CHAPTER 39 #3
“Number two.” I stuck out my index finger. “I’d like you to go to couples therapy before you tie the knot again. That is non-negotiable. For the sake of all our mental health, you need to sort your stuff out.”
“Gabriela…” he warned testily.
I stood my ground.
Mamma relented, placing a hand on her soon-to-be husband’s thigh. “It’s okay. We’ll go.”
“Excellent.” I beamed and unfolded my middle finger.
“Number three: Nonna and I are more than happy to be the bridesmaids at your wedding. However, Nonna says she refuses to wear bright yellow. According to photographic evidence from your first wedding, she says that the colour you picked for her dress made her resemble Big Bird from Sesame Street.”
Mamma gasped. “It was a beautiful shade!”
Nonna tsked. “I looked horrendous, Lucia. Absolutely not.”
“Fine.” Mamma sulked, then perked up, glancing at Papà with adoration. “Maybe the colour palette this time can be pastels.”
Papa kissed her cheek. “Whatever you want, principessa.”
I cleared my throat to gain their attention before they started embarrassing themselves further by accidentally making out on the sofa. “Last demand.” I gulped and Nonna patted my arm encouragingly. “I’d like a car.”
Papa shot a you’re-kidding-me look my way. “You want me to buy you a car when you don’t even drive, Gabriela? Get your license first, then we’ll revisit this idea.”
“I’m learning how to drive—no thanks to both of you. I signed up for classes and Hunter takes me out for practice too. I’ll have my license in the upcoming months if all goes well.”
Mamma and Nonna were happy to hear it, especially the part where Hunter was teaching me. “Enzo,” Mamma pleaded. “Please get it for her.”
He scrubbed a hand over his face, knowing there was no use in arguing.
“Please, Papà. I want something red. Oh, and with a drop top.” I glanced at my cat. “Luna and I really love fresh air. A convertible will suit us quite well. Right, baby?”
Luna meowed on cue.
“Seems you Bellafiore women exist solely to make demands out of me,” he grumbled. “All right. I’ll buy you a car. Is that all?”
I hid my smug smile at our successful negotiations. “Yes, that’s all. Ti voglio bene, Papà.”
Like the soft teddy bear that he was on the inside, he melted the second I told him I loved him. He was wrapped around my finger and I was going to have a brand-new car by the end of the month.
The familiar chime of the doorbell resonated through the house.
I instantly hopped off the armrest. “I’ll get it.”
Behind me, Nonna echoed again, “Remember what I said: best behaviour, everyone.”
Everything in my universe seemed to right itself when I unlocked the front door and saw Hunter standing there.
He was handsome as ever in a white button-down, charcoal pants, polished shoes, and a black wool coat tailored to his muscular frame.
His inky black hair was pulled back in a low bun.
Due to the heavy wind, a few strands that couldn’t be tamed tendrilled down the sides of his face artfully.
His blue gaze drank me in with a hungry, I-missed-you quality.
He held three red rose bouquets.
“Hi.” I gravitated towards him, opening my arms for a hug. “You made it.”
“Hi, baby.” He bent down to kiss my forehead, hugging me. “I did. Wouldn’t miss tonight for the world.”
“Are these for me?”
Hunter smiled and handed me a bouquet. “You know they are. For you, your mom, and your grandmother.”
My sweet principe. “If you keep buying me roses at this rate, I’ll have no more room left in my apartment.”
“That’s my plan.” He tucked a strand behind my ear. “Then you’ll have no choice but to spend all your time at mine.”
I blinked. “Luna and I already do.”
“Good.” He kissed me again and murmured cheekily, “Let’s keep it that way.”
I bit my bottom lip to tame my goofy smile, but it was no use. I loved him so much.
“Come in.” I tugged him inside. “They’re excited to see you.”
I towed us into the living room, announcing, “Hunter’s here.”
Mamma, Papà, and Nonna were already standing on their feet, anticipating us.
There was a beat where Hunter appeared anxious, but then he swallowed down his nerves and I watched him morph into his confidence, his broad shoulders straightening.
“Hello,” he said warmly.
Mamma was the first to step away from the rest. She hugged him. “Hi, Hunter. Welcome to our home.”
“Thank you for inviting me.” He handed her a bouquet. “These are for you.”
“Oh, my.” She hedged him a teasing expression. “Such a gentleman. Gabriela, does he do this often?”
I nodded proudly and hooked my arm with his, my fingers gripping his bicep. “Hunter brings me roses all the time.”
“How sweet of you,” Mamma said. “These are beautiful, Hunter. Thank you.”
Hunter’s cheeks pinkened. “My pleasure.”
Nonna approached Hunter with her cane, grinning. “And those must be for me. Unless you tell me they’re for Enzo, in which case I’ll be sorely disappointed.”
He grinned as well. “They are for you.”
She grabbed her bouquet and put her arms around Hunter, pecking his cheek. “It’s good to finally meet the man my granddaughter has been obsessing over.”
“Obsessing over, huh?” Hunter said, winking at me.
“Oh, yes,” Nonna returned in her typical boisterous fashion.
“She told me all about you during our last call.” She mimicked a phone’s cradle with her thumb and pinky finger, bringing it to her ear and mouth to imitate me.
“‘Nonna, he’s perfect and so handsome. Like a real-life Prince Charming. I really, really like him.’”
“Hey, I do not sound like that!” I inserted, chuckling.
Hunter chuckled too, pleased. I told him all the time how much I liked him, but hearing it from another important person in my life must fortify the fact.
I didn’t even mind being the butt of a small joke if it helped reassure him of my feelings.
“You do, Gabriela.” She nudged Hunter with her elbow. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this smitten before. It’s adorable. You clearly mean a lot to her.”
“For what it’s worth,” he rasped, “she means everything to me.”
My heart raced.
Nonna’s expression gentled. “Oh.”
Behind us, Mamma pretended to swoon and faint.
Papà cleared his throat and unbuttoned his suit jacket, pushing the lapels aside as he shoved his hands into his pockets. A power move to purposely expose the gun sitting at his waistband.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
“Sir.” Hunter redirected his attention towards him, extending a hand for a shake. “It’s nice to meet you again.”
Papà eyed Hunter’s hand with disdain, leaving it suspended in the air.
Hunter, thankfully, didn’t balk under his scrutiny, waiting for him to acknowledge it.
Papà assessed him the way he did every man in my life and without removing the scowl from his face, he reluctantly grabbed Hunter’s hand for a shake, making sure to squeeze extra hard.
My boyfriend didn’t flinch.
“It was nicer meeting you the first time,” Papà said with a shark grin. “When you were only my daughter’s friend.”
I glared at him.
“Enzo,” Nonna said through gritted teeth. “Stai zitto.”
Hunter didn’t take offense.
Before Papà could further instigate Hunter, Mamma’s falsely jovial voice interrupted in the background. “Dinner’s ready, everyone!”