Page 45 of Beautiful Life
“I’ll take another vodka and cranberry, Leigh?”
“Any white wine is fine, thanks.” I watch him walk away. Turning to Paige I ask, “What is up with him?”
Paige gives her head a little shake. “He’s harmless. We’ve been friends for years, it’s nothing more.”
“I’m not sure he thinks it’s nothing more, Paige. You might want to fill him in on your status.”
“Don’t worry about Brian.” She grins at me as she goes on. “So, I guess the cat is out of the bag? My mom can’t stop talking about you and Tony. She’s only known for what—three hours? And trust me, my mom has been waiting for her golden boy to find his woman for a long, long time.”
“I know, I’m a little worried about that.”
“Why are you worried?”
“Because Tony and I aren’t defined, I don’t know what we are.”
“Well, I think I know what he wants you to be,” she says with meaning.
“What who wants who to be?” Gabby asks from behind me.
“What Tony wants Leigh to be,” Paige says.
“Yeah,” Gabby agrees. “Don’t think just because I was having a moment in the Bride’s Room it was lost on me you two are finally out in the open.”
I try defending myself. “There’s nothing to be out in the open with.”
To this, Paige and Gabby both burst out laughing, as if this is the funniest thing they’ve ever heard.
“Okay, stop.” I need them to calm down and be quiet before they garner interest of other Carpinos. “There might be something, I just don’t know what it is yet.”
“I think Tony knows what it is,” Paige exclaims. “I’ve never, but never, seen my brother like this before.”
“She’s right,” Gabby agrees. “This is new territory for Tony Carpino.”
“What’s new for Tony Carpino?”
I feel him before I see him, snaking an arm around me again, pulling my back to his front. I crane my head around to give him a glare. “Nothing.”
Paige looks from him to me, gives me a grin like I’m full of shit and she knows it. “Yeah, nothing.”
Jude comes up next to Gabby, he’s already lost his tie and jacket. He grabs Gabby around her waist claiming her, pulls her into his side and reaches down to kiss her.
“Hey.” She smiles up to him.
He looks into her eyes. “Is everything the way you wanted it?”
“Yes, it’s perfect,” she answers with a big smile.
“Are you ready to go yet?” he asks smiling back.
“Jude.” She gives him an elbow but grins back at him and says quietly, “Not yet, but soon.”
“I’m ready for the honeymoon part of the wedding.”
That’s when I hear the music change to something slower. I feel Tony move away and he grabs my hand in the process, pulling me away from our group. “Dance with me.”
I feel my heart skip and I look back to Gabby and Paige and they’re giving us a wave. I let Tony lead me to the dance floor, but he moves to the side in the shadows so we aren’t the center of attention. He pulls me into his arms and Jim Brickman starts singing Beautiful World.
Tony sways me to the music for a minute before he asks, “Do you hear the words?”
