Page 72 of Married With Lies
He said nothing during my long rhapsody about Bright Hearts. Now and then he’d give me an amused glance from behind the wheel.
“You did too blush,” I tease and poke his arm. “Luca, don’t be fooled. Your brother may clock in as fierce and forbidding but he can’t hide his gooey soft side from me.”
Cale throws me a look. I blow him a kiss. Luca slaps his knee and howls with laughter in the backseat.
When I ask Luca about his future plans, he grows less enthusiastic. He talks about scheduling interviews with Miami law firms and how he still needs to take the bar if he’s going to practice law in Florida.
“What made you choose Miami?” I ask. “Warm weather?”
“That’s a definite plus. Originally I planned to attend NYU Law and stay close to the family. Cale was the one who sold me on going to Miami. He argued that it was a good opportunity for me to get new experiences and strike out on my own. He’s right. I’ve enjoyed my years there.”
Sounds like my initial instinct was correct. Cale doesn’t want Luca anywhere near their uncle’s world. Yet Cale chooses to remain in that world himself. Cale stays here as Richie Amato’s right hand man even after his uncle tried to railroad him into a marriage he didn’t want.
A lot of threads are beginning to weave together when it comes to Cale and his brother. And I think the final picture is a big reason why I’m currently wearing a big sparkling rock on my left hand.
In the weeks since Cale left Bright Hearts I’ve thought about him endlessly. Rehashing our conversations. Daydreaming about the feel of his strong arms. Remembering the pleasure of getting him to smile in spite of his best efforts not to.
I’ve really missed him.
Luca has circled back to the topic of the ranch. “It’ll be hard for you to leave Bright Hearts, won’t it?”
“Oh, I’m not leaving,” I say without thinking. “I’ll never leave Bright Hearts.”
Luca is quiet for a moment. “Then I guess Uncle Richie got the story wrong. He was thinking you and Cale planned to settle down in the neighborhood.”
Uh oh. I’ve messed up. I didn’t mean to.
Cale had mentioned that Richie is counting on the fact that I’ll be moving back here. Cale is sure he can put Richie off indefinitely.
I’m not so sure. Sooner or later our lies are bound to catch up with us.
What happens then?
Nothing can be done about it tonight. As we hurtle toward a twenty million dollar East Hampton beach house, a new and unpleasant sense of dread begins to take over. The next twenty four hours are destined to be as fun as walking on broken glass. My peach maid of honor dress is in Cale’s trunk. I wish I could leave it there and pretend the airline lost the garment bag.
We arrive at the house while the party furniture is being delivered. The ceremony will take place tomorrow evening at sunset in front of the water. An enormous tent has already been set up on the property for the reception.
Luca stays in the car while Cale wrestles my luggage out of the trunk. “Hey, Sadie,” Luca says. “I just want you to know that I’m extremely happy for you two.”
“Thank you.” I smile, feeling like a hypocrite. I decide to counter it by saying something true. “There’s no one else like Cale.”
He grins. “I know. Hope to see you again soon.”
“Bye, Luca.”
Cale carries my garment bag and suitcase. Walking to the door feels like walking the plank.
“Don’t look so excited,” Cale says and prepares to ring the bell.
“Wait. I’m not ready.”
“What do you need to do to get ready?”
“I don’t know. We should leave until I figure it out.”
Cale sets my bags down. Gently, he tilts my chin up. “Sadie, listen to me. They’re all assholes.”
I’m too lost in his intense green eyes, too infatuated with the way my name sounds in his deep voice. “Who?”