“I feel it too.” He subtly rotates his hips, ensuring I feel his erection. “Fuck. I’m going to hell.”
“Then I’m right there wi?—”
“In case either of you is even remotely concerned with Elio, the show is over, and the babysitters are leaving,” Isa hisses, putting herself all up in our faces.
We separate instantly, and Cristian rearranges his face into a calmly polite expression that’s more familiar. “Thank you for telling me. We’ll go get him.” His arm slides around my back, and he steers me around the seething bride.
All the previous intimacy is gone from his tone and his expression, and whatever moment we were having has been effectively ruined thanks to the bride. I’m positive that was her intention anyway.
“Daddy!” Elio charges toward us. “The magician made his hat disappear!” His green eyes pop wide. “Like puff, it just went away.”
“Wow, that sounds amazing.” Cristian bends down, ruffling his son’s hair.
“He made balloon animals too. I got a lion. Grandma has it.” Elio takes each of our hands. “I wanna dance.”
“We can stay for a few dances, but we’ll be going home then. Okay?”
“Deal.” Elio is already dragging us toward the dance floor before the word has left his mouth.
We dance for a few songs, earning plenty of stares from other wedding guests, but Cristian ignores their nosiness, and I follow his lead.
“Lift me up, Daddy.” Elio raises his arms, and Cristian scoops him up. Elio wraps his legs around his dad and reaches out a hand for me. “Come on, Slowpoke Sloane.” We dance as a unit, and my heart is so full it feels like it could burst. Cristian has his arm around me while he carries his son, and there’s no hiding the emotion shining in his eyes.
I want this.
I want this so badly.
My heart is splintering as reminders of my hideous reality crack through my happy shell.
I’m yanked forcibly away from Cristian as the bride interrupts for the second time tonight. “You are making a scene,” Isa says, glowering at me as she reaches for Elio. “People are talking.”
“Let them,” Cristian coolly replies, keeping a firm hold of his son. “It’s time we were going home anyway.”
She backtracks immediately, panic replacing the previous pissed-off look on her face. “You don’t need to go yet. It’s only a little past nine thirty.”
“It’s way past Elio’s bedtime, as you know, and he’s exhausted,” Cristian replies. He leans in and plants a quick kiss on her cheek. “Thanks for inviting us. I hope you and Carmine have a wonderful honeymoon.”
Isa glares at me like I’m the devil incarnate, and I’m so sick of her obvious jealousy.
“Say goodbye to Auntie Isa,” Cristian says, nudging Elio, who now has his head resting on his dad’s shoulder. Sleep seems to have crept up on him fast.
“Bye, Auntie Isa. See you after your moonhoney.”
Cristian and I share a smile that only seems to anger Isa more, but she hides it well as she smiles at Elio and kisses the top of his head. “I’ll miss you, champ.”
“Same,” he says over a yawn.
“Enjoy the rest of your wedding, Isa,” Cristian repeats before artfully steering me away and off the dance floor. “I’ll just tell my parents we’re leaving.” He removes his hand from my back. “They’ll probably want to come with.”
“Of course.”
We head to his parents’ table in silence, Isa having ruined the moment again. “We’re heading home,” Cristian says.
“Good,” his father says, standing. “It’s time we left too. It’s way past this old man’s bedtime.” He winks at me, and I can’t help giggling. I’m betting he was a real charmer when he was young.
“I think you might have a message.” Beatrice hands me my purse. “It made a little vibrating noise a few minutes ago.”
My heart launches into my throat as I clutch my purse to my chest. Oh my fucking god. I can’t believe I was so careless. I debated whether to bring my cartel cell with me today, but Mom and I were both punished the last time I left it behind, and as we were attending a very public wedding, where his goons would be following me, I didn’t see how it was overly risky bringing it. I was so sure I’d put it fully on silent, but I must have fucked up.
