They raised their glasses, cheering, their voices carrying over the Black Sabbath blasting through the bar. The tables next to us noticed their little celebration, so Ashley showed off my hand like a prized kill.
“Let’s actually get to the wedding, and then we can do all this.” I snatched my hand away and shook it out.
“Okay, Sash.” Jazz rolled her eyes and clinked glasses with my cousin Sarah.
“I mean it! Look at all the shit we’ve been through. I’m not about to jinx us by celebrating too early.”
“Why don’t we save your pessimism for another day? Today is for happy, good times.” Sarah smiled at me, her face flushed from one too many bottomless mimosas.
“Fine,” I relented, knowing they would have their way no matter what I said.
“Great. Now, tell us how he did it.” She rested her chin on her knuckles, fluttering her eyelashes.
“It was adorable.” I took a sip of my loaded Bloody Mary. “I thought we were catching a late dinner at Moretti’s, but he’d recreated our first date.”
Ashley let out a dreamy sigh, her smile stretching until her adorable dimples popped. She was too romantic for her own good.
“The entire place was empty, and he’d scattered rose petals around one of the tables.”
“Cheesy,” Jazz said with no snark in her voice and a big smile. She was like me, a realist, but unlike me, when she found love, she grabbed it with both hands. She and Imani met less than a year ago and already lived together. Jazz even had an appointment with a ring maker to create Imani’s dream wedding set.
“The cheesiest.”
“I’m surprised you made it this morning.” Adriana let out a yawn before taking a sip of coffee.
“Unfortunately, Luca got a call about some overseas issue and spent a good chunk of the night in his office while I slept like a baby.” Kind of the truth, but enough of a lie to keep Jazz and Sarah out of the loop. Adriana didn’t react. I’d bet good money Marco left her bed to come to our house.
Ashley's eyes narrowed, but true to her southern raising, her bright smile never faltered. “That sucks. Should’ve put his phone on silent.” She pushed the plate of poutine my way. “Any idea on a date?”
I grabbed a loaded fry and shoved it into my mouth. A date? I’d been engaged less than twenty-four hours, and she wanted a date? “Um. We didn’t talk about that. I figure within the year?”
The girls looked at each other, their expressions serious.
“This year? You think you can throw together a wedding to a Moretti in a year?” Ashley squinted her brown eyes and pursed her lips.
“Why not?” I focused on the gravy-covered fries and left them to squabble.
“Dante and I got engaged and married within a year. You’d be surprised what the Moretti name and bank account can get you.” Adriana rolled her shoulders back as she eyed the drink menu.
“The real issue is what are we doing for the bachelorette party?” Jazz wiped her hands on a napkin as her dark eyes pierced me, her bright pink lips kicked up in a small smile.
“Yes!” Sarah cheered, holding her hand up for a high five that Jazz begrudgingly gave.
Ashley flipped her braids and side-eyed Jazz. “As maid of honor—” she shifted her gaze to me, and I nodded, “I can assure you the bachelorette will be amazing.”
Jazz held up her hands and shook her head, her riot of black curls brushing her bare shoulders. “No disrespect intended.”
“I need another drink,” I mumbled into my straw as I scanned the small room for our waiter. When I caught his eye and lifted my glass. “I love this place.”
“The food is good, but I vote next time we go somewhere a little less aggressive for brunch. Metal’s really not my thing,” Jazz said as she eyed the room.
Ashley nodded. “Yeah. I’m sorry to say it, but you Mitchell girls are officially outnumbered. It’s time to branch out from Metal Brunch. At this point, I’d take unironic yacht rock brunch.”
As much as I loved the place, I knew it wasn’t their scene. “Fine. But they better have a spread like this. Otherwise, it won’t matter what music is playing. Heads will roll!”
“Thank you, your highness,” Jazz said dryly.
A tall man toward the back of the bar caught my attention. I lifted my chin in his direction, not taking my eyes off him. “That guy looks familiar. Where do I know him from?”