Chapter 256: The Last Night
- LUCIANO -
"I don’t like this," I whisper to Rory while everyone visits before leaving to their rooms. "Stay the night with me. Let Raya stay with Dex."
"We’re going to be fine, Luci," she smiles, leaning into the kiss I place on her temple and then into her hair. It isn’t until I kiss under the ear that she giggles and pulls away.
I’m fully aware that my mother and sister are watching us right now, but I don’t care. Thinking I’ve lost Rory twice already is enough for a lifetime, and I’m not going to be shy about how I feel or about how I think it’s stupid to spend the night apart.
"Even your dad says we’ll be fine," Rory reminds me, patting my chest like there’s an animal in there she can tame.
"He doesn’t know everything," I tell her, seeking him out with a glare.
"It’s important that I have this night with Raya, okay?"
"Because the groom can’t see the bride before the wedding? Isn’t that outdated?"
"That’s not why," she says, raising her voice just a hair and then looking around to see if anyone has noticed. They haven’t. "Try to be reasonable, okay? She’s my sister, and it’s her wedding."
"Reasonable? You have a heart condition and thirteen stitches in your hand."
I take her hand and open it, checking to see how it’s looking. She really did a number on it. It’s still swollen.
"It’s fourteen now," she mutters.
I sigh heavily and let my forehead fall against hers. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"No," she laughs, her breath feathering lightly over my face. It’s so familiar—her scent. "I was just pointing it out."
"Will you move in with me?" I ask, tugging on her hips with the urge to have her closer.
"What?" She laughs again, this time in surprise.
"When we get back." I pull far enough away that I can look back and forth between her eyes. "Move in with me. If I have to be without you tonight, I want it to be the last night."
Rory watches me without answering like she’s waiting for me to take it back. But I don’t. If she agrees, I’ll make sure her things are in my place before we even get back. I’ll make the call tonight to arrange it.
"But that’s crazy, right?" She asks with a short burst of laughter.
"Can you just make this decision from your heart, dolcezza? I’m not asking because I care what anyone else thinks. I’m only asking what you think."
That makes something change in her eyes, like a weight that’s lifted. "Okay," she nods. "Yes. I’ll... I’ll move in with you."
"Are you sure?" I lean back and squint at her. "You’re saying yes, but you sound a little startled."
"I am," she nods again, but her lips part into a brilliant smile. "But I’m sure. You already feel like home, Luci. So wherever you are is where I want my home to be."
I sigh in relief and kiss her, growling softly when my father yells my name.
"For God’s sakes, let the girls get to bed, Luciano," he says, and then I hear him admonishing me in Italian. "There will be five guards at their door."
Rory’s shyness gets the best of her, and she pulls out of my embrace, eyes sparkling and cheeks a lovely shade of pink. God in heaven, why am I being forced to sleep without her for even one night? It’s cruel.
"See you in the morning," she says with a smile, and then she turns and leaves. And I know it’s dramatic, but my heart seriously feels like it’s being pulled out of my chest when I have to watch her walk off with Raya. Letting her walk away is against every instinct, especially considering what we’ve already been through.
My father walks up next to me as everyone else disperses. "How is Dex more mature than you, Luciano?" He chuckles. "He’s the one who is getting married in the morning."
"Because he’s the one who is getting married in the morning," I mutter, clenching my teeth in irritation.
"So let’s plan a wedding," he says under his breath. I don’t look at him, but the comment shocks the hell out of me. "I can’t have you distracted like this forever. Make it official. Get her father’s blessing."
Then he casually walks off, wrapping an arm around my mother and kissing her cheek. Vanessa is smiling at me like the annoying little sister who has figured out a secret, but then she follows our parents.
"I guess I’ll grab my things from the cabina," Dex says, slapping me on the shoulder. "Looks like it’s you and me tonight."
"If you think I’m sleeping on the couch because you’re getting married tomorrow cuzzo, you’re wrong. There’s still an empty cabina where Rory was staying."
"Dom and Sonny already moved their things in there," he chuckles and squeezes my shoulder. "There’s no one around to impress anymore, tough guy. You can just admit you love me and want me to be comfortable tonight. It’s okay."
I shrug out from under his hold only for him to grab me again. "Get off me," I chuckle.
"Want to fight?" He waves an invitation and acts like he’s going to square up. "Loser gets the couch. Come on. I know you’re wondering who would win between the two of us."
"I don’t wonder. I know," I scoff and start walking toward the cabinas. "I’m not going to ruin that pretty face of yours for your wedding. You need it, because you have no fashion sense."
That gets a rumble of laughter out of him. "Because I have shirts with holes? You didn’t even own socks before this week."
"The fact that your thoughts go to socks when I say fashion sense just proves my point. Plus, we live on the California coast."
"The northern California coast where it rarely gets above seventy," he chuckles. "It’s sad that you’ve never gone hiking considering where we live."
"Clearly I don’t have as much leisure time as you do, Mr. CEO."
"You should make some," he says, falling into step beside me. "Especially now."
My lips twitch with that thought. I’ll definitely make time for Rory. I can’t wait to rearrange my universe and put her at the center of it.
"Are you at least wearing a tux tomorrow?" I ask and then laugh when he makes a face.
"Not everyone wears tuxes at weddings."
"Yeah, definitely not you."
"It’s Costa Rica." He throws his arms out. "It’s a destination wedding. Who would want to wear a tux here? You’re not planning on wearing one, are you?"
"No, don’t worry. I won’t show you up at your own wedding."
"Like that’s possible," he snorts.
There’s not a shred of insecurity in his tone. I might give Dex a hard time, but he knows exactly who he is, and he’s not interested in conforming to anyone else’s standards when he has his own. It’s something to be admired.
"Fine, you can have the bed," I sigh.
He glances over at me with a wry smile. "I knew you loved me."
"Yeah, don’t let it go to your head."
