29. Olivia
OLIVIA
A BUNCH OF PARTY ANIMALS!
“And now announcing the happy couple!”
As Amanda gave our cue, I tugged on Keith’s hand so he knew it was time for us to make our grand entrance into the massive reception pavilions that were set up behind the yard.
We rounded the fence to face all hundred guests standing and clapping, some even (of course) wolf-whistling.
Despite my fears about those who were against a human marrying into the pack, I didn’t see a single grimace or negative expression. For once, the entire Rizoli pack was fully unified. That hadn’t happened since we’d last cheered for our team in the World Cup. Which was about twenty or so years ago.
“There they are, Mr. and Mrs. Insrym-Rizoli,” Amanda continued from where she was standing at the bridal party table. “A love story two years in the making but many more years before they get to their epilogue!”
I beamed, knowing my cheeks were bright pink but not giving a damn as Keith and I walked along, waving at everyone. The mood was immaculate, and I was going to let it soak into me like I was the world’s thirstiest sponge.
And part of that reason was probably because we’d had an entire course of appetizers and refreshments out for our guests while we did our wedding photos.
Although I hadn’t been to many weddings outside of my family’s, I’d attended enough to know that a long wait between ceremony and reception made people famished and cranky, which wasn’t really conducive to having a good party.
And boy, was I ready to party!
And eat. Considering I’d only choked down a tiny bit of breakfast nearly twelve hours earlier, I was starving.
And judging by the faint whiny, crackling sound I could hear coming from my husband’s middle, Keith was jonesing for some food too.
Not that it was entirely shocking to me.
In the last few months, he’d really picked up in his weight training and had put on enough new muscle on his already considerable bulk that we needed to get his suit custom-made.
I didn’t mind, of course. We had the budget, and I would happily pay a little extra to have more of my man to hold. Plus, the added weight when he was pressing my face into the mattress sure was nice too.
Honeymoon thoughts later! You have way too many relatives around who can scent you to be any type of horny!
Then again, it was my own damn wedding. If the shifter couldn’t be hot to trot for her brand new spouse, when could she be?
Yeah! What do they expect?
As if reading my mind, before Keith and I could even reach our seats at the head table under the main pavilion, at least half a dozen people all began clinking their glasses with forks.
Keith cocked his head to the side, his expression confused, and I realized he might not be familiar with the tradition.
It was one of many small surprises that came from blending two different cultures, and I was filled with warmth at the thought of how many other fun instances we’d have to share throughout our lifetimes.
“It means we kiss,” I said. He looked absolutely delighted at the news. We did indeed stop our procession to our table to smooch, and even though there was no dip this time, it was still almost as magical as the first one we shared as husband and wife.
Part of me still couldn’t believe that he had done that so smoothly.
We hadn’t rehearsed it, yet it was really the perfect punctuation to what might be the least drama-filled wedding in all of Rizoli pack history.
Sure, we all loved love, but we were Italian and loved spectacle just as much.
So no one was exactly surprised when Roma’s ex-boyfriend from college crashed the wedding and tried to object, or at Serafina’s when thunder and lightning had cracked overhead in a freak hurricane that caused their officiant to speed run through the outdoor ceremony, or even in Nonna Bianchi’s clandestine nuptials that were interrupted by a troop of elite Einsatzgruppen trying to get the drop on her resistance cell.
It was tradition, but one I was happy to eschew.
“Also, please note, we are going to put a limit on the glass clinking to once every five minutes and only at the beginning of toasts, not during them, and not during dinner so our happy couple can eat,” Amanda said brightly.
“I may be new to the ins and outs of shifter biology, but I’m pretty sure all of you know that you don’t want a hungry bride at her own reception. ”
There were murmurs of agreement all around.
I loved Amanda for thinking of those stipulations.
I hadn’t thought we needed them, as people mostly moderated themselves during Leandro and Roma’s nuptials, but now that I thought about it, they had really gone crazy during Serafina’s.
The only reason my sister even got a chance to eat was because the insane thunderstorm outside of the main house had covered up the sound of any forks tinking against the side of a glass.
Once we made it to the table, Keith pulled out my chair even though I didn’t need him to, considering I’d changed into my more manageable reception dress. Two plates were put in front of us and our glasses were filled to the brim with ice-cold water.
Hell to the yeah was the first thought that came to mind before I gulped it down.
Although Amanda had gone through several “training” sessions with me in a mock dress on how to use the bathroom without making a mess of myself or others, I still had refrained from drinking much because I didn’t want to have to contend with a full bladder while I was trying to remember my vows and not be a sobbing mess.
It had worked a treat, but now that the adrenaline had died down, I realized how thirsty I was.
If anyone had thoughts about the two of us chugging our water, they didn’t say anything.
Our glasses were refilled as soon as they were empty and then two flutes of champagne and two wine glasses were added as well.
I had to glance up at the alcohol, and Uncle Luigi, who was pouring, gave me a wink.
“Don’t worry, this isn’t the strong stuff.”
That was a relief. Although I wanted to cut loose and party, I didn’t think Keith or I wanted to get sloshed on our special day.
“Thank you,” I murmured. He leaned down and kissed my cheek, then gave Keith a hearty pat on his back before hurrying off. No doubt to fill his wife’s wineglass. In all the years that I had been old enough to notice, I’d never once seen her have to pour her own drink.
Then, finally, came my first bite of food.
I was ravenous. No one was shocked about this, let alone me, but I was pleased that nobody bothered either of us while we worked through half of our plates.
My family had a lot of sensibilities about food.
I distinctly remembered Riccardo’s wife having to firmly tell some of the pack that she could listen to them talk but she needed to put food in her mouth or she was going to pass out.
We’d come a long way, and I didn’t think all of it was me.
My pack wasn’t perfect. I would never argue that we were.
But all around me was evidence that we were learning and growing every day.
We still made mistakes, still accidentally trampled on other people’s feelings, were occasionally rude, and some of us did stupid things that got others hurt.
But on the whole, we were all trying to be the best we could be.
It was the type of pack I was proud to bring Keith and his mother into.
Amanda, too. While she hadn’t been officially adopted, I’d already seen several of my younger male family members eyeing her with interest. If any of them did end up going for her, I’d bring the roof down around their heads if they ever made her cry.
However, it was our wedding reception; I didn’t expect people to leave us entirely alone. So when my father stood and cleared his throat, I paused in my eating to meet his gaze.
It was funny how one moment, I was a grown woman marrying the love of my life and preparing for the rest of our future together, and the next, a simple, teary-eyed look from my papa transported me right back to what it was like when I was a little girl.
I’d always been his principessa, but there were certain moments that stuck out throughout my life as particularly heady instances when it came to his pride in me.
The first time I made honor roll. My first prom.
My very first shift into a wolf. Graduating high school.
Getting into a good college, then graduating from there too.
I remembered each one of those moments like a film reel, his eyes wet, his scent full of love, joy, and the distinct scent of an alpha’s pride. They lived in my head rent-free, and now I could add him giving the first toast at my wedding to the list of memories I would cherish forever.
“My pack, mi famiglia, today is the day that my littlest girl, our youngest daughter, truly becomes a grown woman with her own life and family. From the moment that you were born, we knew you were special, oh so special, and sometimes, it broke my heart that you didn’t see it.
“But now, when I look into those eyes of yours, the ones that look so much like your mother’s, I can tell that you finally see everything I wished you would, and I know I have this man to thank for it.” My father reached out with his arm, pointing his wineglass at Keith.
“You may be a human, but you are more wolf than many I know. Never have I seen a young man love so fiercely, so unabashedly, so bravely. If anyone could match my Olivia, she has found him.
“So here, before I regret being so soft, let us raise our glasses to the happy couple! If they are a reflection of our future, then our future is certainly bright! Saluti!”
“Saluti!”
And I was crying again.
Par for the course, I supposed.