Page 72 of The Prices We Pay
In two quick strides, he’s wrapping me in his arms, the smell of amber and spice enveloping me. He kisses me on the cheek before whispering in my ear, “You feeling okay?”
I answer with my face buried in his neck, “I’m okay.”
Luca steps up to our side. Still wrapped in Enzo’s arms, he whispers in my other ear, “I could get used to the sight of you in my clothes, Vita Mia.”
Enzo straightens and looks at his best friend. “What about me?”
Luca rolls his eyes, but he can’t fight his grin. “You steal my clothes all the time, Enz.”
“And? I might not look as hot as Joe, but I’m still pretty fucking hot, right?” Enzo wiggles his eyebrows dramatically.
Just when I think he’s going to tell Enzo to fuck off, Luca kisses my opposite cheek before smacking Enzo on the ass and answering, “A very close second, Amico.” Without another word, he walks away and takes his seat at the table.
Enzo stares at me, eyes wide. “Did that just happen?” he asks in an excitedly hushed tone.
“Yeah, honey. I think it did.” I giggle.
“Well, fuck me.”
I kiss his parted lips. “Maybe later.”
My giggle turns into an all-out laugh when Dante says, “Amore Mia, you’re going to give him a heart attack before he gets his dinner.”
Enzo and I make our way to the table. He sits in a seat next to Luca, and I sit in the one Dante has pulled out for me between him and Seb. I reach for the stack of pancakes, and Sebastian playfully slaps the back of my hand. “Let us get it.”
I roll my eyes playfully. “I can plate my own food, Sebastian.”
His eyes narrow as he says, “And I said, let us get it, Josephine.”
Across the table, I watch as Luca curls his lips in, fighting a knowing smile. Refocusing my stare on the blonde man next to me, I narrow my eyes to match his and answer lowly, “Yes, Sir.”
Next to Seb, Luca piles his plate high with pancakes. Topping them with strawberries, chocolate chips, whipped cream, syrup, and even sprinkles.
Fucking sprinkles.
My eyes are watering from trying so hard to hold in my laugh. Looking up, he eyes me, staring at him. “What’s so funny, Josephine?”
“Oh, nothing. I was just wondering if I’m dating the Easter Bunny with all that sugar on your plate.”
All four of them stop what they’re doing and look right at me. Luca asks, “Is that what we’re doing, Vita Mia? Are wedating?”
Jesus fucking Christ. I look at them all deadpan. “Well, if we’re not dating, then I don’t know what I’m doing here. Because I’m not blowing up my life as I know it for not one butfourmen who live lives with the extracurriculars that you do if you don’t see it going anywhere. So… you tell me, Luca. Are wedating?”
He looks at his best friend. “Enzo?”
“Fuck yeah, we are.”
“Dante?”
Dante’s large hand wraps around my bare thigh and looks right at me. “If that’s what you want, then I would be honored.”
Warily, Luca asks Sebastian, “Mio Re?”
“If the five of us can agree that regardless of who we are or are not sleeping with, we are one unit. This relationship”—he circles his finger around the table—“means more to me together than it does apart. I will not risk what we all have together if we can’t be parts of one whole.” All four of us nod in unison. “Then, yeah, Love. We’re fucking dating.” Sebastian plants a quick but deep kiss on my lips before doing the same to Luca.
“Can I eat my pancakes now?” Luca asks with a pleased grin.
“Yes, Buddy the Elf. You can eat your pancakes now.”
