Chapter Four
Dom
In college,Andrew and I picked on the chumps getting married at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on any given weekend. The pompous affairs are more showboating than celebrating a marriage and we always wondered if it was the bride and groom who wanted to marry there or if their parents demanded such a notable venue in order to flaunt their wealth. Now, my dear friend is one of those chumps.
I send Andrew a text message, letting him know that I’ve arrived. I doubt he’ll have time to see me since it’s less than an hour before his nuptials, but he insisted on at least a text. That’s most likely because I slept through the rehearsal, as well as the dinner after.
It probably makes me a lousy friend, but I laid down after the meeting, which was a success, intent on grabbing a quick nap before going to meet my friend and his family for dinner. Seven hours later, I woke up to a full voicemail box, ten text messages and three messages left at the front desk.
To make matters worse, I felt no better upon waking as I did before going to sleep. It seems my mind refuses to let me forget about the night with Tony. I know my dick is still cursing at me for not inviting the man to my hotel room. Had I asked when the thought crossed my mind, he might have agreed and then he wouldn’t have called his girlfriend. We could have had our fun and then he could have taken the train back to Jersey, leaving me completely oblivious to her existence.
Had Andrew pushed for me to freshen up and meet up with them when I finally reached him, I would have, but he assured me there was nothing fun going on and encouraged me to get some rest that I obviously needed. I feel like crap for not sending my buddy off into the married world with a killer party and an alcohol-related hangover, but I could have kissed him when he told me to get caught up on my sleep before today; a directive I tried to obey but failed. Knowing my luck, it’ll be the full mass that will finally lull me to sleep.
Me: Hey, I’m here. You ready for this? There’s still time to jump on the subway and run away.
Andrew: Very funny. Give me a few minutes and I’ll meet you outside.
Me: K.
Over the course of the past fifteen years, Andrew’s family has welcomed me as one of their own. Various aunts, uncles, and cousins greet me as they file into the cathedral, but there’s no sign of Andrew. I huddle near the front doors, trying to stay both warm and dry, but not yet ready to find my seat. Finally, his parents arrive in a stretch limousine and I can’t delay going inside much longer.
“Dom, so glad you were able to make it,” Gus Rossi greets me with a firm handshake. “I was beginning to think you were going to be a no-show this weekend. Andrew told us you’d made it to town, but you weren’t at dinner so I wondered if he was covering for you.”
“I’m sorry, sir. It was an ordeal to get here and I was pretty wiped out by the time I got done with a meeting I took for Andrew yesterday. It’s good to see you.” Gus pats me on the back, letting me know all is forgiven.
His wife, Anna, pulls me into her arms, kissing me on both cheeks before cupping my face in her hands. “My dear, it’s so good to have you home again,” she greets me. I let Mama Rossi fuss over me, picking a piece of fuzz off my jacket, wiping an imaginary smudge off my cheek. It’s her thing, and it’s always been a small reminder that she’s there for me, even when I think I’m alone. “Don’t pay any attention to Gus, he’s been on edge all week. Why don’t you head in and we’ll be in shortly?”
“Okay, Mama. It’s good to be back.” I kiss her cheek and walk down the long aisle of the cathedral alone. Every step closer to the front of the church leaves me longing for something I didn’t know I wanted a few days ago. No, I will never have any of this pomp and circumstance because of who I am, but I want the love that Andrew and Cara share. I got a taste of it once, just to have it snatched away from me. It’s taken a hell of a long time, but I might be ready to try again.
Sitting by myself in the second pew, waiting for Gus and Mama Rossi to be escorted in, I find myself scanning the program. My heart drops when I read the first two lines.
The marriage celebration of
Caroline Elisa DeLuca and Andrew Giusseppe Rossi
Somehow, I never knew that Cara’s full name is Caroline. I take a few deep breaths, trying to convince myself that this is some freak coincidence. There are likely hundreds of weddings taking place today in the city, not to mention the Tristate area, and more than one of them could include a bride named Caroline. The lump in my throat grows and I tug at the collar of my button-down shirt, certain that I’m going to pass out from lack of oxygen.
The arrival of Andrew’s parents next to me serves as a welcome distraction. Gus pats my leg before turning his attention to the altar, offering a silent prayer for his son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Although I’ve never been a religious person, I follow his lead, offering up my own prayer. Mine isn’t asking God to bless Andrew and Cara’s marriage, it’s that a certain tall, well-built, sarcastic man with magic hands isn’t in the building right now. I turn my attention back to the program, anxious to find the list of attendants. And there, I see the name my suddenly-spiritual self has been praying tonotsee.
Anthony DeLuca – brother of the bride
Although it’s becoming more and more unlikely, I assure myself this is still all a fluke. After all, Anthony is almost as common in New York as John or James is in other parts of the country. My last thread of hope breaks as I watch Andrew and his wedding party enter the cathedral.
“Oh, fuck,” I mutter, although it was supposed to be an internal thought only. Gus reaches down and pinches my leg. I look over to him and he’s glaring at me. I can’t blame him; I’m the one who just said one of the seven forbidden words, in a cathedral of all places.
“Sorry, sir,” I mumble, hanging my head in shame. I’ve never understood why, but disappointing Gus is something I’ve gone out of my way to avoid ever since the first time Andrew brought me home to meet his family. And now, I’ve done it in spectacular fashion during his son’s wedding.
Andrew nods as he passes me, raising an eyebrow at my contorted face. If it wouldn’t make a scene, I would rush out of the building before Tony notices me. When all of the groomsmen are in their places, the worst-case scenario gets even worse. I’m stuck sitting directly behind Tony, close enough that I can smell the same cologne he was wearing the night we met.
* * *
Tony
So much fornever seeing one another again.Had I known that I was going to see Dominic this weekend, I might have tried harder to make things right with him Thursday night. If I’d realized the Cara he mentioned was marrying his college roommate was my sister, who I’ve always called Caroline, I wouldn’t have touched him no matter how much I wanted to. Actually, that’s probably not true, because he’s damn fine and I’m not stupid enough to pass up an opportunity when it presents itself. But Idefinitelywouldn’t have walked away until I knew that neither of us had any regrets.
I trip over my feet as I follow the rest of the groomsmen into the front of the cathedral, my attention focused on the man sitting next to Mr. and Mrs. Rossi, looking like he’s just been scolded.
Dominic was gorgeous the night we met, but now, he’s downright breathtaking. I take my place in line and, because God has a twisted sense of humor, I’m going to be stuck knowing that Dominic is directly behind me for the next hour and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.
