“I want this one. I feel… like a princess. Connor is going to die.”
“Connor. Who the hell is Connor?” Matteo stood up, frowning at his sister.
“Didn’t Cait tell you? I have a date.”
I jumped up, lacing my arm through Matteo’s.
“Isn’t that nice, Matt. She has a date.” I dug my nails into his arm, and he stuttered, “Nice, yeah, real nice.”
Bella snorted. “I already cleared it with Daddy, so you don’t get to sabotage this for me.” She stormed off toward the stall.
“A date?” He whirled on me.
“It’s junior prom. Of course she has a date.”
“Over my dead body.”
“Maybe we can find a compromise.” I pushed my body into his, running my hands up his chest.
“A compromise, you say. I’m listening.”
“I’ll go buy a set of that lingerie I caught you eyeing earlier, if you promise to play it cool about her date.”
“The black and gold set with the suspender belt?” he whispered, eyes hooded with desire.
“And the crotchless panties.”
“Fuck, Cait,” he groaned, running a hand down his face. “You’re killing me here.”
“Do we have a deal?” I cocked my brow, waiting.
“Get it in the pink as well and I think we can come to an arrangement.”
I smirked. “Men. So predictable.”
He leaned in, brushing his lips along the shell of my ear. “You won’t be saying that when you’re bent over the back of the couch with my mouth on your pussy.”
“Matt,” I breathed, shivers skittering down my spine.
He stepped back, winking. “Don’t start games you can’t finish, Tink.”
Bastard.
Bella appeared a second later, glancing between the two of us. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked me. “Why are you all flushed like that?”
“Me? I’m fine.”
Matteo caught my eye over her shoulder and shook his head with silent laughter.
“Your dress is beautiful,” I tried to change the subject, ignoring the ache deep inside me.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“It’s hot,” I said. “Don’t you think it’s hot in here?”
“I’m okay. Maybe you’re coming down with something?”
“Maybe.” I gave her a tight smile before suggesting we look for accessories. Bella was all too happy making a beeline for the rows and rows of purses.
“You okay there, Tink?” It was Matteo’s turn to smirk.
“I’m fine,” I said indignantly, brushing past him.
“We could always sneak off to a stall and I’ll help you with your little problem.”
“You’re a bad, bad man, Matteo Bellatoni.” Heat burned my cheeks, and he chuckled.
“Only for you, Tink. Only ever for you.”
After torturing Matteo with another couple hours of accessory shopping, we gave Bella a ride home and returned to our apartment to get ready for dinner with Arianne and Nicco, and Nora and Enzo.
We tried to get together as a group at least once a week. It wasn’t always easy, but family was important to all of them, and we tried our best to make it work.
“Wow, this place is—”
“Very exclusive.” Matteo kissed my cheek, his hand pressed to the small of my back as he guided me to the front of the opulent looking building. He threw his truck keys to the valet and jabbed a finger in the young man’s direction. “Look after her like she’s your own.”
“Y-yes, Mr. Bellatoni.”
“Seriously, for a truck?” I rolled my eyes.
“She’s not just any truck.” He leaned closer. “If you play your cards right, she’s the truck you might get lucky in on the drive home.”
“Do you ever stop?” My lips curved.
“Never.”
“Good evening,” the maître d’ greeted us.
“Hello, we’re joining Mr. Marchetti,” Matteo said.
“Ah yes, they are already at your table. This way please.”
The restaurant was beautiful. It had a curved window with panoramic views of the river. Everything was gold and black, giving the whole place an elegant feel. And everyone was dressed to the nines, Verona’s elite socializing.
It was world’s away from anything I’d ever experienced, but I loved it.
“Caitlin.” Arianne stood to greet us, pulling me in for a hug. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you, so do you.”
“Cait.” Nicco kissed my cheek.
“This place is amazing.”
“Isn’t it?” Arianne patted the seat beside her. “We don’t come here often. Nicco doesn’t like all the fuss. But since we’re celebrating, I persuaded him.”
“Celebrating?” Matteo said. “Nicco didn’t mention we were celebrating.” He sat on my other side, resting his hand on my knee. I loved that he always insisted on having some part of him touching some part of me.
“So… what are we celebrating?” Matteo prompted, but Arianne glanced over his shoulder.
“Oh look, here’s Enzo and Nora.”
The two of them joined us and we all did another round of hugs and compliments.
Nora picked up her menu and let out a low whistle. “I hope you brought your wallet, babe.”
“Nicco invited us,” Enzo grumbled. “I figured he’d pick up the tab.”
“Classy, E, really classy.” Matteo snorted, taking a long pull of his beer.
I was used to being with them in public by now. The constant stares and whispers. Matteo and his cousins were well-known around Verona County. Even more so since Antonio had stepped down.
He had made a surprising recovery and finally been released from hospital a couple of weeks ago. But health complications had deemed him unfit to continue his duties, so he’d officially handed Nicco full responsibility.
Matteo didn’t go into much detail about it all, and I knew there would always be things he couldn’t tell me, but I didn’t resent him for it.
I loved and trusted him implicitly. His family were nothing like the monsters of my past. A past I rarely gave a second thought to now my life was full of people who genuinely cared.
“How is the job?” Nora asked me.
“It’s great. The kids are just the sweetest, and Debra, the dance teacher, is talking about handing me more responsibility soon.”
“That’s amazing. I keep thinking that maybe college isn’t for me, you know? I’m restless.”
“E not keeping you satisfied, Nor?” Matteo chuckled, and Enzo flipped him off.
“Says the guy who didn’t use his dick for eight months after he got ghosted by Caitlin.”
“What?” I gawked at Matt, certain Enzo was busting his balls.
“It wasn’t that bad, but it’s absolutely not something we’re discussing right now at dinner.”
I smothered the laughter bubbling in my chest.
“Anyway, what’s going on with you two?” Matteo changed the subject. “You said we’re celebrating?”