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Jack comes bounding over and my mum drags him into a hug. “You're not leaving me anytime soon, Jack.” She ruffles his hair like he’s still five.
“Don’t worry, Nat. I think we'd have to pay to get this one out of the house” Steve jokes.
We grab our drinks and make our way over to our table as more guests pour in. People I haven’t seen since the funeral. It's lovely to see my whole family together at such a happy time. I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss being around my family. It's just bittersweet knowing Aleksy is missing. He would have loved to see everyone brought together like this.
The music starts and the food comes out. Ares falls asleep on my mum's lap as Michael raises his glass, tapping a knife against it so he can start his toast.
“Right, everyone.” He says but everyone’s still chatting and laughing too loudly.
“Oi! Shut it.” He shouts loud enough so everyone takes their seats and quietens down.
“I know this is the boring part. I'll keep it short so we can get back to the party. I just want to thank everyone for showing up to witness me marry this amazing woman.” He points his glass to Leah next to him and everyone cheers. “I especially want to thank my new mother-in-law, Sue, for giving birth to her, obviously.” That gets one of those manly cheers that’s slightly inappropriate but you all tolerate it. “I also want to thank my sister for coming all the way from New York. We are so happy to have you home even if it is for a few days.” My mum's hand finds mine on the table and she gently taps it. He clears his throat before speaking again. “I also just want to mention my brother who is sorely missed today of all days.” Something sad and dark settles around the room and it rips at the stitches in my chest. He raises his glass in the air, head slightly bowed. “So let’s toast to Alek, I hope I’ve made you proud brother.” His voice becomes thick with emotion and I feel my own throat catch. The room erupts, everyone raising their glasses. “To Alek!” Everyone shouts. I raise my glass and drink. I look at Hannah and she's trying and failing to suppress her tears like I am.
Enzo pulls me in with a reassuring hand on the back of my neck whispering in my ear. “He would be so proud of you.”
He pulls me into a hug, he knows I wouldn’t want anyone to see me cry.
The music starts back up and I dry my eyes, pulling away and getting to my feet looking for a distraction. “Come dance with me.” I grab Enzo’s hand pulling him to the dance floor. He spins me round then pulls me close, my arms going around his neck so we can move to the beat together. I knew he'd be a good dancer. This man couldn’t be bad at anything if he tried. The dance floor fills up with everyone moving to the beat. IFTK by Tion Wayne comes on and Hannah runs over to us, we both shriek and me and Enzo break apart to include her. Steve is in the middle of the dance floor doing his best dad moves whilst my mum watches from our table with Ares, laughing.
“More money, More problems. We don't get along like Arsenal, Tottenham.” Me and Hannah both scream at the top of our voices in time with the lyrics. Enzo laughs as me and her start rapping the lyrics to each other, awfully I may add.
This is one of our favourite songs and I have to take my heels off for this one. I can do an 8-hour shift in 6-inch platforms easily but give me a smaller, thinner heel and I can barely dance.
Enzo grabs my hand pulling my back up against him as I move with him, holding my heels in one hand. Hannah’s living her best life, bouncing around. She tries to beckon James over but he is caught up in conversation with a few mutual friends of his and Michaels. We dance for a while until sweat is beading on the back of my neck and we return to our seats next to my mum and Steve.
I notice Tom's friends walking over to us and I bristle. Enzo puts his arm on the back of my chair leaning back against his, watching them approach.
“What's good, Cas,” Charlie says, obviously trying to break the ice even though Marcus stands back eyeing Enzo suspiciously.
He holds his fist out to me and I knock mine against it. “You good?”
He shrugs with his mouth. “You know, same old, same old. I didn’t realise you were coming back for the wedding?”
“It was last minute. We weren’t sure Enzo could step away from work.”
Charlie turns his attention to Enzo who hasn’t taken his eyes off them. Charlie holds his hand out to Enzo to shake. “Charlie. I was friends with Cas’ brother, Aleksy.” Charlie clears his throat, clearing the emotion away. I can see Enzo doesn’t want to take it but he doesn’t want anyone to think there’s something amiss. He finally shakes his hand with what looks like a bone-shattering grip. “And that’s Marcus,” Charlie says tilting his head to Marcus, standing slightly behind him.
“Enzo Moretti,” Enzo says his voice is smooth and cool.
“Moretti? Where have I heard that name before?” Charlie asks.
Enzo shrugs but I cut in. “He owns a few clubs in New York.”
Charlie shakes his head pointing a finger at Enzo. “Oh, that's it. Are you part of Moretti Fighting?”
“Yeah, it's a family business.”
Charlie's eyebrows raise. “That's crazy, I've seen most of the fights online. You remember Marcus?” He bats Marcus’ arm. “That tattooed guy a few weeks back? He was an animal.” Charlie laughs.
I see Enzo's lip twitch upwards. “That would be my brother.”
Charlie's eyes go wide but Marcus makes no reaction and Charlie says, “No way. He is lethal.”
“Who’s this?” Marcus asks, looking at Ares asleep on my mother's lap.
“This is our son, Ares,” Enzo says, his gaze fixed on Marcus with enough intensity I would be running the other way.
Marcus’ eyes go to me and there's something in them that has my annoyance rising. “I didn’t even know you were pregnant.” His voice has an edge to it like he was somehow entitled to that information. I've never liked Marcus. I've always got bad vibes from him. I’ve seen him argue with his ex at the pub before and I saw how she flinched away from his touch. Charlie, on the other hand, I’ve never had a problem with. I can see it in the way Marcus keeps looking at Ares; he's got his suspicions. The atmosphere is so tense you could cut it with a butter knife. I'm just about to open my mouth when Steve interjects very coolly. “Oh did Michael not mention it to you?”
