“I think he’s in a daze,” I told Luca as we watched Noah laughing at something Aiden had said.
“Wouldn’t you be if you had a whirlwind wedding planned in less than a week?” Luca asked with a laugh.
“I honestly can’t imagine it,” I admitted.
My friend looked at me thoughtfully. “Still thinking marriage isn’t in your future?”
If he would have asked me a week ago…
I shrugged and said, “You know my biggest fear is having a relationship like my parents. Cold, sterile, and more like a business relationship than a love match.”
And when I thought about the women I’d dated, I could see it happening. Women more worried about appearances than feelings. Women who always wanted more … more money, more fame, more notice.
“You know what a great relationship looks like, though. You’ve got evidence of them all around you,” Luca argued. “You’re nothing like your father, and you’d never propose to a woman like your mother. I think that argument’s null and void.”
I thought of Charlotte, the one woman I knew would never be like my mother, and imagined together we’d have a marriage that emulated her parents, not mine. Too bad she wasn’t as sure about me.
Maybe she has the same concern. She did know my family, after all. Maybe she’s worried I’ll turn out like my dad.
If that was the case, I could understand her hesitation.
“We can’t all be as lucky in love as all of you,” I said, looking around the bar at the guys.
Of course, for the last few weeks, I had been. But Luca didn’t know that.
I glanced at him and wondered if I should just tell him and get it out there. Then I remembered Charlotte asking me not to and held my tongue.
Just then, Noah shouted, “I’m getting married this weekend,” looking a little bit like he was about to pass out, so Luca and I moved to join the others.
“You know what that means?” Aiden asked. “Shots!”
We all groaned but accepted the shots and took them after Giovanni made the toast. “To Noah and Summer, may their love span the decades, may they be blessed with as many children as their hearts desire, and may they realize that a good marriage comes from hard work, and most importantly, communication.”
And that right there was just one of the many reasons why Charlotte’s dad was the best.
“Here, here!” we all cried.
“I’m getting too old for shots,” I moaned, as what had to be the fourth shot of the night hit my stomach.
“Probably shouldn’t go drinking with a fireman then,” Luca joked, looking at Aiden, who seemed completely unaffected by the amount of alcohol we’d already consumed.
“Aiden’s a bit different in bachelor party mode,” I complained. We’d all hung out last Christmas on his parents’ farm and I could attest there’d been no shots in sight.
“Aren’t we all,” Vanni slurred, coming up to join us and slinging an arm around each of our shoulders. “I love you guys.”
Oh, boy, we were already at that stage of the night…
“I love you, too,” Luca said. “Now let’s find you some coffee. Sara will have my neck if I you’re so lit you can’t even make it to the guest house.”
“Nah, Sara loves it when I’m drunk. I get crafty in bed.”
“Ah, TMI, brother … TMI.”
I chuckled as they wandered off in search of coffee and moved to grab a seat with the others, who’d commandeered a table in the back.
“Damon!” Noah said happily when I sat. “I’m getting married this weekend.”
“I know, buddy, how you feeling?”
“I don’t usually drink this much, if I’m being honest, but it’s a celebration,” he said, his voice getting louder as he spoke. “Can you believe Summer is going to marry me? Me? I mean, have you seen her? Have you seen me?”
“I’m lookin’ right at you, Noah, and I think you’re both lucky. You’re a stand-up guy with a great job, and a beautiful baby, and now you’re going to complete that pretty picture with a gorgeous wife. I’d say you’re doing something right.”
“I am, right?” he said, his tone incredulous. “I was on the app, but I wasn’t even using it and she remembered me from it when she and Margo saw me in that bar. I’m so blessed.”
“You are,” Aiden agreed, nodding profusely. “And so am I, man. I don’t even know how it happened, but it was the same for me … that app! And Margo wasn’t even on it. She was standing in for Summer. Just happened to be my lucky night. Like … that stars aligned and shit. I thought after my first marriage ended, I was done. I was content working, being with Tommy, and helping out my family. Then this whirlwind comes into my life, and just like that, I’m engaged to the smartest, toughest, sexiest babe I’ve ever seen.”
“You’re both living the dream,” I agreed.
“And how about you, son?”
I looked over at Giovanni, who was admittedly a little blurry at this point.
“What about me?” I mimicked.
“Don’t you want to find happiness and settle down?” he asked me softly.
“I didn’t think I did,” I admitted. “You’ve met my family, so you get it…”
“I’ve also met you, so I don’t. You’re a special man with so much to offer.”
“Guess I haven’t met the right woman,” I said, not meeting his eyes.
“Haven’t you?” he countered, and my gaze flew to his. I’d known this man for most of my life. He’d punished me right alongside Luca when we’d stolen candy from the local store. He’d taken pictures of me on prom night and kept them in their family albums. And he’d held me tight when my parents hadn’t shown up to my college graduation, because he had.
I recognized that look on his face.
“You know,” I whispered.
“Know what?” Aiden asked.
I ignored him and waited until Charlotte’s dad said back in hushed tones, “I’ve always known, Damon. We’ve simply been waiting for the two of you to figure it out.”
“Franny?” I asked.
Giovanni smirked and asked, “What do you think?”
Of course she did. She’s Franny.
“Hey, guys, I think it’s time we head back. I need to get Casanova home,” Luca said as he joined us, Vanni trailing behind him with a to-go cup of steaming coffee in his hand.
We got up and paid our bill, then started the walk back home with Noah singing, “I’m getting married this weekend,” the whole way.