He engulfed Alex in a bear hug, his enthusiasm radiating warmth. He released her and immediately turned his megawatt grin on me, extending a hand.
“You must be Finn!” His grip was firm but controlled. “I’ve heard so much about you. Antonio Martinez, but everyone calls me Papa.” He gave a quick nod toward Alex. “Except our Sasha who likes to be stubborn.”
“Great to meet you, Papa,” I smiled, and his grin somehow got even brighter.
“Suck up,” Alex muttered under her breath. Tony barked out a laugh.
“And Dominik!” He spun toward my brother, already reaching for another bone-crushing embrace. “My handsome soon-to-be son-in-law! How are you holding up with all this wedding planning?”
Dom submitted to his hug, slapping Tony on the back. “Surviving, Papa. Enzo’s the one with all the opinions about flowers and seating charts.”
“La reina makes the decisions, sí?” Tony laughed, clapping his hand on his son’s shoulder hard enough to stagger a smaller man.
Behind us, the backyard unfolded in layers of brightdecoration. String lights crisscrossed between mature oak trees, their warm glow competing with tiki torches that cast dancing shadows across mismatched patio furniture. Someone had draped every horizontal surface with fabric in oranges and yellows. More decades-old mason jars filled with wildflowers and fairy lights were clustered on top.
An elaborate sound system occupied the far corner opposite what looked like a professional-grade outdoor kitchen. The music mixed with children’s laughter and the steady hum of conversation from at least thirty adults scattered across the space.
“Come, come,” Tony ushered us toward the crowd. “Everyone’s dying to meet Sasha’s new amante. And some of the aunts still haven’t gotten their hands on Dom properly.”
“You hear that, Dom?” I called over my shoulder. “More women who want to grope you.”
“Still more than want to grope you, a-hole!” Dom shot back.
Alex’s hand found mine, her fingers intertwining with casual possession that sent warmth up my arm. “My aunts will have questions. Lots of questions,” she murmured the warning.
“Joan, mi vida!” Tony bellowed across the yard. “They’re here!”
Alex’s mother appeared almost instantly, weaving through conversations and around wandering children. She had Alex’s sharp eyes and expressive hands, though her gray hair was styled in a way that probably hadn’t changed since the early nineties.
“There you are,” she reached for Alex, at least four inches shorter than her daughter. “I was starting to think you’d gotten lost.”
“Just fashionably late, Mom.” Alex accepted the hug that looked genuinely warm despite the scolding—but I caught the way Alex stiffened at the contact, suddenly understanding what she meant by not liking to be touched.
Joan’s attention shifted to me, pulling me into a hug whether I was ready or not. “And you must be Finn. I’ve heard quite a lot about you, though not from Sasha.”
“All good things, I hope,” I replied, which earned me a laugh that sounded suspiciously like Alex’s.
“We’ll see,” her eyes crinkled at the corners.
“Cariña, let go of the man,” Tony chided, though his grin suggested he was enjoying the show. “Your sisters will want their time with him.”
As if summoned by his words, three women materialized from the crowd, moving toward us in a flawless flanking maneuver. They shared Joan’s bone structure and exuded the energy of family who’d driven miles specifically to be the source of any future gossip about new additions.
“Oh my heavens,” the tallest one announced, her gaze bouncing between Dom and me like she was trying to solve a puzzle. “Which one is which? I can’t tell them apart!”
I stopped myself from rolling my eyes at her statement, though Alex’s soft pinch at my side helped.
“Margaret,” the shortest added dryly, “If you can’t tell them apart, you need to get your eyes checked.”
“I’m Dom,” my brother offered helpfully, “and this is Finn. We get that a lot.”
Enzo snorted.
“Twins!” The youngest-looking one clasped her hands together, practically vibrating. “How wonderful! And one of you is Sasha’s boyfriend?”
Alex’s grip on my hand tightened.
“That would be me,” I flashed a grin, extending my other hand toward Margaret first. “It’s a pleasure to meet more of her family.”
