“I know I’ve said it before, but no one deserves it more than you. I owe everything I have now to you.”
I glanced over to Nate, who’d stopped to chat with Edward and Wyatt. “I still think that was my finest hour. Too bad no one recorded it.”
“No need, as you’ll never let us forget it.” Nate growled as he joined us.
“Just making sure you know never to take Press for granted.”
“Not likely. Time to pay attention to Torre instead of my life. I know how to treat Press.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that.” I snaked my arm around Torre’s waist. “Torre has all of me.”
He nudged me with his shoulder. “And you can imagine how much that is to handle. Frisco, I don’t think you’re worried about Nate anymore, are you?”
I allowed myself a smile, but the memory of how he’d cut Press dead and hurt him so badly still stained my feelings toward Nate, no matter how Press loved him. It took a long time to earn my trust but a moment to lose it if you fucked with me or my best friend.
“Not really.”
“Will you both shut up?” Press hooked his arm through Nate’s. “This is your wedding, Frisco, and the only thing you need to think about is Torre. Nate, you already know Frisco can be an overprotective jerk, but it’s because he loves me. Both of you, stop acting like idiots.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I think there’s a compliment in there somewhere. And I’m not about to let anything ruin my wedding day.”
Torre shook with laughter. “You’re the best, Press.”
“Traitor,” I whispered in Torre’s ear. “Just wait until I get you alone.”
Torre patted my ass. “Looking forward to it.”
“Uncle Torre, Uncle Frisco, it’s time.” Tina sped down the hallway and tugged at our arms. “Everyone’s here.Nonnasaid her judge friend is ready.”
I gazed out over the small group of people who’d come to mean everything to me—Edward, the father figure I never had, Maureen, who was more of a mother to me than my own flesh and blood. Mike, who loved to tease and poke me but always had my back. Val, my best friend and partner in crime. Tina, who gave me second thoughts about children. And always, always, Press. My brother in every way but blood.
“What do you say,bello?” I squeezed him tight. “Ready to hitch your star to mine?”
Torre kissed my cheek. “You’re not simply a star—you’re the whole Milky Way, a comet lighting up the night sky. Too hot and bright to contain, but anyone whose life you light up should consider themselves lucky.”
“I’m the lucky one. Lucky you said yes to me that first night. Lucky you let me back into your life when I screwed up so many times. Lucky I got my head on straight and realized you were the one person I could trust with all the secrets I could never tell anyone else. Lucky I listened to my heart, which said I was worthy to be loved, and most of all, I was lucky you fell in love with me in spite of everything.”
Torre brushed the hair off my face. “I fell in love with you because of everything you are. Now let’s go make us legal.”
“Where’s the fun in that,bello?”
Laughing and hand in hand, we walked into the rose-filled room, and with vows and a kiss, two became one.
Epilogue
Zach and Sam
His hands laden with two large grocery bags, Zach leaned on Jessica’s bell with his elbow.
“Just a sec,” she called and he heard hurried footsteps. She opened the door. “Hi. Come on in. Oh God, more food? Isn’t it enough that you already bought me the bassinets and more clothes than they can wear in a month?”
He followed her inside her small studio apartment, now even more cramped with two bassinets and a double stroller. “I don’t want you to have to worry about anything, and that includes cooking. They’ve only been out of the NICU for a few weeks, and they should be your number one priority.”
“You’ve been so good to me.” Jessica wiped her eyes. “I don’t deserve it.”
“You deserve everything. You have to take care of yourself.” After carefully setting the two paper bags on the small table, he crossed the tiny space to peer into the bassinets. “How are they today?” Zach couldn’t help but smile at the two pairs of eyes staring up at him. “Look at them. They’re so perfect.”
“Not so perfect when they’re both up at three a.m. crying and they need to be fed.” Jessica rummaged in the bags and put the milk, butter, eggs, and cheese into the refrigerator as she spoke. “I’m so tired, I almost fell asleep in the shower today.”
