Chapter 2 Tilly
TILLY
Betty’s taken the kids for the night. She said I needed a girls’ night out before the big day. I told her I didn’t want to go out, and I’d rather be home with Brax and Tate than anywhere else in the world.
She wouldn’t hear it.
“Trust me, sweetheart. You’ll thank me someday,” she said when she picked them up. “Your cousins will be here soon to get you.”
Cousins? No one said anything about meeting the cousins tonight. I figured I’d hang out with Daphne, Bianca, and Delilah for the night, drinking a few martinis and laughing about our crazy men.
Clearly, they had other plans and didn’t bother to share them with me.
I knew the guys were all together, and I should’ve known the women would be too. I begged them not to make a big deal out of tonight. It is my second marriage, after all, and I’m not a young kid, looking to party and get drunk, having my final night of freedom.
I’d been alone long enough.
I’m getting married tomorrow.
I repeat the words over and over in my head as I change my clothes, fix my makeup, and pull my hair into a tight ponytail.
The entire thing still feels surreal. I never thought I’d walk down the aisle again.
Figured I’d be alone forever because moving on was too painful and the memory of Mitchell haunted me sometimes too.
But then Angelo happened.
That man, with his fine ass, sweet lips, and rough hands, swept me off my feet, not giving me a chance to catch my breath.
The kids just sealed the deal. Especially Tate.
That little girl had me wrapped around her finger from the moment I met her.
She knew it too, using my feelings for her to her advantage, but I didn’t mind.
The door opens downstairs as I smooth out the top of my hair, and my fingers begin to tremble, almost ruining my updo. I push away the panic and take a deep breath, looking at myself in the mirror one last time.
“You can do this,” I tell myself, like I need a pep talk to be around people.
I’ve always been a people person, but there’s something so intimidating about the fact that I’m meeting his family. My family.
Holy shit.
Not only am I marrying a man, but his entire, huge-ass Italian family comes as part of the package. The thought is overwhelming after being along for so very long.
“Tilly! Where the hell are you, girl?” Daphne yells up the stairway as I’m still trying to pull on my strappy sandals, but they’re not cooperating.
“Coming!” I yell back, hopping on one foot, trying like hell not to fall over. I catch myself on the edge of the bed and sit quickly, somehow getting my sandals on with my shaking fingers.
I take a deep breath as I climb to my feet and go to the full-length mirror near the closet. I look good. No, I look damn good. I only wish Angelo could see me looking this fabulous, rocking my sexy outfit and with my hair up the way he likes it.
“It’ll be okay,” I say to my reflection before I take off toward the hallway. As I make my way downstairs, I see them all gathered in the foyer, talking and laughing, but they’re not looking at me.
“There she is,” Daphne says, meeting my eyes and waving her hand in my direction.
Everyone turns to look at me, and I feel the flush across my face. “Hi,” I squeak, unable to play it cool.
Shit.
They’re all beautiful. I should’ve known. They are Gallos, after all. Or at least married to one. I don’t mean cute or a little pretty but drop-dead gorgeous.
“This is Mia, Max, Izzy, Race, Angel, and Suzy,” Daphne rattles off, pointing to each one as she says their name.
I wave, not bothering to talk because I don’t want to sound like a tween girl.
Daphne grabs my hand as soon as I’m close enough and pulls me to her. “Isn’t she perfect?”
I don’t know what to do or how to act as they all just stare at me. This must be what it’s like to be a zoo animal. “Oh, stop,” I say with a hint of laughter.
“I can see why Angelo’s head over heels for you,” a woman says, pushing her dark hair off her shoulders. “You have the sweet, innocent thing nailed like our Suzy.” She turns to the blond woman standing behind her. “Isn’t that right, Sunshine?”
“Izzy, you know I’m not innocent, and I’m sure as hell not sweet anymore.”
Okay. So, the sassy one is Izzy. Angelo clued me in about his little cousin and how she’s a spitfire and one hundred percent trouble. He said she was like Daphne, but scarier, and doesn’t put up with anyone’s shit.
Then there’s Suzy, who Izzy calls Sunshine. She does look sweet and innocent, but I know she’s married to Angelo’s cousin Joe, and I’ve been told he’s pretty badass, covered in tattoos, and drives a Harley.
Izzy laughs loudly. “You’re a complete whore, but I remember when you weren’t so easy.”
“Oh, shut up. I’m not easy,” Suzy snaps back.
“Did you or did you not sleep with my brother the night you met him?” Izzy stares at Suzy with a small smirk playing on her lips.
I widen my eyes. I don’t know if I should take cover or stay still because I’m pretty sure there’s about to be fireworks.
“He was just so damn hot on that bike, and I was drunk—”
“You were as sober as they come,” Izzy interrupts. “Don’t lie.”
Suzy pulls her white cardigan tighter around her body and squares her shoulders. “Um, if I remember right, you slept with James the night you met him too.”
“I was drunk.” Izzy waves her off.
“Pot meet kettle,” a woman with long wavy hair and olive skin says, pushing them both aside. “I’m Mia, Mike’s wife.”
Mike is the championship fighter. I’ve seen pictures of him, and he’s enormous but has the kindest smile.
“Oh, sweet Jesus. I’m not defining myself by a man, even my man. I’m Max,” the woman at her side says.
“It’s lovely to meet you,” I say, trying not to run upstairs and barricade myself in our room.
“Anthony’s wife,” Daphne whispers in my ear, which earns her an eyebrow raise from Max because she wasn’t super quiet about it.
This is so overwhelming. More than I thought it would be. I know I should be a little more outgoing. Hell, they aren’t holding back. But I can’t seem to stop myself from digging my fingernails into my palm to settle my ass down.
“Shall we go?” Daphne asks, ticking her head toward the door. “The limo is waiting.”
“Limo?” My mouth falls open because I’ve never been in a limo.
I suddenly feel lame because I’m the only one in the room that seems even remotely excited about this.
Daphne nods. “Well, yeah. We’re getting shit-faced, and we needed a designated driver. None of these bitches was going to stay sober.” She pitches her finger over her shoulder toward everyone. “So, we have a driver and a city waiting for us.”
“Nothing too crazy, right?” I raise an eyebrow at my soon-to-be sister-in-law because I know how she is.
“Of course,” she scoffs like it’s absolutely absurd of me to think she had something risqué planned.
“There better be at least a naked chest somewhere,” the redhead says, blushing a little bit when Suzy smacks her arm.
“Tonight’s like Vegas. What happens tonight stays between us. Got me?” Daphne narrows her eyes as she looks around at her cousins. “I mean it. No pictures. No videos. No memories. No evidence.”
“I like the way you think.” Izzy smirks.
Suzy rolls her eyes, but the rest of the group is nodding along. I know we’re in trouble. The night isn’t going to be a girls’ night at the spa or sipping wine at some dark, cozy bar.
Nope.
“Where are we going?” I ask as I pull the front door closed, making sure it’s locked before following behind them toward the waiting limo.
“First stop is Gavin’s for some martinis, then we have tickets to a show,” Daphne says over her shoulder.
“What kind of show?” My stomach flips a little because Daphne’s looking at me in such a way that I know she isn’t telling me everything.
“It’s like the ballet.”
“Like the ballet?” I ask flatly.
She nods quickly and hooks her arm with mine, leading me toward the sleek black limo. “There’re men dancing.”
I stop walking. “I said no strippers.”
“You said no penis.” She giggles. “They’ll have on bottoms. Don’t worry so much.” She pulls on my arm, trying to get me to move, but I don’t.
“Daphne.” My voice is laced with agitation because she didn’t listen to me at all. I don’t know why I thought she would. Daphne always does what Daphne wants to do.
“We’ll take a vote over drinks, okay? Majority wins.”
I think about her words for a moment, wondering if I’m being overly sensitive. I don’t want to ruin the evening for everyone. They’ve come so far for my wedding, and the last thing I want to do is be the one to nix the entire evening. I am not Tilly the Party Pooper. I never wanted to be that girl.
“When did you become such a prude?” she asks, knowing full well I’m not.
“I’m not a prude,” I huff out, completely annoyed.
She tilts her head, smirking at me. “So totally are. It’s not like they’re going to be waving their dicks in your face. It’s just some naked chest, for shit’s sake.”
Part of me knows she’s right. The club is public, so it’s not like anything salacious will happen, but there’s still a part of me that’s completely uncomfortable with seeing another man half undressed and him throwing his junk in my face.
“Does your brother know?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Of course,” she says, but her eyes don’t meet mine.
I cross my arms over my chest as the girls inside the limo gawk at us. “He does?”
“Yes. He wasn’t exactly thrilled about the idea, but I promised him nothing over the top would happen.”
“No lap dances,” I tell her, narrowing my eyes.
She practically breaks out into a happy dance at my words. “Deal,” she squeals before turning to the girls and raising her arms in triumph. “Drinks and dicks, bitches.”
An hour later and two martinis down, my head’s already buzzing from the alcohol. The last thing I want to do tonight is get drunk. I don’t want to walk down the aisle with a hangover, barely able to focus on the man waiting at the altar for me.
“Another?” Max asks, tipping her head toward my empty glass.