He nodded and held the door open for me. Marco was one of the sharpest guys I’d ever met. There was a real chance he didn’t believe me, and the thought made me sweat. The room was suddenly unbearably warm. At least that part wasn’t a lie anymore.
As I struggled with my curly mane, trying my damnedest for a smooth high ponytail, Luca walked out looking like a fantasy. “Holy shit,” I mumbled, unable to take my eyes off him. My arms ached, and I dropped them from my hair.
“You like it?” he asked, but his face let me know he knew just how good he looked.
I leaned back on a glass display case, feigning nonchalance when my whole body was reacting to the sight of him in a tux. “It’s alright.”
“I have one other design that could work.” Talon rushed in between us, his eyes searching Luca for any imperfections. “But I don’t think it’ll be better than this.”
“I’m just kidding, Talon. It’s perfect.”
The kid’s shoulders relaxed, and he smiled at me. “I’ll start taking measurements. We should be able to have these in by your June date.”
The owner joined us with a clipboard, and the two went to work measuring all the guys. As I drank champagne and joked around, I kept an eye on Marco. He maintained his distance all day, his phone glued to his hand.
He was so distracted that the owner stuck him with a pin because he was moving. “Son of a bitch.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Moretti,” the elderly man said in a thick Italian accent. “But if you’d just stay still, I’ll be done in a few minutes,” he scolded like Marco was a child.
“Apologies,” Marco gritted out, his jaw tensing as he looked at his phone.
In no time, everyone was measured, and our information was in their system. “Thank you for fitting us in under such short notice.” Luca shook Mr. Zito’s hand.
“My pleasure.” Then the two of them had a little conversation in Italian that had everyone else smiling and occasionally chuckling, but I had no fucking idea what they were saying.
Talon shook his head and shrugged. At least I wasn’t the only one in the dark.
I really need to get on that Duolingo membership.
“You ready to go?” Luca’s question drew my attention from my clueless companion.
“Yes, sir!” I joined him and stuck my hand out toward Mr. Zito. “And thank you for everything. Luca’s going to look perfect.”
Mr. Zito took my hand and flipped it, placing his thin lips on my knuckles, his eyes sparkling up at me. “The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Moretti.”
Butterflies hacked away at my stomach as if they had tiny glittery machetes.
Mrs. Moretti.
I was in a daze as we said our goodbyes, and Luca ushered me into the car.
“You okay?” he asked as he pulled onto the busy city street.
“Yeah, just daydreaming about my dreamy fiancé in his tux.” I flashed him a saucy smile.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. And your four merry men.”
Luca laughed loudly and shook his head. When his laughs turned into soft chuckles, I pressed my luck. “Is everything okay with Marco?”
Silence filled the car.
I waited him out.
“He’s fine.”
I fought back a disappointed sigh. “Good. He just seemed distracted today. Maybe it’s something with him and Adriana.”