He chuckled, then sniffed, little embarrassed. “Love you too, bro.”
Pulling away, two soft laughs slipped from the girls – relieved, warm, proud of us like we were something worth rooting for.
I slid my arm around Francesca’s waist. She leaned into me without hesitation, fitting against my side like she belonged there.
Maria tucked herself against Zach, rubbing his back. “We should probably all get back to the party,” she said gently.
I nodded, exhaling a laugh. “Yeah.”
Zach slapped my shoulder on his way out, his smile real this time. “Monday. Renato basketball court. Ten A.M.” He pointed a finger at me with a grin. “Don’t be late.”
I felt my own smile stretch wide, stupid and proud.He wants to see me.Not obligation. Not duty.
“Alright,” I said, laughing a little.
Zach disappeared with Maria, and just like that – the air didn’t hurt to breathe anymore.
When I looked at Francesca, her lashes lowered like she was choosing her words carefully.
“Matteo,” She began softly, “I’m sorry for going to talk to him behind your back. I just thought maybe – ”
I didn’t let her finish. I stepped forward and wrapped her in my arms, pulling her against me like she was the only steady thing in my life.
“Thank you,” I murmured into her hair.
She stilled, surprised, then pulled back just enough to look up at me. The amber light caught her eyes, making them glow. “You’re not mad?”
I shook my head, brushing my thumb over the curve of her jaw.
“Never.Thank youfor helping me do what I haven’t had the courage to do for years.”
Her hands framed my face – warm, grounding. I leaned into her touch, feeling like I’d been starved of affection.
Then she rose onto her toes and kissed me. Slow. Deep. Like home.
My hands settled at her waist, her heartbeat steady beneath my thumbs. When we finally parted, our foreheads rested together, both of us smiling like fools in love.
She brushed her nose against mine, voice a whisper. “Ready to go back?”
I stole one more soft kiss from her mouth. “With you? Always.”
We laced our fingers together and headed back toward the lights and laughter of our friends – like everything in the world suddenly felt right again.
Chapter 34
Present
Upper-East Side, New York City
TWO WEEKS LATER, THE DATE sat warm and steady in my chest – March first. One month. Our wedding anniversary, real in all the ways that mattered now.
We’d just come back from dinner, the kind of place where the lights were low, the glasses heavy, and the servers spoke in murmurs.
Francesca still smelled like her perfume and night air when we slipped into the library, closing the door behind us and shutting the world out.
The room breathed differently in the dark. Deep red curtains pooled against the walls. A gold globe caught the low light and reflected it softly, like a sun that knew how to behave. Lamps glowed instead of shone.
I went to the bar and poured us drinks, the quiet clink of ice echoing just enough to feel intimate. Whiskey for me. The same for her – she pretended it was my influence, but I knew better.
