Page 130 of The Great Dating Fake Off
Vinny shudders. “Nah, I’m good.”
“No one is paying for anything,” Enzo says through a laugh. His adoring gaze turns up to Ro. “I don’t have another ring, but I do have a question. In front of our families and the Serendipi-deli where I first laid eyes on you, will you agree to marry me? For real this time.”
“Yes. Every single time.” She tugs him by the collar as a chorus of swooning awws floats through the air. He lifts her off her feet and spins her, gravel crunching under his feet.
If hearts could light up on scans the way brains do, mine would flash blindingly bright for the joy of it all.
“Urrà! And now we can eat!” Giuseppe wipes a tear from his cheek, which may come at least partly from the relief of knowing food is imminent.
“No, no, we aren’t eating here,” Alessia says in a rush.
“What? Why?” Giuseppe gestures at the diner. “Perfectly good selection.”
“We’ve got a whole feast prepared after our next stop. Eloise made enough lamb to go around.”
“Lamb? As in baa-baa black sheep?” Ro says through a gasp.
Eloise shrugs. “I just do as I’m told, and I was given a hunk of meat and told to prepare an Italian lamb stew.”
Alessia claps her hands. “What better way to bury the hatchet over a sheep theft no one gives two shits about this side of 1910, than a lamb dinner?”
Ro doubles over cackling. “That is the most morbid thing I’ve ever heard.”
Alessia shoots finger guns their way. “I agree. But it was your fiancé’s idea. Take it up with him.”
Enzo lets her down, practically choking on his laugh. “Is it lamb, is it beef, who can say until we eat?”
“You are ridiculous, and I love you.” Ro peppers his cheeks with kisses. “Now what’s this next stop you speak of?”
“Right.” Enzo smooths the front of his shirt, eyes dancing with mischief. “I hope you were serious when you said yes. Because we’ve got an appointment in fifteen minutes and the courthouse is three miles up the road.”
“Fifteen minutes?”
Chaos erupts.
Sebastian waves at me as Alessia drags him one way and Benji drags me the other. “See you there.”
In a truly impressive feat of synchronicity, our three combined vehicles pull into side-by-side parking spots right up front of the regal brick building seven minutes later.
Two people wait for us on the stairs leading up to the entry, weighed down with bags.
Gia rushes to meet us as soon as we step out of the car, trailed by Sergio. “Thank God. We thought you were going to miss your time.” She swats Sergio’s hand. “Stop touching me.”
“Nope. Our appointment is now in”—Enzo checks his watch—“eight minutes. You got the goods?”
Gia shakes her bag. “The nice camera, flower petals, Ro’s cheeky little veil, her borrowed and blue garter—”
“—your rings and your vows,” Sergio adds.
“We’ve got it all,” Gia concludes.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Ro throws her arms around her best friend. “We can take those wedding day pictures we’d plotted after all. Our dresses are a little less fancy, but still.”
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” She nods toward Sergio. “We were given specific orders to hold down the fort until you got here and make sure the courthouse knew you were on your way in case you got delayed.”
Sergio reaches into his pocket and pulls out two silver bands. “You know, maid of honor and best man shit.”
Ro salutes with watery eyes. “Thank you for your service.”
