A short while later, we pull into the driveway of Andrew and Cara’s vacation home. Cars already line one side of the drive, but the other has a huge sign:
RESERVED FOR WEDDING PARTY
A smile threatens to split my face in half. This car holds the majority of the wedding party and James parks directly in front of the garage door.
True to his word, Dom had our friends and family on standby, ready for a wedding the moment I got out of the hospital. After our fight, he came in the following morning, letting me know how serious he was about being my husband.
“Tony, there’s only one thing I regret, besides not asking you to wait for us that morning,” Dom says, sitting on the edge of my bed.
“Yeah? What’s that?” I challenge, still raw over the fact that he actually left yesterday. It was the smart choice, but I’m pissed off at myself for letting it get to that point.
“If I could go back in time, I would have insisted that we get married as soon as possible.” He kisses each red scar on my battered knuckles. “I don’t plan to spend another day of my life apart from you. The day you get out of here, we’re making this official. The only thing I want to know is if we’re going to be the DeLuca family or the Tricoli family.”
I hold out my arms to Dom, needing to feel his body against mine. I can’t wait for the day I don’t have to wear this brace so we can be skin-to-skin. “Definitely Dom and Tony Tricoli.” Dom’s mouth seals over mine in the most passionate kiss I’ve received since the morning of the accident. It’s as if he’s forgotten that he’s scared I’ll break if he’s at all rough with me.
“Dammit, Tony, you’re doing it again.” I look to my right and see James standing beside the car with the door open and my chair waiting for me.
Kennedy and Dahlia threatened to decorate the wheelchair so it looked more festive. I’m glad to see they were vetoed on that idea. The two of them are wearing matching pin-up style dresses with sugar skulls all over them. I can’t imagine anything more fitting for our motley crew.
“Sorry, James. Still thinkin’ about what a lucky guy I am.” I transfer myself into the chair, reaching down to move my legs to where they need to be. Every time I have to do that, it’s a reminder that only part of me works. I’m just thankful that I don’t tear up the way I do sometimes over something so stupid. James opens the garage door and we make our way across the concrete. Rather than try to navigate on the grass, Cara insisted that we hold the ceremony on the deck, which requires no steps when you come from inside the garage.
Applause erupts the moment my castors hit the hardwood deck. I struggle a bit at first, but get the hang of keeping my wheels out of the grooves. Mama Rossi and Nona are the first to smother me in kisses.
“If you ever give us a scare like that again, I will personally whip you until you learn your lesson. Is that clear, Anthony?” Mama squeezes my cheeks so it’s hard for me to answer. Satisfied with the unsteady nod, she kisses my forehead. “Good, now get over there and say hello to your husband.”
“He’s not my husband yet, Mama,” I point out. She waves off the technicality. Dom meets me in the middle of the group of our family and friends, leaning forward to kiss me deeply.
“Tonight, when we’re lying in bed next to one another, I’ll show you just how much I missed you,” Dom whispers in my ear.
The bad news is I know he’s not talking about making love to me because we haven’t been given clearance for anything like that just yet. The good news is I know without a doubt that certain parts of my body do still work and I’m hoping he’ll verify that with either his hands or his mouth.
“Can we skip the ceremony and you can show me now?” I suggest, knowing he won’t go for it. Neither will my sister, who looks absolutely radiant. As Cara makes her way to me, I hold out my arms, ready and wanting my daily fix of Olivia, the sweetest little girl in the world.
“You look great,” Cara praises as she helps me get settled with Olivia. This little girl I’ve only known for two weeks has helped me more than she’ll ever know. Every day, I work my ass off in therapy, wanting to someday be able to walk and run with her. And even more, I hope there’s a way that Dom and I will be able to do the same with our own child. That particular dream will carry its own set of logistical issues, but I figure that with everything we’ve already worked through, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.
Dom rejoins us, pulling a collapsible chair out of its bag. He stretches it out and plops down next to me. “What are you doing?” I ask, crooking my finger for a kiss. Leaning over to steal a kiss; one more thing to add to the list of shit I hope to do again soon.
“Getting hitched,” Dom deadpans. “But, you see, the guy I’m marrying, he plans on sitting through the ceremony, so I’m going to do the same.”
My face falls, hating that this is one more thing I can’t give him. “Baby, relax. I don’t want to feel like I’m hovering over you because I know you hate that. So, I figured this was the best way to do it.”
All of our friends and family form a circle around us. We turn our chairs to we’re facing one another as Kennedy and Dahlia sit on either side of me and Andrew and Cara flank Dom. Jason, Dom’s friend who’s quickly becoming a friend to me as well, went online to get ordained so we wouldn’t have to worry about finding an officiant on short notice. Everyone laughs as he shoves his way through the circle, standing between Andrew and Dahlia.
“Friends and family, we’re gathered today to witness the marriage of Anthony and Dominic,” Jason starts. I have no clue what he says after that because I’m busy dividing my attention between the man I love and the cooing bundle of baby in my lap. Cara leans in to take her daughter, but I shake my head. Nothing about our life is normal, so it’s fitting to me that we do this while I’m holding my niece.
“Anthony DeLuca,” Gus snaps. I look up and see Andrew’s dad glaring at me. “I thought you zoned out at Andrew and Cara’s wedding because you were distracted. What’s your excuse this time?”
My face heats in embarrassment as everyone bursts into laughter. I hang my head, shaking it from side to side. “Sorry, Mr. Rossi.”
“Don’t apologize to me, apologize to Dominic,” he chides. I look up and he winks, letting me know it’s all in good fun.
“Sorry, baby.” I turn my attention to Jason. “I’m sorry, what were you saying?” The laughter that had started to fade grows louder.
“I asked if you take Dominic to be your husband,” Jason repeats. Dom leans forward, resting his hands on my legs.
“Oh, yeah. Of course I do,” I say quickly.
“Are you sure about that?” Jason teases. “You’re not under the influence of anything, right? Because you’re either incredibly brave or not right in the head to tie yourself to Dom for life.”
I’m not sure I’ve ever attended such a casual wedding with as much laughter in my life, but I like it. It’s perfect for us. “A little of each, I think. But yes, Dom is the only man I want to have next to me every day for the rest of my life.”
The women all start making a fuss over how sweet I am. I think it’s just that I’ve finally realized what was on the line and I won’t let Dom doubt that I’m in this forever.
“And Dominic, do you take Tony to be your husband?” It was Dom’s idea to forego all the better, worse and all that. His logic is that we’ve already proven the worse and the sickness, which means we’re due for a lifetime of better and health. Hard to argue with that.
“I do.” Dom winks at me.
“Really?” Jason gives his friend a hard time the same way he did to me. “You think you’ll be able to put up with that one’s mouth every day for the rest of your life?”
“If you only knew the things I love about that mouth,” Dom mutters, low enough that only the seven of us can hear. This time it’s my sister making the gagging noises.
“Now who’s the one that needs to learn when to shut up?” I tease.
“Your bad influence is rubbing off on me,” D
om informs me before turning his attention to Jason. “But yeah, I think I want to keep this one.”
Dominic’s eyes have always been the windows to his thoughts, and it’s nice to see that I’m not the one thinking inappropriately during a wedding this time. Dom cocks an eyebrow as we let Jason finish his speech.
“I now pronounce you married. Dom, would you kiss your husband before he forgets where he is?” Jason chides, reaching out to shake our hands. He leans forward, speaking so only we can hear. “You two are blessed to have found one another. Now, the trick is figuring out how to keep from killing one another for the next hundred years.”
A hundred more years with Dom by my side? Somehow, I’m not sure even that would be enough time…
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Other titles by Sloan Johnson:
Teach Me
Unexpected Angel
Unexpected Protector
Unexpected Consequences
Truth or Dare
Dare to Dream
Fragile Bonds
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An M/M Contemporary Romance
Coming Spring 2015
My head throbs and every muscle in my body aches as I wake up. I squint, cursing the sun for shining in the front windows and regret passing out on the couch. Again. After a few minutes, wishing it wasn’t so fucking bright and I didn’t hurt so bad, I pull myself off the couch.
The house looks like shit again, but I can’t be bothered to do much about it. I sweep the empty bottles that have been collecting on the counter into a garbage can while I wait for the last bagel to pop up in the toaster. There’s no way I can avoid going to the grocery store any longer, unless I want to resort to eating condiments.
I resume my position on the couch and flip through the channels. My life has been reduced to days spent staring at the screen without watching anything. The shows provide background noise, keeping Shelly’s critical voice from invading my head.
My phone rings and I check the display, burying it between the cushions when I see that it’s Bobby. He’s been calling more and more frequently and I’m pretty sure it has something to do with me ignoring Jim’s calls. As soon as the ringing stops, it starts again and I hit ignore the call. This goes on for over ten minutes before I finally give up and answer.
“What?” I snap.
“I’m sorry, is this Scott?” I pull the phone away from my ear and see that this call is from an unknown number, not Bobby or Jim. The voice is vaguely familiar, but I can’t think of anyone who’s not programmed into my phone who would be calling me.
“May I ask who’s calling?” I sit up, smoothing my hands over the wrinkled fabric of my t-shirt as if my appearance makes a damn bit of difference.
“Um, it’s Chris. Look, please don’t hang up. I haven’t seen you in a couple of weeks and asked Jim if you were okay when I saw him last night. He didn’t tell me one way or the other, just gave me your number,” he says in a rush.
“I’m fine,” I lie. The seconds tick by with nothing but the sound of Chris’s breathing on the line. “Was that all you wanted?”
“Actually, no. I wanted to see if it’d be possible to try going out for coffee again,” he says uncertainly. “I’m not sure what happened the last time, but I’d like to make up for it.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I have a lot going on right now.”
Like sitting around the house, sulking? Shelly’s voice admonishes me.
“I just…can’t,” I respond to her, figuring it’s a definite sign that my tentative grip on reality is slipping because I’m both hearing voices and responding.
“Oh, okay. Will you be back in group next week?” Chris prods.
I want to tell him yes. Every time he opens his mouth, I feel myself inching closer to giving in. In the rare moments when I’m not drowning n a pool of self-loathing and hate, wondering how I could have been a better husband for Shelly, it’s Chris’s face that I see. It’s his voice pleading with me to take a step back and think about my real issues echoing through my mind. It’s his firm hand holding me, making me feel more than just the warmth of his skin against mine. And that is what terrifies me.
“I don’t know.” It the first honest thing I’ve said to him. “Listen, I have to go.”
I don’t wait for him to respond before ending the call. I’m not strong enough to keep refusing him because I don’t want him to give up on me.
To keep from having another embarrassing moment, I silence my phone so I won’t have to hear if it starts ringing again. I bury my head under a pillow and go to sleep, praying it’ll be dreamless.
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Dance With Destiny Page 24
