Page 286 of Lorenzo

“But first we have to tell Mocha he’s going to be a big brother.”

Lorenzo laughs. “I think he’ll handle it well.”

“He better. He has responsibilities now.”

But before I get dressed, I stand there for a moment and just look at Lorenzo.

“We’re really doing this,” I whisper.

He steps closer until there is barely any space between us.

“Yes,” he says. “We are.”

I look down at my stomach, then back at him. “That is completely terrifying.”

His hand covers my stomach, though there's nothing there to feel yet. “Yes, it is. But at the same time, I'm looking forward to every minute of it.”

“Me too.”

I cover his hand with mine, and we stand there like that for a minute. It feels like one of those moments you remember forever.

It will certainly be one of mine.

After I finish getting dressed, I smooth down the front of my shirt and look up at Lorenzo.

“Okay,” I say. “Let’s get the pictures of our beautiful bean so we can finally show them off.”

He smiles. “I can’t wait.”

Epilogue

Lorenzo

Mario adjusts my tie for the third time.

“If you touch it again, I am going to remove your hand.”

He ignores me and straightens the knot anyway. “It was crooked.”

“It was fine.”

“It was crooked,” Ricardo says from behind him.

I look at my brother. “You are supposed to be helping me.”

“I am helping you.”

Diego laughs from the other side of the room, while Edoardo leans against the wall with his arms folded, and Alessio sits on the edge of a chair, looking far too entertained by all of this.

“I am surrounded by traitors,” I mutter.

“That seems excessive,” Alessio says. “Mario fixed your tie.”

“For the third time.”

“Maybe stop moving.”

I turn toward him. “Whose side are you on?”