Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65112 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65112 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
He rolls his eyes and squeezes my hand gently.
Matteo clears his throat.
“I hate to interrupt, but I do have a ceremony to perform.”
Gia laughs behind me. Nico mutters something that sounds like “God help us,” and Vinnie grabs at Sebastian’s boutonniere.
The ceremony is short because I insisted on that and because Matteo knows better than to test me on my wedding day. He says a few words about family, loyalty, partnership, and love. They’re surprisingly thoughtful, which I will not tell him because he already thinks highly enough of himself.
When it’s time for vows, Sebastian goes first. He keeps one hand in mine and the other on our son’s back because our son has decided the ceremony is the perfect time for a nap. His voice is steady, but I see the emotion in his face. I know where to look now.
“I promised you once that if you said no, I wouldn’t punish you for it,” he says. “I meant that. I still mean it. So today, I’m not promising to protect you like you’re something I own. I’m promising to stand beside you because you choose me. I’m promising to listen when you tell me I’m wrong, even when I hate it. I’m promising to love you, to love our son, and to keep building a life where you feel safe because you are safe, not because I decided it for you.”
Gia makes a sound behind me that suggests she has lost the makeup battle completely.
When it’s my turn, I take a breath and hold his hand a little tighter.
“I used to think safe meant alone,” I say. “Just me, my work, my house, no room for anyone else. Then you came along, and I knew I’d never want to be alone again.”
Sebastian’s thumb moves over mine.
“I promise to choose you. Not because you made me safe. Not because Vinnie makes us a family. Because I love you, and because the life we built is what I want more than anything in this world.”
For a second, no one speaks.
Then our son lifts his head from Sebastian’s shoulder and says, very clearly, “Snack.”
Everyone laughs.
Matteo grins at him. “We’re almost done.”
He gets through the rest quickly after that. Rings, a few official words, one pointed look at Vinnie when he tries to eat Sebastian’s boutonniere again. Then Matteo smiles at us with a gleam in his eyes.
“You may kiss your bride,” he says.
Sebastian hands Vinnie to Nico, who takes him with far more emotion than he will ever admit to later. Then Sebastian turns back to me, both hands coming to my waist.
“May I kiss you, Mrs. DeLuca?”
“Is this a bad time to mention I’m not changing my name?”
He laughs as he leans down to kiss me. Gia cheers. Nico groans. Vinnie claps because everyone else is making noise and he hates being left out. The ocean crashes behind us, the sun sinks over the water, and Sebastian holds me like I’m the most important person in his whole world.
The End