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“I said between twenty and thirty minutes,” Sofia said with a heavy sigh.
They looked at Anthony, who quickly held up his palms. “I didn’t speculate,” he said directly to Nico. “I would never, sir.”
The doctor was growing on Nico.
Sofia put her elbow on the bar and rested her chin in her hand. “I can’t believe I lost. I mean, Uncle Bennett got in a fight tonight!”
Nico shot Bennett a glance that said, I told you so.
“We were trying to be respectful of our guests,” Bennett said, elbowing Nico in the ribs. “We didn’t want Anthony to think we’re rude.”
Filippo’s brows climbed his forehead. “Oh, so me and Sofia don’t count?”
“No, you fucking don’t,” Nico said.
“Well, I’m touched,” Sofia said before reaching over to thread her arm through the doctor’s arm. “It means a lot that you wanted to spend time with us. It’s important for you to get to know Anthony because we’re very serious.”
“How serious?” Nico asked—and Bennett elbowed him again.
“What he meant to say,” Bennett corrected, “is that we’re happy for you both.”
“Very serious,” Anthony answered. “I love your cousin, Mr. Marzano.”
Sofia turned pink, and the delight in her eyes nearly lit up the room. “Swoon,” she whispered before kissing the doctor’s cheek.
Sipping his wine, Nico looked over and caught Bennett’s pleased smile. He knew his boyfriend had played a part in making tonight happen. Bennett was Sofia’s biggest champion and a romantic at heart.
He glanced back at Sofia. “Just as long as you aren’t planning to get married.”
Bennett stiffened beside him and Sofia stared at him in shock. Even Filippo was frozen, surprised by the order. Sofia recovered first, blurting, “Why not?”
“Jesus Christ,” Bennett muttered. To Sofia and Anthony, he said, “He didn’t mean that. Ignore him.”
“First of all, I haven’t been asked,” Sofia said, her bottom lip quivering. “So I don’t know why you would even say that, Zio Nico.”
Nico took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Because you can’t get married before I do.”
Bennett’s breath hitched before he shifted to better see Nico’s face. “Oh? Are you dating someone I don’t know about?”
“Only you, bello. And I am thinking August in Milano.”
Bennett blinked several times, his lips parting, and he studied Nico’s face intensely. Had Nico rendered his captain speechless?
“Was that a proposal?” Filippo asked, disbelief in every word. “Because it was terrible, cugino.”
“That was not a proposal,” Nico clarified. “Just an idea.” He put his palm on Bennett’s sharp jaw. “What do you think, amore mio?”
Bennett leaned in to kiss Nico’s cheek with a gentle brush of his lips. “I might like that idea. But I can’t say for sure until I’m properly asked.”
Nico released his future husband and lifted his wineglass again. Bennett wanted to be properly asked?
Then game fucking on.
