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Chapter seventy-eight

Luca

Saturday, September 26, 2026

T he sun is starting to rise, and the shit-eating grin spread across my face is growing with every step we take toward Kat’s room in the cabin.

As Italian Americans, we have a lot of traditions we follow, especially on wedding days. We wouldn’t want to fuck up the good luck.

We crouch down outside Kat’s window, with Ale holding the ancient boom box we’ve used for every family wedding since I was a kid.

“You ready?” I ask him.

Ale nods emphatically, excited to get the day started, I’m sure.

Seconds later, music is blaring from the speaker and straight into Kat’s room.

I see her head pop up first, followed by Aiyana’s, who looks more pissed than I’ve ever seen her.

She practically climbs over Kat as we continue singing along to the obnoxious music, serenading the bride on her big day.

Aiyana finally figures out the lock on the windows, pushing it open and sticking her head outside. “You have exactly five seconds to turn that shit off before I make you!” she screeches.

Kas is cackling behind me, keeled over where he stands, using his hands on his knees to support himself.

“Sounds like your girl isn’t much of a morning person, huh?” I joke.

“Like you wouldn’t believe,” he manages to get out. His eyes go wide, and he takes off in a sprint.

Aiyana’s tiny body practically flies out the window, heading directly for Kas.

Poor fucker, this wasn’t even his family tradition.

Dante, Gianni, Ale, and I can’t contain the laughter that spills out of us, and when Kat sticks her head back out the window, her cheeks are pink. “You may have just gotten my brother killed on my wedding day, you know that?” she asks us, shaking her head, but her smile stays put.

“He’ll be okay. Aiyana loves him too much to kill him,” Gianni notes, but I’m not so sure. Gi bounces on the balls of his feet with a hand cupped to the back of Jer Bear’s head, where he sleeps peacefully in his carrier.

Ale finally turns the music off and we see Kas making his way back over to us, now with Aiyana draped over his shoulder, thrashing and smacking his ass.

“You’re gonna pay for this,” she grumbles.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m sure I will,” he tells her, all smiles as he tips his chin at us with a wink.

“You guys better get out of here before he sets her down,” Kat urges, leaning farther out the window to give Ale a kiss.

“Good morning, groom,” she tells him quietly.

“Good morning, bride,” he says.

They sound so deliriously in love, and I couldn’t be happier for them.

***

Despite the fact that Samara showed up to the rehearsal dinner last night, I still have doubts about whether or not she’ll actually make it today. The girls are getting ready in the bridal suite, and I’m compelled to wonder whether or not Samara actually made it here or not.

I shouldn’t care as much as I do, especially because I’m so excited for Kat and Ale to finally get married and be one step closer to closing on that adoption. But Samara has infiltrated my brain, and I’m unable to stop thinking about her.

“Hey, you good?” Rome asks, leaning up against the side of one of the few trees that aren’t wrapped in twinkling warm white lights.

“Yeah, just a little nervous,” I answer honestly.

“She’s here,” he says, a slow smirk creeping across his face.

I lift a brow at him, wondering how he knows.

“Perks of being engaged to the wedding planner.” He grins. “I was volunteered to bring the non-alcoholic limoncello for their good-luck shots before the ceremony. I saw Samara getting her makeup done when I dropped it off,” he tells me.

“There’s clearly something on your mind—get it out, or it’ll ruin your night.”

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts, but ultimately sink to the ground beside him with my back up against the tree.

“I keep thinking that with the way she’s been keeping her distance from me, tonight’s the last time I’ll see her.” The moment the words leave my mouth, it feels like a tight vice is wrapped around my heart.

“If it’s meant to be, it will be. And if not, then at least make tonight the absolute best that you can,” he tells me as he stares out into the dense woods surrounding us.

“Like a goodbye?”

“Yep. Exactly like a goodbye. One last night together. Make the memories so you have something to hold onto when she’s gone.”

I can’t say that’s the best idea I’ve ever heard, but it’s all I’ve got.

“Come on, assholes! It’s time to get dressed. If we’re late, Arielle and Aiyana will cut our nuts off!” Kas shouts to Rome and me, ushering us toward the groom’s dressing suite.

***

The instant Samara makes it outside with the rest of the bridal party, my eyes are glued to her.

Mateo nudges my shoulder, and I take it as my cue to peel my jaw up off the floor before they make their way over to us.

Samara looks like a fucking goddess. Her bronze skin is luminous, her cheekbones dusted in a light golden shimmer, and her lips painted in a brown gloss that makes them look like something I could eat. As does the rest of her.

She’s wearing a floor-length satin gown that matches the rest of the bridal party in cabernet. I called it “wine” the other day and nearly got my head bitten off, so I’m well-versed in this particular color now.

As she approaches me, a smile turns the corners of her lips, and my heart takes off at a sprint.

“Samara,” I say, at a loss for words. “You look— You look stunning .”

“You clean up pretty well yourself,” she tells me, winding her arm through mine and leading us toward where the rest of the wedding party is waiting for Kat and Ale to have their first look.

“Hey, Luca,” Samara whispers beside me.

“Yeah, princess?” I ask.

“Can we talk later?”

That has my ears perking up and my stomach dropping to my toes.

This is it. This is how she’s decided to do it. She’s going to cut me off entirely, and when she’s gone, I’m not sure how I’ll live without her, but I will.

People always leave; she’s no different, and if I’m not what she wants, I’m not going to push the subject.

I clear my throat and finally answer her. “Yeah, princess. We can talk later.”