Page 98 of Shiver

“We’ll get you a glass of water soon, big guy,” I joke.

His brows pinch in confusion, so I say, “You must be dehydrated from all that crying you did.”

“Real men cry, Samara.” He winks at me. His grin turns to a smirk, and a moment later, he says, “You think I’m big.”

I roll my eyes playfully. “You’ve got a big head, that’s for sure.”

“Keep telling yourself that, princess. What you don’t know is just how fragile my ego can be.” I know we’re joking with one another, but the way he says those words feels like a heavy blow to my chest, and it leaves me wondering just how true they are.

***

The reception hall is decorated in various shades of red and white carnations and peonies, gold accents, and loads of brass candelabras that line the tables. It’s elegant, unique, and everything I’d imagine Kat’s wedding would be like, even after just getting to know her these last few months.

After cocktail hour, dinner and more photos than I can count, it’s time for the first dances.

Alessandro takes a seat in the center of the room, and Luca follows behind Gloria, kneeling between the two of them.

My chest feels tight as I see what’s unfolding.

Luca meticulously straps his mother’s legs to his brothers. He helps stand them up and ties the last set of straps around them with Gloria’s feet settled over the top of Alessandro’s. Luca and Dante pull their chairs away and clear the floor for their mother-son dance.

The lights around us dim, and the ones on the dance floor grow brighter.

There are already tears brimming in my eyes before the music even starts, but the moment Gianni starts playing “You Are The Reason” by Calum Scott, the floodgates are officially open.1

He masterfully plays the piano, even with a baby on his chest and Lark seated beside him with her head on his shoulder. We all watch in awe as Ale and Gloria share this dance together, swaying on the dancefloor.

When their song is finished, there isn’t a dry eye in the room.

Luca takes his time undoing the straps, and Ale helps set his mother back in her wheelchair, pressing a kiss to each of her cheeks and following her off to the side.

Just when I thought this family might stop making me tear up, Angelo heads in Kat’s direction, her brows climbing her forehead when she sees him extend his hand for her to take.

“It was a surprise since her parents aren’t around,” Luca whispers into my ear as he takes his place seated beside me.

“That’s really sweet,” I say, my words sounding watery.

Kat takes Angelo’s hand in hers and follows him to the center of the floor.

They sway back and forth, and at the halfway point in the song, Angelo twirls Kat. She’s less than graceful as she follows through with the movement to the best of her ability and lands straight in her brother’s arms.

Kas smiles down at his sister, helping her straighten before they begin to sway together. “They wanted it to be as special for her as possible. What better way than with her brother and father-in-law?” Luca whispers to me, his breath coasting over my ear.

When the song ends, there’s just one more dance that we have to get through. The one I’ve personally been waiting months for.

As Ale steps onto the dance floor, taking Kas’s place, he settles his hands around Kat’s waist and picks her up, placing her gently on his shoes.

He whispers something in Kat’s ear that makes her smile brightly, and they start their dance to “Conversations in the Dark” by John Legend.2

Luca chuckles beside me. “Months of ballroom classes, and Kat was still dancing around like a drunk baby elephant.”

My cheeks burn from smiling so much, and at the end of their dance, when Ale lifts Kat off his shoes and twirls her out, she manages to stay upright as Arlo, Benny, and Sammy shoot gold confetti cannons at them. Everyone claps and cheers as Kat and Ale take their seats again, preparing for the speeches.

Luca stands, grabs the mic, and makes his way to the center of the floor. “We promised Kat to limit the number of speeches because they give her anxiety and, apparently, bore her,” Luca tells the room filled with their closest family and friends, which equates to roughly fifty people.

Everyone laughs, their attention focused on Luca, but I see Kat’s cheeks flush from her seat beside where he’s standing.

The more he speaks, the more my palms start to sweat.

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