Ariana gasps. “You monster! But seriously, I can order another copy and have it here in a couple of hours. Resistance is futile. Give. Me. The. Book. Lilith. May!” She lunges around one side of the island, and Lil bolts around the other with a shriek. She’s halfway to the back door when Ariana gets close enough to jump on her back.
“Fucking hell, you’re like a tick!” Lil exclaims.
Marco has the schooled expression on his face that I’ve studied enough to know it means he’s laughing inside. Mia doesn’t bother hiding her half-entertained, half-embarrassed expression. My mom looks horrified. And my dad… well, I’ll be damned if the fucker doesn’t look amused as shit.
Lil only makes it a couple of steps before she starts to crumble, giving Ariana the chance to grab the book. She spins and takes off, bounding up the stairs as Lil drags herself up off the floor.
“You can’t hide from me, Ariana Ray!” she yells, running up the stairs after her sister.
“Bitch, I can try!” Ariana yells back from upstairs somewhere. There’s banging and screeching and giggling for a minute before they’re too far away for us to hear. It’s also possible they killed each other.
My dad starts laughing. Full on, holding his stomach, tears in his eyes, laughing. Mom stares at him like she’s never seen him before. Fuck, I do, too.
“Marco, why is that charity case girl still here?” Mom asks, her tone dripping with irritation.
I pin her with a glare, done fucking around. “Watch your tongue when you speak about Ariana.”
“Why in the world should I do that?” she scoffs.
“Because she’s your future daughter-in-law.” A genuine smile crosses my face.
“That’s not funny, Luca. God, what has gotten into you?”
“I’m not joking.”
She gapes at me. “No. That’s not happening.”
I smile. “Yes, it is. In fact, it’s happening in two days.”
Her arm flings out toward the stairs. “Why the hell would you marry that?—”
“You’ve already been warned to watch yourself, Tina. That’s my daughter you’re about to insult, and I would highly discourage you from doing so.” They’re words I expect to hear from Marco, but Mia’s mama bear has come out. Mom’s mouth slams shut.
“Not that it’s any of your fucking business, but I’m marrying Ariana because I love her and want to spend my life with her. You weren’t invited for many reasons, and I will personally kick your ass out of this house if you disrespect her again.”
“If you think?—”
Holding up a hand, Dad cuts her off. “Tina, just stop. Our sondidn’t invite us to his wedding. That’s on us. You’re going to push him out of our lives forever if you don’t stop this bullshit.”
We all stare, shocked. It’s only the training I’ve done with Marco that keeps my jaw from sitting on the table.
Dad turns to me. “Luca, I know there’s a lot of damage that needs to be repaired between us, and I’d like to start doing so. If you want us to leave, we’ll leave. I would like to stay, regardless of what your mother does, but only if you’ll have me.”
Tapping my fingers on the table, I think it over. “You can stay, Dad.”
I don’t bother with my mom. She’s not worth my time. Instead, I glance at Marco. “Shall we get back to it?”
“Yes. I’ll meet you in the tech room in ten minutes.”
I nod, and stop by the kitchen to make Ariana a cup of coffee before heading upstairs. My girl is going to need it.
She and Lil are sitting on the couch, as far away from one another as possible. The book they were fighting over is on the coffee table, literally torn in two, right down the spine. I start laughing, then laugh harder when they both glare at me.
“I think we need a new Best Maid of Honor, Luca.” Ariana pouts, her arms crossed.
“So, a new officiant as well?”
Throwing her head back, she groans. “Fuck. Goddamnit. Ugh. I guess I’ll just have to forgive her.” Her eyes snap to my hand. “Is that coffee? Is it for me? What’s wrong?”
