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Chapter Seven

SKYLA

Summer plants her hands on her hips, her full lips pressing into the signature pout that makes Aiden bend like a dry and brittle twig. “Care to explain why you didn’t tell any of us you were married?”

I roll my eyes and glance at the hot pan on the stove in front of her. “I didn’t think it was that important.”

Jade scoffs and stops stirring the garlic to glare at me. “You would’ve told us if you were engaged.”

I haul myself up to sit on the edge of the counter. “After the disaster with Logan? I don’t think so. Telling someone about the engagement would’ve only brought back those shit memories. Then, there was the matter of actually making it down the aisle.” I shake my head. “Just… No.”

Summer grins as she snags a slice of fresh mozzarella and drizzles it with balsamic glaze. “I always thought you were the type to elope. But I thought you would at least tell us that it was happening.”

“That defeats the point of an elopement.”

Jade turns to chop up some onions. “We would’ve liked to be there with you. Even just to sit in the background and watch.”

“Hah! You two? Background people? The pair of you would have had an opinion about everything that was happening, and neither of you would let go of what you thought until you got your way.”

Summer laughs and nibbles the edge of the mozzarella. “Maybe you’re right about that, but you still should’ve told us. We could’ve met the guy at least. Now you need to let us throw you a reception.”

“I don’t need to do any such thing.” I cross one leg over the other, stirring the garlic in the pan as Jade dumps in the onion.

“Come on. We have to have a party.” Jade snatches the wooden spoon back from me, turning down the heat on the pan as the onions and garlic make the kitchen smell like the inside of a pizza parlor.

Ellie walks into the room, her hair scraped up into a high ponytail and her scrubs still on. “I swear if someone doesn’t get me something to eat soon, I’m going to turn into a monster, and nobody is going to be safe.”

Gia snorts as she follows Ellie. “I’m the one that’s twenty weeks into a pregnancy. If there’s anyone turning into a monster without food, it’s going to be me.”

Summer turns to both of them with a wicked smile. “Please help me convince Skyla that she needs to let us throw a wedding reception for her since she decided to get married without telling any of us.”

Ellie’s jaw hits the ground. “She what?”

I groan and tilt my head back, looking up at the ceiling. “I got married. Eloped. Thought about never telling any of you, to be honest, but it was going to come out sooner or later.”

Gia laughs and leans on the counter beside me. “I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone, and we go out together every week.”

I comb my fingers through her long, dark hair. “I only spend time with you to see my niece and future nephew.”

“You love me, and we both know it. The kids only have a little something to do with that.” Gia puts her hand over her stomach. “I can’t wait until he’s here. Not looking forward to the kicks in the ribs. Wish I could skip that stage and go from here straight to the birth.”

Jade clears her throat. “I think we’re losing sight of what’s really important here, which is throwing the best reception ever. We need to have one.”

Summer nods. “We have to. You didn’t want us there for the wedding, and that’s fine, but we want to do this for you. We want to drink way too much alcohol and spend time getting to know your new husband.”

“You two always have a way of taking things over the top.” I slide down from the counter to properly stir the sauce as the tomatoes Jade added start to break down. “I don’t want this to be some big event that ends up getting out of hand.”

Jade wraps her arms around my waist, giving me a tight hug. “Does that mean you’re going to let us throw you a party?”

“It means that I’m willing to think about it. Maybe.”

Though, I know it’s a good idea. If there’s anything that’s going to sell the relationship as a real one, it’s going to be throwing a big party and inviting all of our friends and family. People are going to see Joshua and me together as a couple for the first time.

Which also means that we have to act like we’re in love and sell the relationship.

Jade squeals as she turns to Summer. “We’re going to have to plan the classiest party ever.”

“Damn.” Ellie smirks and leans against the fridge. “I was hoping to whip out my keg stand skills at your reception.”

When she reaches for a piece of cheese, Summer reaches out and smacks her hand out of the way.

“You have to go get changed out of those nasty scrubs before you start touching the food.”

Ellie rolls her eyes and takes off for the stairs.

Gia follows her as the sound of Bianca padding around upstairs echoes through the house.

As soon as we’re alone, the twins both turn to me with matching smiles. It’s odd that they can whip out the same smile while being opposites in other regards of their lives.

Summer advances on me first, pulling out her phone and flipping through pictures of backyard reception ideas. “What do you think about this? We could go black tie.”

“I’m not forcing people to stuff themselves into ballgowns and tuxes. Try a different theme and maybe I’ll say yes.”

Jade returns to the stove with a sly smile, taking the spoon from me and dumping spices into the sauce. “I don’t know. I think keg stand could be a fun theme.”

“You know, I didn’t think a trip to visit Aiden would devolve into you wanting to throw a keg stand competition for my wedding reception, but you think I would know better by now.” I lean over and look at the fresh bread one of them made earlier.

Jade grins. “A keg stand competition does sound like the way to go, but Ellie would kick all of our asses.”

I press my fingers to my temples. “If we do this, and that is a major if, we are not chugging from kegs. If I let the two of you do this, then it needs to be a respectable event. I’m sure Joshua is going to invite some of the people he works with, and we need to make a good impression on them.”

Summer pauses. “Joshua? As in Joshua Vitale or a different one?”

I sigh and break off the heel of the bread, spreading a bit of butter on it. “As in that one. But I didn’t think the two of you were going to turn this into an interrogation, either.”

Summer moves the loaf out of my reach. “You’re the one who likes to keep secrets.”

“I would’ve told you about this eventually. I just wasn’t ready to share yet.”

Jade scoffs. “Not ready to share the fact that you’ve been in a relationship, got engaged, and got married, all in secret?” She shakes her head. “I know the entire family has issues, but I think you’re taking that to a whole new level.”

She might be right about that, but I’m not going to stand here and debate how deep my issues run, tonight. It seems like a waste of time.

We’re going to go around in circles and in the end, I know the two of them are going to get what they want. That doesn’t mean I won’t make them sweat for it.

I finish the piece of bread I took. “I should go see Aiden and then get going. I have some things I need to do.”

Jade whirls around and crosses her arms. “You can’t leave now. We have to talk more about the reception, and you have to have dinner. It’s just got to simmer for a bit, and then it’ll be ready.”

Gia comes back into the room with Bianca on her hip. “You have to stay.”

Sean and Aiden wander into the kitchen with Dominic and Royce close behind.

Aiden looks at me before taking in the way the others are huddled around while Ellie races down the stairs.

She charges into the room with a grin. “If we’re going to be talking about Skyla’s husband, then I need to be involved with this conversation. There’s no way I’m missing it.”

The twins open their mouths, probably to start on me again now that everyone is here.

I throw my hands up in the air “Just plan the damn reception. But it needs to be classy. No keg stands. I’ll decide if I’ll come when you tell me what will happen, in detail.”

Ellie slinks over to Sean’s side with a playful frown. “Skyla is becoming less and less fun in her old age.”

I groan and lean over the island, dropping my head to my hands.

“When have you ever seen me do a keg stand? You know what? Forget it. I don’t know how we got to this point in the first place, but this isn’t going to be a frat party.

If the two of you are going to throw it, you’re going to make it nice, got it? ”

Jade claps her hands. “It’s going to be so nice. You’re going to love it, and Joshua is going to have a good time getting to know the family.”

Royce is the first to look at me after the bomb is dropped. “Joshua? Joshua Vitale?”

“Yes.” I stand up straight and stare at him, arching an eyebrow. “Is there a problem with my husband, or are you all going to control yourselves?”

His teeth grind. “I can’t believe you married that asshole after what his brother did to you.”

“You’re marrying Gia after what her family has done to us.”

I shoot her a quick smile. “I adore you, but your sister is becoming a real pain in my ass.”

Gia shrugs and snags the bread off the counter, breaking off a piece for herself. “No offense taken, at all. Zoe has always been a pain in the ass.”

Royce leans against the counter as Jade dumps the pasta in a pot of boiling water to cook. “I think that we’re all missing the point here. Not only is Skyla married, but she got married to the bastard who sent our family on a downward spiral of losing money.”

My voice raises above the others as they start to argue back and forth.

“Joshua wasn’t the only reason we had problems. He’s reinstating our cocaine deal, and he’s cutting down supplies to the other groups in the area.

And if we decide to take more control of the east coast, he’s prepared to back us. ”

Gia’s eyes widen. “He’s the biggest supplier in the country.”