“Caleb.” I pin him with a “behave” look.
“What?” He shrugs, smiling like he just won the lottery. “Don’t act like this is a surprise.” He leans in close again, lowering his voice so only I can hear. “You’re mine, Lili. Always have been, always will be. Concede defeat because I’m not backing down.”
I shove at his chest. “I only just broke up with my boyfriend,” I whisper.
“So?” He plays with my hair. “I don’t see the problem. There is nothing standing in our way now.” His fingers leave my hair and move to my chin, gently tipping my face back. “God, you’re so fucking beautiful, Lili, especially when you’re stubbornly proud. I?—”
He stops speaking the same second I realize the room has gone deathly silent. Caleb releases my chin, and we turn to face the table. Every set of eyes is watching us, and my cheeks instantly heat. I squirm on my chair, hugely uncomfortable with all the attention.
Mom and Natalia are beaming like all their wishes just came true. Sierra and Frankie are smiling. Gia is trying—and failing—to give me a subtle thumbs-up. Rowan’s ear-splitting grin is all up in my face. Joshua’s stare is pensive, and he’s not giving much away. I’m afraid to look at my brother because he’s already made his feelings clear about Caleb. The younger kids wear expressions ranging from confused to amused to bored. Uncle Ben is studying us with a serious expression. Leo’s gaze is inquisitive, and my dad. Oh boy. Dad is staring at Caleb like he’s imagining ten different ways to murder him.
Caleb grins wickedly as his arm slides around the back of my chair. “I have an announcement to make,” he says, sounding as cool, calm, and collected as he looks. “I’m in love with Lili, and she’s in love with me.”
“Caleb!” I hiss, glaring at him.
“Are you denying it?” His eyes twinkle with mirth, knowing I won’t lie in front of my family.
I bury my face in my hands, mumbling, “I can’t believe you just did that.”
“Everyone, eat,” Sierra says, taking pity on me, I’m sure.
“This is wonderful news,” Mom says, and I lift my head. “Isn’t it, darling?” she adds, fixing my stepfather with a look Voldemort would be proud of.
Alesso clears his throat and pins me with a look full of potent emotion. “I think Elisa and Caleb clearly have things to discuss in private, and we should all respect that.” The ire has faded from his face replaced with some indecipherable emotion I can’t place.
His words help, and everyone goes back to their own conversations, and some of the stress eases from my shoulders. “I am feeling very stabby right now.” Gripping my knife and fork, I look at Caleb. “I suggest you don’t test me any further.”
“Everyone knows now. What other objections do you have so I can quash those too?”
Beside me, Rowan chuckles. “I’ll say this for you, cuz, once you put your mind to something, you go all in.”
“There is no point in doing anything half-assed in this life, Rowan,” Caleb says, setting some meat down on my plate before adding a few slices to his own. “When I see something I want”—his eyes bore into mine—“I go for it with zero regrets, and I hold nothing back.” He tweaks my nose. “I have never wanted anything or anyone as much as I want Lili.”
“Stop, please,” I whisper as warmth crawls up my neck and onto my cheeks. “Everyone gets it now.”
“Do you?” He quirks a brow.
“I’m not discussing this at the dinner table any longer. We’ll talk later.”
“It’s later,” Caleb says, poking his head into the living room where I’m currently fending questions from Mom, Nat, Frankie, and Sierra. Gia is sitting on the couch on my other side, but she’s of no help. She’s as giddy as the rest of them.
“Sweetheart.” Nat rushes to her son’s side and drags him into the room. Gia giggles, and I glare at my bestie. “You need to tell us everything because Elisa is giving us nothing.”
“Because there’s nothing to tell!” I protest, grinding my teeth to the molars.
Caleb walks over and pulls me from the couch, bundling me into his arms. “There isn’t much to tell yet because I’m trying to convince Lili I’m serious. She doesn’t quite believe it, but I’m on a mission to prove to her that she’s the only woman for me.”
A chorus of aws ring out around the room, and I’m officially done. “Get me out of here,” I whisper, looking up at him.
“Gladly.” He presses a lingering kiss to the top of my head as I gently lay my head on his chest and give in to the comforting feel of his warm body and strong arms cocooning me. “Excuse us, ladies, I have some wooing to do,” Caleb says, steering us toward the door with his arm firmly around me.
“Barf,” Gia says, but she’s grinning. “That was cheese on top of cheese, Accardi.”
“Bite me, Bianchi.”
“Soon-to-be Accardi,” she purrs sweetly, flashing her ring.
“Don’t remind me,” Caleb says, but we all know he’s joking. Those two are close now in a way no one could’ve predicted.
