My stomach clenches with nerves, just imagining their disappointment.I tend to do that with them a lot.I fiddle with my purse on my lap, my fingers as restless as I inwardly feel.
“I love Luca,” I say, and I’m surprised how convincing I sound aloud.“He’s amazing.You’ve done a wonderful job of raising your son, and I know we’re both young, probably foolish, but we want this.We both do.”
Nikki shakes her head.“I’m still not convinced.”She exhales a sigh.“What have your parents said when you told them the news of the engagement?”
“I haven’t,” I admit.“It all happened quite so suddenly.”
She glances at my hand for a ring and notices the absence of any engagement band.“Tell me how my son proposed.”
Moreno shifts uncomfortably in the front seat as he drives us closer to our destination.I can see the restaurant in the distance, but there are several traffic lights in the way, and we’re stopped at a long red light that doesn’t want to change.
“He got down on one knee.”The lie glides out easily past my lips.It’s not a hard one to tell.I’ve seen enough romance films to assume that Luca probably would have done the same.
“Without a ring?”Nikki asks, and I sigh.
“We’re having it sized.”
She shakes her head, not believing me.“I have access to my son’s financials, Harper.You can’t lie to me.”
I press my lips together and nod weakly.“I’m sorry,” I say, quick to apologize.“He wants to get me a ring.I told him it doesn’t matter, we don’t have to do anything fancy—the ring or the wedding.I’d be happy if we just went to the courthouse and exchanged vows.”
She watches me for a long moment, perhaps deciding if I’m being forthcoming.
“Dante and I would be happy to provide the wedding bands if we both approve of your marriage.”
I’m fairly certain Dante won’t object.Nikki, however, the verdict is still out, and my parents, I might have to wed without their blessing.
“You haven’t sat down with my husband,” Nikki says, a tight smile on her lips.“He is usually the one who needs convincing in these sorts of things.”
“Does Luca propose to a lot of girls?”I doubt that’s what she means, but I can’t fathom what she’s trying to say.Is she intentionally being cryptic?
Nikki laughs, taken aback by my question.“Certainly not.But Dante is a very traditional man,” she says, as if that explains everything.“He will want to make sure you both share the same values before marriage.”
“Like religion and politics?”I’m throwing a guess at what she’s trying to say.
“Well, that too.”Nikki nods and waves her hand dismissively.“We’ll get into all that later.Right now, I want to hear the rest of that proposal.”
Moreno pulls up in front of the restaurant.“Wouldn’t it be better to hear it over dinner, with the two of them together?”Moreno asks.
It’s the first time I’m grateful for his input.
Is he actually trying to help, or just keep me from having to repeat my story and flub it up with Luca offering his own set of details?
Nikki huffs while Moreno climbs out of the vehicle and walks around to open the door for her.She steps out first, and then I slide across the backseat, exiting out the same door.
“I’ll meet you girls inside,” Moreno says.
Not a single moment of peace.Well, maybe one or two.
Moreno shuts the car door behind us, and I head into the restaurant with Nikki, grabbing a table for two.
“Three,” Nikki corrects me.
“I was hoping he’d sit at the bar,” I mutter under my breath as the waitress retrieves three menus and brings us to a table in the far corner of the restaurant.Nikki sits across from me, which still feels intimate.
The place is swanky, with white tablecloths and folded cloth napkins.
I’m not particularly hungry, which has little to do with the hour and more to do with what transpired last night.But I’m going to be expected to eat.It’s nearly lunch time and I had already skipped breakfast.
