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Welcome Home by Radical Facestarts to play through the radio and Steve looks at me through the rearview mirror. “What a fitting song, ay babe?”
I laugh but the word home feels so wrong here. It's like trying to fit a square into a triangle-shaped hole. It doesn't make me feel safe or comfortable like Enzo does. He is my home no matter where we are. Me, him and Ares. I smile at him and he winks back like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
We arrive back ‘home’ and as soon as we pull up my youngest brother, Jack comes rushing out of the house, pulling me into a tight embrace. “You made it!”
I pull back. “Wait. Let me have a look at you.” I grab his chin, turning his face side to side assessing how much he's changed. His facial hair is starting to grow and he's put on weight giving him the same stocky physique as Steve. “Still not as tall as me,” I say grinning at him. He shrugs me off. “Allow it, I'm still growing.”
“Right, come on. Everyones waiting inside.” My mum ushers us all inside. We walk inside the house and I instantly feel the change from the last time I was home. The house is alive and warm again. My Auntie Michelle is here, as well as her two kids. Michael and Leah too. Everyone begins fussing around us and Ares starts to get a little overwhelmed so Enzo takes him, holding him close to his chest. The atmosphere is happy. I thought I might be overwhelmed but I’m not. It's just so nice to see everyone on a happier occasion. It's nice to feel normal with them again.
We all sit out in the garden and everyone has a few drinks, catching up. I look to Enzo to see how he's coping with the chaos but I know his family is way more chaotic than this. He looks in his element. Charming my auntie Michelle as Jack hangs on his every word as he tells them a story about something that happened in Euphoria recently. Even our next-door neighbours come over to see me. We’ve all agreed to tell everyone that Ares is Enzo’s son. In my eyes he is and soon he will be legally. Ares is having the time of his life trying to keep up with my cousins even though he's just learned to walk.
Micheal comes to join me, as I watch Enzo chat to my family. “Thanks for coming.” He bumps my shoulder with his own. “I know how hard this is for you.”
I shrug it off. “I couldn’t miss you marrying your childhood sweetheart.”
He smiles more deeply when he looks at Leah where she sits with our mum. “I wish Alek was here man.” He says taking a long drink from his beer while still looking at his fiancée.
The breeze in the garden picks up, the windchimes sounding gently. “He is here. I'm sure he's watching over us now.” I really fucking hope he is.
“I think he and Enzo would have gotten along, you know?” He lifts his chin to where Enzo is sitting.
“Me too.” I agree with a bittersweet feeling. I think they would have been fast friends. It kills me that they never got to meet.
We stay for a few more hours catching up with everyone until Ares starts to get cranky. Steve drops us off at the car rental place down the road so we can pick up our rental car. The three of us drive over to our hotel and check-in, all of us knackered from the flight and all the people at my mum's house.
Enzo settles Ares to sleep whilst I take a shower. When I join him he's already in bed watching Eastenders. I can't help but laugh.
“What is this bullshit?” He asks with a displeased expression.
I climb into bed beside him, tucking myself under his arm. “That sir, is a British staple.”
He shakes his head and turns it over, stretching his arms above his head. “Now I know where you get all your energy from.” He says.
“Yeah. I should have warned you, my family’s nuts.”
He slants me a look. “You're marrying into the mafia.”
“They like you a lot,” I say as I snuggle into his side.
“Of course they do, have you met me?”
“Yes and funnily enough, I like you a lot too. Although, if your ego gets any bigger you won't be able to fit through the door.” He grins and nips my shoulder. “Get ready for tomorrow though. It's going to be a crazy day. I think there's going to be over 100 guests.” I sigh.
“Somehow I think it will be much tamer than any wedding I’ve been to.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” I yawn. He shuts the TV off wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me close.
∞
We sleep through our alarm, even Ares sleeps though. We end up rushing to get ready. I brought Ares a suit so he can match Enzo. Enzo is wearing a tailored black Armani tuxedo suit. The amount of times I’ve seen him in a suit, you'd think I would be used to it but I don’t think I'll ever tire of it. There's something about him dressed up that does something to me. Every. Damn. Time. I want to rip it straight off him.
I bought a new dress. What else is new? It's the Self-Portrait Green Broderie mini dress. Some very uncomfortable Aquazzura embellished lace-up sandals and the Bottega Veneta Bright green clutch to match. It's a fit.
I'm putting my earrings in as I walk out of the bedroom. Enzo's gaze trails over my body achingly slow.
“Fuck, Vita Mia. How am I meant to last the whole day without ripping that off you.” He says his eyes hungry and his voice low.
I smirk. “If you rip this, you’ll be buying me another one.”
