Page 103 of The Wedding Crush

“Based on the entertainment value alone, this night is going to be one for the books. I couldn’t be happier.”

“Gee, thanks.” I laugh. “Glad I can help.”

Then, these five women, my mirrors, they get to work, and I’m not even close to prepared.

“Are you in love with my brother?” Chiara asks right out the gate.

My heart beats like there’s an entire drumline in my chest about to throw down at an HBCU homecoming.

Swallowing, I eke out, “Yes.”

The cackling and cheers nearly pierce my eardrums.

My girls kick off their heels, acting like total fools as they run around in circles celebrating like that’s the least of my problems.

Still, I can’t help but laugh, too.

“Is that it?” I roll my eyes playfully, knowing it’ll reel them back in.

“Not by a long shot, ma’am.” Seneca grins from ear to ear. “So, we know y’all did the Oompa Loompa behind Il Sapore, but was there any follow-up sexing?”

Chiara’s eyes widen.

Thank you, Seneca, for putting all my business on Front Street.

I pull in a lungful of air, releasing it through my nose as I nod.

It’s the snaps and resounding amens that make me love them to my core. We’re at a bachelorette party for our girl, and they’re still lifting me up.In their roundabout, prying way, but still.

“See!” Seneca is positively exuberant. “Girl, I told you they’ve been all up and through her place, his, the winery, the vineyard trails, doing the nasty.”

“She’s not wrong.” I shrug.

Morgan and Valerie high-five.

“Boop, okay now!” Monica blinks a good dozen times with pride.

If we’re being honest, might as well get it all out there. Although, there’s a part of me waiting for them to ask the inevitable question.

They go off on a timeline tangent, connecting the days Stefano and I’ve spent time together. Then Seneca asks about him meeting Ace, which leads us down a road ofCars, cleanup, and the carnival recap. They end up seated, fully invested, and swooning. Everyone certain “he’s so good with kids,” which nearly leaves me in tears again, which is strictly against Seneca’s rules.

She flips her wrist again, determined to keep tabs on the time.

“It’s six fifty-two,” she reminds us. “Get to asking if you’ve still got questions.”

In the back of my mind, I’m thinkingmy GOD this fifteen minutes is long.

But also, they’ve managed to cover our relationship, love, sex, and Stefano’s adorable bond with Ace. Beyond the fertilized egg in my uterus, what else could they ask?

I shift on my feet.

Morgan eyes me curiously, and for a split second, it feels like we’re at an impasse.

But then she screws her lips to the side and squints. “What about that last Dream Team meeting? You said everything was fine, but was it really?”

I consider her for a beat, reading between her lines.

She knows, but she’s beating around the bush.

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