“Wasn’t planning on it.” He kisses me, then lightly slaps my ass as I walk away.
“Caveman,” I say over my shoulder with a grin. I might never get over how damn handsome and sweet he is. Or how much he loves my ass.
Lil and I finish watching our movie, then we turn on some music and have a dance party until we fall onto her bed, too exhausted to move anymore.
“Are you scared at all for tomorrow?”
“No. Well, I’m scared Luca’s mom is going to try and ruin the wedding. I’m scared I’ll fuck up the vows. I’m scared a bird is going to poop on someone. But that’s about it,” I shrug. I don’t care if people think it’s too fast, or we’re too young, or whatever other bullshit. He’s already mine, and I’m already his. Getting married just means we get to use words for what we mean to each other that make sense to the general population. There’s not a ‘romantic soulmate’ box on paperwork, so we’ll settle for the closest legal option.
“Fuck. I swear to god, if a bird shits on my head tomorrow, I’m never going outside again,” Lil says, crossing her heart. We’re not stupid drunk tonight. We’ve just kept a decent buzz going. I roll to my side so I’m facing her.
“I never expected to be this happy, Lil. To love someone like this.”
“I know. We’ve been reading romance novels for years, hoping we could find something like what happens in them but never actually expecting it. I’m fucking glad you have it, Ari. You deserve it.”
“I don’t know if I deserve it, but I’m sure as fuck keeping it.”
“What, because you sometimes kill bad people? Because you stole the Maserati and named it Bruce? Because we push buttons and cause trouble? You deserve good shit, and not because of what happened to you. You just deserve it, Ari.”
I shift awkwardly, my face feeling warm. “Shut up, you’re making me sound like a superhero. I’m no superhero.”
“You’re my superhero. And you fit into this whole lifestyle way better than I do. I’m thankful for that because Dad needed it, and he was never going to push me to be something I’m not. And you and Luca, it’s like watching two halves of a whole come together.”
Then she laughs. “Sometimes it’s hearing two halves come together, and I need better headphones because you, Ariana Ray, are loud.”
I grab a pillow and whack her in the head with it.
“I’m serious. At least at night. If it’s daytime and you’re trying to be sneaky, you’re a lot quieter.”
Well, yeah, Luca usually has his hand over my mouth. Or his mouth on my mouth. Or he’s whispering in my ear that I need tobe quiet and calling me his good girl when I am… But I’m not drunk or high enough to tell her that.
“But all bets are off if you’re in his room.”
I hit her with the pillow again.
“Thank god we’re on the opposite side of the house from Mom and Dad, or Luca would be a dead man,” I grumble.
“True story.”
“Ugh. I didn’t realize I was that loud. That’s slightly embarrassing.”
“Don’t worry. I bought you a ball gag for your wedding present.”
I hit her with the pillow one more time.
Chapter 70
Snack attack!
Ariana
Imust fall asleep because I wake up when Luca lifts me from Lil’s bed. A happy humming sound escapes me as I wrap my arms around his neck and snuggle against him.
“Hi, baby.” He kisses my forehead and carries me to our room. There’s not much I love more than him kissing my forehead and calling me baby.
After laying me on the bed, he goes to close both bedroom doors. “I need to take a shower,” he says when he gets back.
“Take me with you.” I reach my arms out, waving them around, and he chuckles.
