Miles rubs his forehead. “I can’t believe my little girl is getting married.”
Roman rubs his shoulder and Miles’s face goes red. He sniffs once and shakes his head. “I haven’t even seen the dress or her in it and I’m tearing up.”
“Hopefully, you’ve been doing your exercises. You have to make it up the aisle four times.” Gunner chuckles. “We’ll make sure to get a good picture of you.”
“And I’m still considering not giving her to you.” Miles snorts.
Gunner makes a frustrated sound and we keep talking finances until we get lunch. Apparently, Sophie is doing her last fitting and going over a few things, so we don’t get to see her until the rehearsal dinner.
Thankfully, that comes up quickly. We have it in the hotel’s restaurant since the venue for the reception is being used tonight. Sophie comes in wearing a little white dress. The gauzy fabric wraps around her with only one shoulder covered and when it catches the light it glitters. Her hair is pinned so it only falls down one shoulder and she looks like she’s glowing.
She sits between the four of us, but makes sure to kiss each of our cheeks before taking her spot. As expected, Roman is on her right and I’ve been lucky enough to snare her left for tonight. Holden and I already agreed to switch for tomorrow, but I have a feeling we’re going to be rotating seats constantly.
I see Nonna, Massimo, Danny, and a woman I don’t recognize sitting together. I lean past Sophie. “Roman?”
“My mom.” He says simply. “Giana.”
I nod. Sophie asks about my parents and I point them out. “My dad is Daniel. Mom’s name is Loretta.”
I see her actually make a note. She puts down that my dad has a faded dragon tattoo on his forearm and that my mom likes blue eyeshadow. I chuckle and kiss her cheek. “They loved the eighties.”
Sophie giggles and rubs my thigh. “Tomorrow night, I’m demanding cuddles from everyone.”
“At the same time?”
“Yes.” She says, not bothering to elaborate.
I smile to myself. Holden points out his brother, and considering how similar they look, there’s no mistaking Aaron for anyone else. His head is shaved and he looks older than the last time I saw him.
Before she can ask Gunner, he’s up and hugging his mother. She squeals and pinches his cheeks and he glows, thrilled with the attention. His father pats his back, his long hair back in a braid. His face reddens and he moves his glasses to wipe his eyes.
They start getting sappy, but then Gunner has his sisters to deal with. I don’t remember their names, so I can’t help Sophie, but she watches with obvious love. “I don’t know why he hides his sweet side.” She says.
“I’m sure he had a reason at one time.” I rub the inside of her knee and her pen drops as she looks at me. A blush fills her cheeks as I keep doodling circles there. She shivers. “I’m as impatient as you are, sweetheart.”
“Sure we can’t just do it tonight and party tomorrow? We’re going to be so tired; we should move everything forward a day.”
“Absolutely not,” Roman says, then kisses her jaw. He says something in Italian and Sophie bites her bottom lip as her thighs trap my hand between them. She nods and he grins. “Good girl,” He tells her.
“Tease.” She huffs.
The first course is served and Miles stands. “I want to take a moment and thank all of the families for coming tonight. While this is unconventional, one thing I’m sure of is that this is a relationship that will last. I’ve known these four men for so long and I know that no one can take better care of my daughter than they can. Fierce in battle, but caring and gentle where it counts, I know they will have a wonderful future ahead of them despite what people may think or assume.”
Sophie bursts into a huge smile and I take her hand and kiss her knuckle. “Forever.”
We dig into the food, then I take Sophie’s hand as we wait for the second course. “I’m first.”
“Okay.” She clings to me. “What if they don’t like me?”
“How could anyone not like you, sweetheart?”
“Ask Sasha I guess?” She grumbles.
But as soon as I introduce her to my mother, my mom jerks Sophie into her arms, then she steps back and holds her face between those long red nails. “You’re so beautiful. Nicky, how did you get so lucky? Classy, beautiful, smart by all accounts.”
My dad is a little more aloof. He looks Sophie over and shakes her hand. “Daniel.”
“Sophie.” She backs against me and I wrap an arm around her. “It’s very nice to meet you both. Nick is … amazing, honestly. I can’t imagine not having him in my life.”