Page 37

Quinn

I hate puffy dresses with all of my being, but I’m forced to wear one.

It’s been four months of bliss. Officially moved in with Silver two months ago, in a north Jersey house he bought, cash .

I looked the other way, knowing its blood money that he probably stashed away long ago, and used my own funds to decorate the house.

He tells me to fuck off whenever I try to spend my money, but I’m part of this partnership too, and I’ll bite his head off if he tries to pressure me on it.

I yelp when Silver bursts into the house and hangs his tux on the chair. He looks particularly dapper in the makeup mirror I’m using in the dining room. Fresh haircut, fresh beard trim. And that defined jaw line shows that much more. Yum .

“It’s bad luck to see the bride befor—”

His lips shut me up.

He pulls away, holding my eyes. “It’s bad luck for a bride to be pregnant, too. Let’s just hope they’ll cancel each other out.”

“But I like our shotgun wedding.” I hold my belly. “She’ll like it too.”

“How do you know it’s a she?” he says, face growing a little red.

“Because I don’t want to be outnumbered in this house.”

“Hah. You’ll be outnumbered either way. Daddy’s girl, or my son,” he goes on.

“We’ll see about that.” I pinch his arm. “I don’t want to see you in that tux until the reception. Now, get out of here . The girls are on their way.”

“Can’t wait to meet your mom and sister.” He abides, grabbing his tux and his duffle.

The thought makes me warm inside. Mom and I never see eye-to-eye, but for some reason, I think we will about Silver. It’s going to be annoying trying to call him Aros for the rest of the day, but I’ll do my best.

When the door shuts, and I’m alone with my thoughts once more, I realize I’ve never felt so secure in my life. Always on my own, especially after I was cornered that one night after the bar… I just couldn’t trust anyone. And the boy-types… the insecurities, not for me.

Today I marry my man. Arosso Valentino.

Can’t wait.

An hour later, my mom knocks on the door with frizzy hair and my older, more traditional sister, equipped with wine and snacks, even though I said no to both.

I wonder if they’ll notice I’m pregnant.

I’m not really showing, except for a slight pudge on my belly, but otherwise, I think I’m in the clear.

“Quinnie!” Mom throws her arms out. “You look beautiful .” She cups my face. “Goodness, you’ve been eating, hm? A little bit of comfort weight, already?”

Bitch .

“You got it wrong, Ma. She’s pregnant,” my sister says with arms folded.

Double bitch.

It’s pretty clear why I tend to stay alone, right? People just… I don’t know. They give me the ick.

“Quinnie.” Mom gasps. “Say it isn’t so. Say it isn’t sooo! ” She starts jumping up and down.

I sigh and open the door wider for them to come in.

“ Ahhh! I’m going to be a grandma again. ” Mom runs past me. “Ugh, the only bad part is your father gets another ounce of happiness.”

“ Mom! ” I stomp my foot.

“Alright, alright.” She flicks her wrist. “I’ll stop.”

Jana rolls her eyes. “Congrats, I guess . Little whorish, no?”

“Nice to see you too. I’m happy you moved away, otherwise I’d be Cinderella, and you know who you two would be.”

They laugh at that, and some of the catty tension melts away.

“Wow, nice house. Bigger than your sister’s. She doesn’t have to suffer that Jersey weather, though.” Mom wrinkles her nose.

Never mind, it’s back, and it’s going to stay the rest of the morning. I already miss Silver. Drama free when the Russians and police aren’t trying to kill us.

xxx

It’s only three o’clock and I’m exhausted. Blame it on first trimester issues, or my horrid west coast side of my family, but I’m in the back room of a restaurant that was nice enough to accommodate our intimate little ceremony-turned-dinner.

I’m swishing my puffy dress back and forth and holding my flowers, counting the minutes until I can change into my dinner dress. Will the girls be mad that it’s black? Yes . And I don’t give a shit.

“ Little Bear! ” Dad’s directed into the room, and I fall into his warm embrace. “You look stunning.”

“Mm. Thanks.” I disagree, because I feel fat from Mom’s earlier comment.

“What is it? Your mother? Don’t worry about her, she just doesn’t know where to put all that energy, so it comes shooting out her mouth.”

We both snort in each other’s arms.

“This is a hard day for me, Quinn.” I notice him quickly wipe a tear. “Much harder than walking Jana down the aisle.”

“ Dad! ”

“What? It’s true. She was easy… wanted to be married off since thirteen. You, though? I thought we’d be roommates forever.”

My heart explodes into little pieces, evoking a river of tears I didn’t feel coming. Thinking of us sharing late-night dinners together after work, watching stupid movies. Thinking of that chapter closing puts a hole in my chest.

“No! Your makeup. I didn’t mean—”

I put my hand up, telling him it’s okay while I catch my tears. “I’ll just miss you, Dad. That’s all.”

“What, you’re fifteen minutes away. I’ll be bothering you all the time.” His words comfort me. “That husband-to-be of yours, he’s really something.”

“I knew you two would hit it off even when he was pretending to be Russian.”

“Did you now? I guess you know your old man better than he knows himself.”

“Damn straight.” I smile.

“Well, I’ll have you know… I’m not just the father of the bride today.” He holds the lapels of his jacket proudly.

“Hm?”

“Arosso chose me as his best man.”

My jaw drops, and my dad beams at the sight. “You’re kidding. But, Donny?”

“They talk once a year when things are calm. Me and him? We crack beers every Sunday.”

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this, and that you’re happy about it. Especially after all the charades in that basement.”

“Little Bear, I was wrong about him. I’m a big enough man to admit it.”

“Sure are.” I pat his belly.

The planner comes into the room. “You guys are up next. Candles are lit, and everyone is ready for the bride.” She gives a dorky thumbs up.

“Oh, all twenty of us,” I say half-jokingly.

“It’s beautifully intimate,” the planner says.

“Mmhm. We’re ready.” I hook Dad’s arm and rest my head on his shoulder. “I’m glad you came around, Bear. Means the world.”

“Me too.” He rubs my hand.

“Ah, you’re sweaty!”

“So are you!”

We both belly laugh in the same fashion, and the music plays.

Two doors open into a nice candlelit hall with gothic chairs and some light shining in from the windows.

I smile graciously at my aunts and uncles I haven’t seen in some time to my left, and to the mobsters I’ve been acquainted with in some unfortunate situations to my right.

But it’s when I gaze straight ahead do I remember why I’m here.

Silver, in all his glory.

A black tux with perfectly tailored pants, white shirt, and black tie. It’s all so traditionally James Bond, but those silver streaks in his beard and hair make him that much hotter. His green eyes pop in the sunlight, and I know in just a minute, he’ll be mine forever.

We get to the altar.

As my dad takes my sweaty hand in his, he hands me to Silver, then gives him a big hearty hug that makes everyone “ Aw. ” The pieces left of my heart melt into a puddle at my feet. He then walks up to the altar to act as the best man, which makes everyone chuckle.

Once we’re in front of the officiant, we have a moment to glance at each other.

“ Hi, ” I whisper.

“ You look beautiful. ” He leans farther in. “ And you’re glowing. ” He winks.

I hit him playfully.

The officiant’s words are a blur. All I can do is caress Silver’s hand and all I can think about is the life beyond us. My brow furrows when I see him pull out a piece of paper from his left breast pocket.

But we said we weren’t doing vows.

“I know you said we weren’t doing vows,” he repeats my thought as if he stole it from my head. “But, I wanted to say something unilaterally, because, well, this was never in my wildest dreams supposed to happen, and I’m still not convinced I’m not dreaming.”

More “ Aws ” from my side of the aisle.

“Hey, kid,” he looks up from his paper to see my goofy smile.

“We can’t talk about half of the things we’ve been through, because my best man might arrest us,” he says half-jokingly, “but in the end, I wouldn’t change one thing…

because after the chips fell, against all the odds, we somehow came together.

Me and you, Quinn.” He grips my hand. “I’ll love you forever no matter what.

To protect, to hold, and to provide. God.

Who would’ve thought it’d take half a lifetime to figure out that I’m able to love again.

I have you to thank for that. And I’ll be forever grateful. ”

“ Awww! ”

I cough. “Well now you put me on the spot.”

The crowd laughs.

“Okay, here goes.” I clear my throat again.

“When I first met you, you ignored me no matter how hard I shouted. Believe it or not, we were neighbors, ” I tell both of our families, evoking more laughter.

“But eventually, you came around, and boy oh boy, am I glad you did. You protect me. You love me. And somehow… in some impossible way… you got my dad to like you.”

“Damn straight.” Dad winks.

Silver holds up a fist in thanks for Dad’s support.

“Yeah, yeah, this bromance. Can’t stop it.

” I roll my eyes. “But seriously. You’re everything to me, and for the rest of my life I want to be wrapped in your warm loving arms, because you’re my person.

For all our crazy adventures… you taking me on sets to my favorite shows—which he can’t get enough of, by the way.

” I look to the crowd, then back into his big green eyes.

“Sharing every moment with you makes time go by too fast. And that’s how I know I love you, Silver, and I always will. ”