I smirk. “I think you just love calling me husband, wife.”
She fakes a yawn.
Lowering my face, I whisper in her ear. “A vow and a signature. Try faking that.”
She rolls her eyes, and both her sister and Calla stop at our sides with their kids.
While they assess each other, eyes narrowed into slits, my godson leans over and smacks a kiss on Celia’s mouth.
I chuckle while the women gasp.
Chiara gnashes her teeth. “Keep him away from my daughter.”
“Then make your daughter stop smiling at my son,” Calla snaps.
“Please, they’re children. It’s innocent. Both of you know one spark and it will ignite,” Viviana intervenes, casting an intent look as if pleading with them not to ruin her day.
Chiara nods begrudgingly, and Calla places my godson into my arms.
Aris has his mother’s silver eyes with some specks of green in them, and his father’s sharp features.
Viviana observes me as I thrust him into the air. My godson loves anything that is adrenaline-inducing and regales me with bubbly laughter. I hear them introducing themselves, and Calla congratulating us.
Once I became his godfather, I swore nothing would ever happen to him. Aris fusses in my arms, getting bored easily. I kiss the top of his head and place him down. Only his mother can hold him longer. I swear this kid will grow to be independent quickly.
Celia fusses in Chiara’s arms.
“No, don’t even think about it,” her mother says, congratulating us and then takes off.
The rest of the guests follow, the endless congratulations edging on forever. Next, a round of pictures follows, and my wife gets increasingly fidgety.
Even the best actors need a break from character. I grab her hand, and we move to the parquet dance floor, slowly dancing into our marriage.
To the beginning, according to me.
To the end, according to her.
23
VIVIANA
Iam married. Tohim.
Everything that has transpired today has been a rollercoaster of emotions, making me dizzy on my feet.
I am a mess, but again, he’s proficient at turning me into one, split between wishing this day to be over and going on forever. Afterward, we’ll start our life together. We’ll live together.
From experience, staying strong is hard. He has his ways, an uncanny ability to slip through my cracks.
I thought my wedding day would turn into a massacre with the whole Celia–Aris incident, but thankfully only a few witnessed the sweet moment.
I can’t believe Tristan doesn’t want children when he so naturally picked up Aris and instinctively knew when to place him down when he’d had enough.
That entire exchange twisted my heart, aching with unbearable longing for something I won’t experience.
It doesn’t matter how many walls I erect around myself. This man has touched every part of me, bearing an indelible mark.
Our eyes lock, and I swallow, overcome by potent emotions. I used to see my dreams unfolding in his gaze. Now I see myfuture in his. Only death could separate us. I should only feel dread and hate, but there’s also relief, buried under layers of hurt.
