“For now,” he says.
I laugh, tipping my head back to look at him. “You’re incorrigible.”
“You married me anyway.”
“That’s on me,” I say lightly. “A lifelong lesson in consequences.”
He stops for half a second, just long enough to pull me in close and kiss me again, slower this time, his hand warm at my waist.
“Happy anniversary,” he murmurs against my mouth.
“Happy anniversary,” I echo.
We start walking again, fingers laced, Isle’s Gem glowing behind us.
Seven years ago, love felt like a gamble.
Now it feels like home.
26
GIOVANNI
Ten years later, I still pull out Amber’s chair.
Savvy Bites hasn’t changed much. Same warm lights, same polished wood, same low hum of conversation that makes the place feel alive without ever being loud. It’s comfortable. Familiar. Ours.
Every anniversary, we come here.
That hasn’t changed either.
“Thank you,” Amber says, like she always does, even though she knows I’d do it if we were alone in an empty room. She smooths her dress as she sits, then looks up at me with that smile that still hits me square in the chest.
Ten years, and it still does that.
I take my seat across from her. “You look beautiful.”
She snorts softly. “You say that every day.”
“Because it’s true every day .”
Her mouth curves, pleased despite herself. She reaches for my hand across the table, squeezing once.
I could have taken her somewhere ridiculous tonight. Private island. Closed museum. Whole restaurant cleared out. She knows that. I know that.
But she likes this.
She likes the routine. The history. And if I’m honest, I like that Savvy Bites is part of our story.
She catches me looking at her and lifts a brow. “What?”
“Nothing,” I say. “Just thinking.”
“That’s never good.”
I smile.
Savannah appears at the table a moment later, apron on, hair pulled back, face lighting up when she sees us.
