“My name is Roman Drake,” Roman says into the cacophony of chaos, and I watch with astonishment as he begins an honest-to-goodness introductory speech. “I’m twenty-five?—”
“That’s younger thanJules,” India cuts in, ceasing her booing and looking at me.
I sigh helplessly as I blush. “I don’t have an explanation.”
“Ladies,” Roman says as he glances disapprovingly between India and me. “No interruptions, please.”
“Very rude,” Felix adds with a nod. “Please, good sir—continue.”
Roman gives a little bow, and I can already tell these two are going to be trouble.
“I come from a long line of philanderers,” he goes on, “but I’m breaking the cycle, so never fear.”
“No philandering in this family!” Juliet says quickly, and India nods.
“Philanderers will be castrated,” she adds.
All the men in the room pale ever so slightly.
Then Felix leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees and addressing Roman. “Here’s the thing,” he says. “You should just know this, okay? Aurora”—he gestures to me—“will cut you. All right? She will fly off the handle and set you on fire.”
“Hey,” I say, but Roman nods, like he already knew this.
“India, meanwhile”—Felix gestures to his own girlfriend, who’s now looking at him with skepticism—“will not fly off the handle. She will plan quietly and calmly andthenset you on fire.”
“Rude,” India mutters as Roman again bobs his head. At this point he looks like he’s taking mental notes.
“Jules,” Felix goes on, “will sob at your funeral after you’ve been set on fire by her older sisters.”
“I could set someone on fire if I wanted,” Juliet says, sticking her lower lip out. She looks at India and me for support. “Couldn’t I? I totally could. I egged Barf’s car.”
“Of course you could,” Indy and I say automatically, but our faces are skeptical.
“I really think I could,” Jules says with a little shrug. She settles back against the couch cushion and burrows into Luca’s arm wrapped around her. “In the right circumstances.”
“In the unlikely event that anyone needs to be set on fire,” Luca says, lifting one brow, “I’ll do it, all right?”
Probably smart.
Roman looks expectantly at me, his hands on his hips. “Anything else?” he says. “Any more misdeeds I need to own up to?”
I sniff. “No. You’re done. Thank you.” I pause and step closer to him, gesturing around the living room at my sisters and their boyfriends, all of whom are now talking and laughing amongst themselves.
“Are you sure you know what you’re getting yourself into?” I say, and although there’s joking and fondness in my tone, I can feel the weight of the question on my chest.
And I think Roman can hear my fears too, because he wraps his arms around my waist. “Probably not,” he admits softly. “But…” He takes a deep breath. “I’m really,reallyexcited to find out.”
AURORA || SIX MONTHS LATER
“She’sthe most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. In the whole world. Like…ever.”
Juliet barely gets these words out properly, and as it is, they’re punctuated by little sniffles.
“Don’t cry,” I tell her quickly, even though I’m feeling a little tremulous myself. “You’ll ruin your makeup.”
“It’s waterproof,” she says, her glowing eyes trained on India—who, yes, is absolutely gorgeous. She’s radiant and bright and so completely lit up inside that it shines through everywhere.
The dress she ended up buying is perfect, both for her and on its own—I’m so glad she went with the lace overlay even though it wasn’t something she thought she’d like at first. Her hair is down, flowing over her shoulders, and she’s wearing a simple flower crown.
