Page 64 of His to Possess

We share another kiss and then get out of the car. Anticipation fills me as we step into the restaurant and I look around, taking in all the beautiful decorations. Pink and blue balloons float everywhere and matching streamers twine around poles and hang from every crevice and corner. Fresh flowers, all pink peonies, fill vases on the large, round table and light blue confetti is sprinkled between the dishes and silverware.

“Oh, it looks so pretty,” I say, and Angelo presses a kiss to my temple.

“Not as pretty as you,” he murmurs, and we squeeze each other’s hands.

Everyone is already here and they all rush over to greet us. My girls give me huge hugs and Angelo’s brothers slap him on the back.

“Congrats, bro,” Miceli says. “Can’t wait to see how you adjust to fatherhood.”

“If you can do it then there’s hope for me,” Angelo replies. “I think, anyway.”

Everyone chuckles and I’m looking forward to this evening and spending it with the people I love most. Even though it’s hard not to be antsy, I manage to make it through dinner and then it’s finally time to find out.

A boy or a girl?I wonder. I seriously couldn’t be any more excited to find out and Angelo’s leg was bouncing up and down with obvious nerves all through dinner.

“Okay, let’s do the reveal,” Hannah announces. “Angelo and Blake, come over here.”

We dutifully follow her over to the side table where a large cake awaits. Hannah hands us each a glass and I realize my hand is shaking.

“Angelo, you do this side and Blake, you do that side,” she instructs us.

We each lift our glass, exchange a look and then flip it over and push it straight down into the cake. It cuts right through the moist fluffiness and I scoop mine up and look to see what color of cake is in the glass.

Pink! My heart thunders and I lift my glass and announce, “A girl!”

Beside me, Angelo does the same except shouts, “A boy!”

Confused, I look over and see his glass is full of blue cake.Wait what?Did the bakery make a mistake? We glance over at each other and then at Hannah.

“So which is it?” Angelo asks, scratching his head, his dark brows drawn together in a frown.

“Both!” Hannah screeches in absolute delight. Then she lifts a little canister, hits a button, and blue and pink confetti explode in the air, showering us.

“Both?” Angelo and I exclaim at the same time, and everyone bursts into laughter and applause.

“Twins?” I ask, in a state of shock. “But—how?”

“They run in the family, but…” Angelo’s stunned voice trails off and he looks over at Vin and Hannah. “I thought you guys took care of that with Rosa and Bianca.”

“Welcome to the club,” Vin says, clapping Angelo on the back.

“Congratulations!” Hannah says and hugs us both.

Suddenly, everyone surrounds us, extending their good wishes and love. So damn much love fills this room and surrounds us that my heart nearly implodes.Thisis what it feels like to have a family.Thisis what I’ve been missing.Thisis what I’m so incredibly grateful for—all thanks to this wonderful man who I now have the privilege of calling my husband.

“What do you think?” Angelo asks, pulling me close, his hands closing around mine. He searches my face and grins like an absolute fool. A very happy, very proud fool who loves me more than I ever thought possible. “Are you happy?”

“I’ve never been happier in my life,” I whisper.

“Me neither. Thank you,la mia farfalla,for making me the happiest man in the world.”

“I love you, Angelo.” My eyes fill with tears as the celebration continues around us. “So damn much.”

“I love you, too.” He leans down and captures my mouth in a kiss. As our mouths meld, I can hear champagne corks pop and a can of sparkling cider twists open. Everyone is so excited and I don’t think my heart and soul have ever been this full—of love, gratitude and that beautiful feeling of belonging.

I have a family. It may have taken twenty-seven years of searching and longing, but now I have a family of my very own. One that is big and imperfectly perfect and expanding right before my teary eyes.

All because I made a mistake and kidnapped the wrong man.

And, thank God for that, I think, dragging Angelo’s face back in for another kiss.