Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 73(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 73(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
He blinked hard, clearing away his own tears. “And I’ll give your mom a call. I know you don’t speak much, but she should be at the wedding too. I’ll explain the situation to her and will ask her to get in touch with you.”
“Really?” I breathed, hardly daring to believe his promise. I hadn’t decided if I could muster up the courage to explain everything to my distant mother.
He offered me a watery smile. “Really. I love you, Ashlyn. I would do anything for you. I hope you know that.”
“I…” I hadn’t known that. I’d only ever focused on his high expectations for me, only seen my shortcomings in his eyes. But maybe I’d been keeping him in the dark about my hopes and dreams because I’d been scared of his disapproval. Maybe I hadn’t allowed him to truly know me as an adult because I’d been worried about him rejecting me.
“I love you, Dad,” I promised. “Will you stay for dinner?”
He’d said he wanted to get to know Marco and Joseph, but I could let him get to know me too; the real me. Not the sunny, distant version of myself I usually offered him.
Warmth glowed in my chest, filling my heart with nearly painfully bright intensity. This was the start of a new chapter in my life, a new beginning for my family. I would marry the men I loved, and my father would walk me down the aisle. Everything was like a wonderful, impossible dream.
I’d never been happier in my life.
Chapter Five
ASHLYN
Two Months Later
“I can’t believe you’re getting married in two days!” Jayme exclaimed, clicking her prosecco glass against mine.
Kelsey, my new friend from my job at the gallery, mirrored her action. “To the bride and grooms!” The flashing lights from the nearby dancefloor shined on her pale pink hair, making her seem to glow like a fairy.
“I’m so glad you could come to the wedding.” I slung my arm around her shoulders in a quick hug. We hadn’t known one another long, but Kelsey was fully supportive of my relationship, and we loved nerding out over art together.
“I wasn’t going to miss it.” She beamed at me. “Getting to see my friend marry two hot men and a trip to Italy? Heck yes!”
The wedding would be small, especially since we were having the ceremony abroad, but I didn’t need a huge gathering to witness our union. Sorrento was the perfect place to get married—the place where we’d survived so much and come out stronger than ever.
A server arrived and placed a fresh bottle of prosecco on our small table, removing the one we’d emptied.
“Oh, we didn’t order another one,” Jayme said, even though she eyed the bottle with interest. “We were about to go back to our hotel.”
“It’s from them,” the server explained with a nod to our right.
I glanced over and found two attractive Italian men raising their glasses in our direction. Kelsey’s cheeks turned as pink as her hair, but Jayme boldly flipped her platinum blonde locks over one shoulder and shot them a coy smile.
I grinned at my saucy friend. I wouldn’t hold her back, but I needed rest before the big day. And I was already missing my men, even though I loved spending time with my girls.
“You two enjoy the prosecco,” I urged with a giggle. “And the men. I’m going to get some sleep.”
Jayme snorted. “Right. Sleep. I’m sure that’s what you’ll be doing with your smoking-hot fiancés once you get back to your fancy suite.”
I flushed but laughed, not minding her teasing one bit. Not when it was totally accurate.
Kelsey’s brow furrowed, and she dragged her attention away from the handsome men who’d bought the bottle of prosecco for us. “But you can’t walk back alone. We’ll come with you.”
“I’ll text Marco to meet me outside,” I promised. “The hotel is only five minutes away. He’ll get here quickly, and we’ll walk together.”
It was only a short walk, but I knew better than to try to go alone. My men would not be happy with me. They worried about my safety to an almost unhealthy degree. I didn’t want to cause them any concern.
“Okay, we’ll see you tomorrow.” Jayme winked at me. “Try to get some rest.”
Laughing, I hugged my friends and left them to enjoy the prosecco and male company. As I walked past the crowded dancefloor to the exit, I reached into my purse to get my phone, intending to text Marco, as I’d promised.
Sweaty hands snagged my waist, spanning my lower back as I was yanked toward the dancefloor. I stumbled on my high heels, and the man who’d grabbed me swayed. He reeked of beer and was clearly unsteady on his feet. I pressed my hands against his chest and tried to shove away from him. His arms tightened around me, and his stale breath was hot on my neck as he leaned in to talk in my ear.