position. Still, Tess was usually tough as rocks, able to laugh her way through anything. I thought maybe there was something else going on that I was unaware of, but I didn’t know what questions to ask to find out, and chances were, she wouldn’t tell me anyway. She was like one of my sisters, but her best friend, the one she confided all to, would always be Massimo.
“It is nice to see you happy again.”
She shifted uncomfortably as her grin all but disappeared. “I don’t know how to respond to that. Do I say thank you? Or do I break down and cry on your shoulder? Or do I just tell you to fuck off?”
“You can do all three if you like. You don’t have to move, do you? You don’t have to go with your family. You can stay with us.”
This time the lift of her lips was sad. “Your mom and Francesca extended the invitation as well, but I have to think about it. It all depends on…” She trailed off as something caught her eye beyond me.
I peered over my shoulder. At first, I thought she was watching my cousin Paolo, but then I saw Massimo a few paces behind him as he strode away from the church several yards away. He must’ve been inside somewhere and exited through another door, which meant he’d probably been somewhere he shouldn’t be, and with someone he shouldn’t be with. Typical. Tessa and I watched as he stopped to charm la Signora Costa, a widow almost four times Massimo’s age.
“Your brother could charm a snake out of its skin,” Tessa said on a sigh.
I turned my attention back to her. “What were you going to say? It depends on what?”
Again, her gaze strayed, this time away from Massimo and back in the direction he’d come from, and again, I followed her line of sight. This time, it was Celia making her way out of the church.
Something in my gut twisted. I was not a distrustful person, but my mind was fast to jump to its own conclusions. Perhaps it hadn’t been a coincidence that both my girlfriend and my brother had magically disappeared and reappeared about the same time. My eyes swung to Massimo, who looked at ease as he kissed the old widow’s saggy cheeks, and back to Celia, who appeared flustered. Even from where I stood, I saw her pinkened cheeks and the distracted expression on her face. Her pace slowed, and her eyes seemed to linger on Massimo. After bumping into someone and apologizing, she finally looked around as if searching for someone. When her eyes met mine, she grinned and immediately started toward us.
All kinds of questions and accusations rolled through my mind. As a confusing mix of emotions began to rise rapidly inside me, the door Celia and Massimo presumably came through opened. Three of Massimo’s friends tumbled out laughing. Immediately, I began to calm, piecing it all together. Those friends, in particular, were always in one kind of mess or another. The most likely scenario was that they’d all been in there together, up to no good, and Celia had just accidentally gotten caught up in it. It happens.
I allowed myself to relax and smiled widely for my bride-to-be. When she reached me, I took her hand and kissed her cheek. I would have done more, but we were standing practically on the threshold of a holy place.
“I was looking for you.”
Her eyes rolled with mild irritation. “I’m sorry. I had to use the restroom long before Mass was over, and there was a line. On my way out, I ran into your brother’s crazy friends who were up to no good.”
“I thought it was something like that.”
I wanted to put an arm around her waist and hold her close to me. However, despite our upcoming wedding, displays of public affection were still rather awkward for us. Even alone, we had some awkwardness. We’d only been in a romantic relationship with each other for about six months. We were still getting used to each other in that way, but I enjoyed every second of it.
“Thought what was something like what?” Massimo appeared in our small circle, his arm brushing against Tess’s as he stood beside her.
“I was telling your brother how your friends delayed me with their nonsense.”
Massimo cringed. “Yes, that happens to me a lot.”
“Except you’re usually involved with said nonsense,” I pointed out.
He nodded and grinned. “This is true, brother. Why