Page 271 of Rosetti Family New York
Her green eyes are bright with laughter, curls bouncing like springs as she shifts on the couch.
“Or you’ll have to trade Rafe for a normal boyfriend,” she adds.
I laugh.
“Normal’s boring.”
I catch Eleanor’s eye across the room. She’s nestled beside Leonardo, elegant and composed, but even she’s laughing now, head tilted back, rich brown hair cascading over her shoulder. She meets my gaze and winks, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips.
Rafe slips a leather-gloved hand into mine, and the warmth of it makes my heart trip over itself. He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t have to. We fit. We belong.
We all settle into seats and start dealing again. Cards pass from hand to hand, and I can’t stop grinning like an idiot. It’s a different world from where I grew up. Louder, messier. More love than I know what to do with.
A card sails past my head, and I duck just in time to avoid it. Emilio shrugs when I look over at him. He’s got the hood of his hoodie up, as usual, eyes half-hidden under dark bangs.
“I’m aiming for Leo,” he says. “But I guess you’re both pains in the ass.”
I laugh, and it feels good. Better than good.
Rafe squeezes my hand.
“You okay?” he asks, low enough that it’s just for me.
I lean into him, catch the familiar scent of leather and soap and him.
“Never better.”
We go round after round, teasing and trash-talking and making up new rules whenever it suits us. Dom and Besiana have their heads together, a quiet conspiracy against the rest of us. Matteo accuses Emilio of counting cards, and Emilio just raises an eyebrow like he can’t be bothered to deny it. Leonardo and Eleanor make an indestructible team until Carmela teams up with me, and we manage to knock them off their high horse for a round.
Rafe stays out of it, content to watch, which is just as well because no one can agree on whether it’s better to have him as a partner or to be on the opposite side.
It’s madness, pure and simple, but I can’t stop the smile on my face. The one that’s been there for days.
Leonardo gestures at the empty glasses on the table.
“Who needs a refill?”
I raise my hand along with a few others.
“We’ll be right back,” he says, pulling Eleanor to her feet.
He’s got a hold on her, a little wild, a little possessive, and she rolls her eyes like it’s the most ridiculous thing, but she doesn’t let go.
We start dealing again as they leave the room, but Rafe draws me back onto the couch before I can get too involved. I fall against him, and he wraps an arm around me, snug and secure. It feels safe here, right here against him.
“Look at them,” Matteo says. “It’s disgusting.”
“I heard that,” I call, and I throw a card at him, a perfect shot right at his forehead.
“Maybe we should start acting like them,” Matteo continues, glancing around like he’ll find some eligible woman hiding in the shadows and just waiting to fall into his arms.
“Maybe you should stop talking,” Emilio cuts in, voice dry as ever.
“So gross,” Matteo says again, and Rafe finally smiles.
We go a few more rounds, the night spiraling into chaos and laughter and spilled cards. Emilio wins half the games, though I’m not convinced he doesn’t hack the deck. The rest of us spend more time yelling and blaming each other than actually keeping score.
Eleanor and Leonardo return with drinks. The room is hot and loud and perfect, and I know this isn’t how it should be. Not if you ask my old neighbors back home. But it’s exactly how I want it.
