carefully, my chest growing warm. “But I think... when you find the right person, everything just feels easier. Not easy, exactly, but like you’re on the same team. Like you can be completely yourself and they’ll still choose you, every single day.”
Belle nodded thoughtfully. “That’s how Uncle Dom and Enzo are.”
“Yeah. Exactly like that.”
“Cool,” she went back to her food, the deep conversation apparently over, and I couldn’t help chuckling to myself.
The sky had deepened to purple by the time dessert appeared; dulce de leche flan, tres leches cake and some kind of chocolate thing that made Elowyn moan dramatically on first bite. Candles flickered low in the mason jars, the patio lights overhead casting everything in honey-colored tones.
And then bottles of sparkling cider and champagne appeared down the tables, passed hand to hand.
“Everyone, if you please,” Tony’s voice came from speakers as he stood, grinning his megawatt grin that could power half the state. “I think it’s time for a toast!”
