“I do care for him. I more than care for him. He’s all I think about, but I just want to be fair to him. Things have been such a mess for me lately, and the last thing I want is to drag him down with me.”

  “I wouldn’t venture to speak for him, but if I had to guess, he’d much rather be dragged down with you than be without you.”

  He hands me an envelope.

  “What’s this?”

  “An invitation to my wedding. Sofia and I are getting married on Sunday at our house. We’d love it if you could join us.”

  “Does Milo know you’re inviting me?”

  He shakes his head. “It’s completely up to you, but I have absolutely no doubt that he’d be very, very glad to see you.”

  “Thank you for the invite. I’ll think about it.”

  “Okay.” Nico starts to walk toward the door, but then stops and turns to me again. “The thing is, Gianna, I don’t think I can be truly happy if he’s hurting the way he has since things fell apart with you. If there’s any chance you might feel the same way he does, then maybe you guys could figure shit out together rather than trying to go it alone?” He shakes his head, seeming to regret the outburst. “Sorry. I promised myself I wouldn’t put any pressure on you. I just wanted to invite you to the wedding.”

  “Thank you for coming, Nico. It means a lot. Milo is lucky to have you as his big brother.”

  “I’m the lucky one to have him. It’s always been that way. Anyone would be lucky to have him. He’s the best person I know. And now I’m pressuring you again.”

  I laugh even as I wipe away a stray tear. “It’s fine. You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.”

  He surprises me with a kiss to the cheek. “I really hope you can make it to the wedding. The whole family would be thrilled to see you. Take care, Gianna.”

  After he leaves, I open the envelope to read the invitation:

  Together with their families and son Mateo,

  * * *

  Nico Giordino & Sofia Diaz

  * * *

  request the honor of your presence at their wedding

  * * *

  April 23, 6 p.m., at the home of

  * * *

  Nico, Sofia, Mateo and Milo

  * * *

  Reception to follow.

  When I think of seeing Milo as soon as Sunday, my heart feels lighter than it has in weeks. In the kitchen, I reread the cards he’s sent me for the hundredth time each. Some of them are funny, others sweet, a few as romantic as it gets. All of them bear the same message from him: I love you and miss you.

  I’ve taken this time to think about what I want, and I keep coming back to him. Am I ready for what he might be to me? Maybe not. Do I care about that anymore? Not one bit. I love and miss him, too. Being without him has been a hell of my own making, and it’s time to make things right. If Nico is to be believed, Milo will be happy to see me.

  I hope that’s still true.

  After a shower, I get dressed and run downstairs to grab my keys as I rush out the door. I need to find a showstopper of a dress to wear to a wedding.

  * * *

  MILO

  Nico is getting married. Today. It’s hard to believe we’re at the point where we’re old enough for such things, but after today, two of us will be married, one engaged and then there’s me… The sad sack of the bunch, pining for a woman who may or may not feel the same way about me. Who knows what she’s thinking? Not me. That’s for sure. I have no idea what’s going on with her.

  Other than a few brief texts to thank me for the cards and flowers, I haven’t heard a word from her, and I’m done reaching out. For now, anyway. A guy can only stand so much rejection before it starts to become a self-inflicted wound.

  Nico comes to the doorway of my room, dressed in the sharp navy suit we picked out last weekend. “Do I look all right?”

  “You look great.”

  “So do you.”

  I’m wearing a gray suit I bought to wear in a high school friend’s wedding last year. It’s a little loose on me thanks to the weight I lost after the shooting, but it’ll work.

  Nico straightens my tie, which doesn’t need straightening. “I just want you to know… That if the worst had happened, I might’ve gotten married someday, but I wouldn’t have had anyone else as my best man.”

  “The worst didn’t happen, and I’m right here.”

  “Thank God for that,” he says as he hugs me. “Losing you would’ve ruined my life.”

  “You would’ve gotten over it eventually.”

  “Never.”

  “Well, thankfully we don’t have to think about that or any of the other crap. Only good things for you and Sofia and Mateo. That’s what we’re about today.”

  Nico nods. “Yeah, for sure.”

  “You ready?”

  “Sure am. I can’t wait to be married to Sofia and to adopt Mateo and to have it all. My only hope beyond that is for you to get everything you want and deserve, too.”

  “Today’s your day. We’ll worry about me another time. Let’s get downstairs so we don’t get accused of being late for a very important date.”

  As we’re going down the stairs, Sofia’s father, Jon, is coming up.

  He and Nico embrace.

  “Thanks so much for being here,” Nico says gruffly. “It means everything to Sofia.”

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

  He only recently learned that Sofia existed and opened his heart, home and family to her.

  “We’ll see you down there,” Nico says.

  “We’ll be right along.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  We land in the living room, where everyone we know is waiting to hug Nico, to say congratulations and wish him well.

  Abuela reaches up to put her hands on his cheeks. “Todo lo mejor de todo, mi amor.”

  All the best of everything, my love.

  Her fiancé, Alfredo, hugs Nico next and whispers something to him that has Nico fighting tears. It’s going to be that kind of day.

  Nona is next to hug Nico. “I can’t believe my little Button is getting married.”

  Nico rolls his eyes at me as she squeezes him.

  “If the name fits,” I say, earning a scowl from the groom.

  Nona’s gentleman friend, Chris, shakes hands with Nico and wishes him well.

  Mom comes in from the pool deck. “There you are. Come on, boys. It’s time to take your places.”

  “Where’s Mateo?” Nico asks.

  “Already where he belongs, unlike you two.”

  Grinning at me, Nico follows Mom outside, where another bunch of family waits to greet him. Carmen is seated under an awning, but she waves to us as we come out.

  Nico blows her a kiss and hugs Aunt Viv and Uncle Vincent.

  Dad is waiting for us in the front row of chairs on the deck facing an arch that Sofia, her stepmother, half sisters, Maria and Dee adorned with tropical flowers yesterday. I can’t believe what they managed to put together in three weeks’ time.

  I return the embrace from my dad, who’s an emotional mess as he hugs Nico. “My little boy is getting married.”

  “I’m a grown man, Dad,” Nico says with his usual disdain for all things sappy.

  “And you’ll always be my little boy.”

  Mateo comes over to Nico, and he picks him up to hug him.

  “I didn’t get any dirt on my suit,” he tells Nico.

  “That’s my boy.”

  “Where’s Mama?”

  “She’ll be here soon.”

  Mom, the drill sergeant who’s put herself in charge of the festivities, calls everyone out and asks them to find a seat.

  I feel like I must be seeing things when Gianna steps onto the pool deck wearing a stunning red dress that looks like it was painted onto her tempting curves.

  “What…” I tear my gaze off her to glance at Nico. “Why is she here?”

  “You should know the answer to that question.”

  “But how did she know?”

  “I invited her.”

  I can’t believe he did that for me. I’m overcome with so many emotions after seeing her and knowing my brother made it happen. “Nico…”

  “Hold it together for a few more minutes, and then you can go get your girl, okay?”

  “Yeah. I got you, bro. No worries.”

  “You got the rings, right?”

  “Oh shit. That was my job?”

  “Seriously?”

  I grin at him. “Nah. I got ’em.”

  “Dick.”

  As I lose it laughing, it’s such a relief to have the old Nico back. But it’s an even bigger relief to have Gianna back. I can’t wait to get this ceremony over with so I can be with her.

  * * *

  SOFIA

  I’ve never been more excited in my life than I am to marry Nico. Having Mateo was thrilling, but I was already having so many issues with his father that it took some of the joy out of his arrival. There’s nothing but joy today. I hug my dear friend Gladys, who was so there for me and Mateo after I left Joaquín.

  “Happiness always,” she whispers to me before she goes downstairs, leaving me alone with the father I’d longed for all my life.

  “You’re beautiful, honey,” Jon says. “I see my mother in you.”

  “Do you? I love knowing that.”

  “She would’ve adored you. I’m sorry you never got to meet her and that I’ve missed all the big things with you.”

  “Not all of them,” I remind him. “This is the biggest day of my life, tied with the day Mateo was born.”

  He kisses my cheek. “I’ll be here for everything from now on. I promise.”

  I made the decision not to invite my mother, who’s been nothing but a source of stress and despair for me. Now that I have Jon and his family as well as Nico and his family, I have what I need. Being surrounded by positive, loving, supportive, optimistic people has made such a difference for me and Mateo.

  As I curl my hand through the crook of the arm Jon offers me, I’m at peace in a way I haven’t been since Milo was shot by my ex-husband. If Nico and I got through that, we can get through anything.

  My father escorts me down the stairs. The French doors to the pool deck are open, and the lights Nico strung over the outdoor space are lit as the sun dips toward the palm trees. We’ve scored a perfect warm night, with no humidity, which is a rare thing in South Florida.

  “Are you ready, sweetheart?” Elena asks when she greets us at the door.

  “So ready.”

  “You look stunning.” She kisses my cheek. “We love you and your sweet boy.”

  She’ll never know what that means to me. “We love you, too.”

  At her signal, “The Dance” by Garth Brooks begins to play. Nico and I chose that song because it reminds us of how lucky we are to have found each other in this crazy world. Hearing it now reduces me to tears. I’m thankful I thought to buy waterproof mascara, especially when I see him and Mateo holding hands as they wait for me to join them.

  Nico is so sexy in the suit he picked out for the wedding, and I can tell he’s as emotional as I am, watching me come toward him on the arm of my father.

  “Who gives this woman to be married?” the officiant asks. He’s a friend of the family’s and a frequent guest at the restaurant.

  “I do,” Jon says as he kisses me, whispers that he loves me and joins my hand with Nico’s before stepping back to sit with his wife and the rest of his family.

  “You’re beautiful,” Nico says.

  “So are you.”

  I hand my bouquet to Maria. She and Dee are my attendants.

  Nico and I gaze at each other and recite the vows the officiant leads us through. He asked if we wanted to say our own vows, but I was afraid I’d be so nervous that I’d forget all the English I’ve learned at the worst possible moment. Nico and I agreed that we’d do that part in private later.

  As we recite our vows, the feeling is surreal. As Nico vows to love, honor and cherish me, I believe him, because he’s already shown me all that and so much more—more than I ever dreamed possible.

  Milo hands him the rings we chose.

  Nico slides mine on my finger, staring steadily into my eyes the whole time, almost as if he wants there to be no doubt that he’s exactly where he wants to be and I’m who he wants to be with.

  I don’t have a doubt in my mind as I put his ring on his finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

  “By the power vested in me by the State of Florida, I pronounce you husband and wife. Nico, you may kiss your bride.”

  “Ew,” Mateo says, making everyone laugh, including us, as Nico kisses me.

  “Let’s hear it for Nico and Sofia Giordino and their son, Mateo!”

  Everyone is clapping and crying and whistling and celebrating our marriage. After the disaster with Joaquín, I swore I’d never get married again. I didn’t want to be legally bound to a man who could control me. But then along came Nico with his beautiful family, and now I couldn’t be happier to be married to him and expecting our child. I’m confident this marriage will be nothing like the first one.

  This one is forever.

  * * *

  GIANNA

  Watching Nico and Sofia exchange vows has made me an emotional wreck as I wait impatiently for the chance to talk to Milo, to be with Milo. During the ceremony, he didn’t look away from me, except to hand the rings to Nico. Then he found me again and impaled me with his intense gaze. Every part of me wants him in a way I’ve never wanted any other man, even the one I was supposed to marry.

  Especially him.

  In the last few weeks, I’ve come around to the fact that I may never fully understand how I got so far down the road with a man who was utterly wrong for me. The one thing I do understand is that I love Milo and being without him has made me miserable. Maybe it’s too soon after Jared, but I don’t care about that or anything other than making things right with Milo.

  He’s the one I want, and judging by the way he’s looking at me, he feels the same way.

  God, I hope so.

  I was so afraid I’d ruined everything until I started getting the cards and flowers from him, letting me know that he respected my request for space, but he still cared as much as always.

  I’ve begun to believe that will never change.

  He has a sister on each arm as he comes toward me. “All right, ladies, that’s the end of the road. I’ve got important business to see to.”

  Both his sisters kiss his cheeks and tell him they love him.

  “Love you, too. Now go away.”

  I giggle at the sibling banter that’s so entertaining to me.

  Milo steps up to me. “Fancy meeting you here.”

  “I was invited.”

  “So I heard about fifteen minutes ago.”

  “I hope it’s okay that I came.”

  His entire expression goes soft with love as he takes me into his arms. “It’s so okay, it’s not even funny.”

  I cling to him, breathing in the scent that became so familiar during our time on the cruise, and release all the anxiety and fear that’ve gripped me since the last time I saw him. “I’m sorry. I screwed this up so badly.”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  “I did, and you have to let me apologize.”

  “No apology needed. The only thing that matters is that you’re here now, and you’re back to stay.” He pulls back and looks down at me, heart in his gorgeous eyes. “You are here to stay, right?”

  “For as long as you’ll have me.”

  “That’s going to be a really, really long time.”

  I shrug. “So be it. You’re stuck with me.”

  “I’ve never been happier in my entire life than I am to have forever to spend with you.”

  And just that simply, everything falls into place, and I’m certain I’m right where I belong.

  Chapter 25

  MILO

  I’ll never forget Nico’s wedding day. Not only did his life with Sofia begin, but mine with Gianna did, too. We dance to every slow song like we’re the newlyweds.

  “This dress, though,” I whisper to her as we sway to “Hold My Hand” by Lady Gaga. “Was it intended to stop my heart?”

  “Absolutely not! I need your heart beating for many decades to come.”

  “Well, you almost succeeded in sending me to an early grave.”

  “It’s too soon after the shooting for comments about you and graves.”

  “Sorry, love.”

  “Don’t let it happen again.”

  My mother approaches us, beaming with pleasure to see us back together. She greets Gianna with a huge hug. “So good to see you, sweetheart.”

  “You, too, Elena.”

  “Are you ready to do your toast?” she asks me.

  “Yep.” I take Gianna’s hand to keep her with me as I accept the microphone from my mother.

  “Keep it clean,” Mom says.

  “What fun would that be?” Before she has a chance to reply, I whistle into the microphone to get the attention of the guests. “As Nico’s younger brother and best man, I have a few things to say.”

  “Mom, take that microphone away from him,” Nico says. “No one wants to hear this.”

  “I do,” Sofia says, earning a playful glare from her husband.

  The “head table” is made up of Sofia, Nico and Mateo.

  Mateo moves to sit on Nico’s lap.

  “This is the part where Milo gets to make fun of me,” Nico tells him.

  “Go, Milo,” Mateo says with a fist pump.

  Nico tickles him until he’s laughing so hard, he can’t breathe.

  “Nico was six when I was born, following our two sisters, who were, according to Nico, of absolutely no use to him.”

  Maria and Dee crack up.