He looked adorable.
Mom was already crying. Father had his arm wrapped around her as he rubbed her back.
I sat beside Vanessa, seeing her bundled up Griffin’s coat because he made her wear it. It was zipped up in the front, keeping her pregnant belly warm. He had his strong arm wrapped around her, smothering her with his body heat.
It was hard not to think of Bosco.
It was a Saturday, so he was probably working tonight. I wondered if Ruby would be there. If she was, it didn’t matter. Bosco didn’t want her.
The harp began to play, and Mia made her way down the aisle. Though Carter had asked Conway to be his best man, Mia had made a different request. Conway escorted her, letting her rest her arm through his. They moved slowly to the music, and we all rose in our seats to see Mia float by like an angel.
In a long-sleeved white dress with her hair in curls, she looked beautiful. She was smiling and crying at the same time, her eyes glued to Carter.
Carter didn’t smile, but he gave her the same kind of intense expression that Bosco gave to me. He loved her completely and utterly—and it was written all over his face.
Conway let her go when they arrived, and he clapped his cousin on the shoulder before he took a seat with Sapphire and Reid.
Mia kneeled down to kiss Luca on the head. She gave him a big hug before she rose to her feet again.
Carter kneeled down and picked up Luca, holding him with one arm as he faced Mia. “Is it okay if I marry your mom, little man?”
Luca wrapped his arm around Carter’s neck as he sat in the crook of his arm. “Yeah, Dad.”
It must have been the first time he’d called Carter that, because Carter’s eyes immediately softened in a way they never had before. There was a slight hint of moisture in his eyes as he kissed Luca on the head. “Thanks, son.”
Mia was already crying—and they hadn’t even started the ceremony.
My phone buzzed with emails for phone orders, so I took it out of my clutch and put it on silent before I set it on the table. There were tall heaters everywhere, keeping us warm as we sat at the tables and had dinner.
Mia and Carter danced on the back patio, swaying softly to the music for their first dance. It was just us and my maternal grandparents, who came from America to live here when my mother married my father. It was a small wedding—but it was perfect.
I sat with my mom and dad, watching them enjoy the sight of their grown son in love.
When the dance ended, they moved to their seats so they could enjoy their dinner.
“I’m going to the bathroom.” I set my napkin on the table and walked away.
“Alright, honey.” Mom helped pull out my chair so I could get up before she pushed it back in.
I walked into the house and down the hallway to the bathroom. The door was locked, so I stayed outside for a minute.
Vanessa came out, her hair curled and her black dress slimming despite her bump. “He makes me pee like crazy. I get up at least three times in the middle of the night.”
“It’ll all be worth it when he gets here.” I patted her stomach gently. “How’s the sex? Is he ruining that too?”
“No, as a matter of fact,” she said with a smile. “Griffin actually likes it. We’ve had more sex now than we did before.” She kept her voice down just in case there was someone in the house who could eavesdrop. “But he’s also more protective, and that gets annoying.”
“You have a bodyguard at work. How much more protective could he get?”
She rolled her eyes. “You’d be surprised.” She walked down the hall and back onto the patio.
I used the bathroom then walked outside again. I sat in my chair and immediately noticed the way my mother looked at me. A slight smile was on her lips, and she gave me that knowing expression. It reminded me of when I was young and I tried to sneak things behind her back. She somehow always figured it out, despite how clever I thought I was.
After she held my gaze, she turned away and talked to my father, saying the wine was delicious and it was a beautiful evening.
I had no idea what that was about. That was when I spotted my phone on the table where I’d left it. What if Bosco called and she saw his name on the screen? Maybe that was what made her smile at me. Just because a man’s name appeared on my screen didn’t mean I was sleeping with him. He could be a client.
I tapped my finger against the screen, seeing the emails and the message that popped up.