“They are?” My stomach sank. I was so excited to have my best friend here, but Nicco and Matteo too… and Luca? Ugh. This was the last thing I’d wanted.
“Hey, Lucii.” Arianne greeted her.
“Hey, I love your dress. You look so hot.”
“Thanks. Luca, this is a surprise.” She finally noticed the quiet guy beside me.
“Hey.” He lifted his hand in a small wave. “It’s good to see you again.”
Ari’s eyes flashed to mine, a hundred questions twinkling in her honey brown eyes. But in true Arianne Capizola fashion, she pressed her lips together in a tight smile and swallowed them. No doubt saving them for later, when we were alone.
“There you are.” Nicco appeared, slipping his arm possessively around his wife. She smiled up at him in a way only a girl in love with a boy could. To watch them, the way they gravitated to one another, it made my heart soar and ache all at the same time.
They shared a lingering kiss and I heard Lucii let out a little sigh.
“God, I need to get laid,” she added.
“I can definitely help with that,” Nate said, shooting her a flirty wink.
“Dance with me?”
“It would be my pleasure.”
Lucii grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the dance floor.
“Ah, do you want to…” Luca left the question hanging, but a voice chimed in, “If she’s dancing with anyone, it’ll be me.”
I glanced over my shoulder to find Matteo grinning at me. “Behave,” I chided.
“You owe me, Abato. Don’t even try to deny it.”
“Matt!” Nicco warned, but I refused to meet his stare.
Rolling my eyes, I ducked out of Matteo’s hold and offered Luca an apologetic smile. This so wasn’t how I saw the night going. I wanted to have fun. To relax and forget all about the Marchetti men, and I lumped Matteo in there, because although he was a Bellatoni by name, he was still one of them.
Trading my empty glass for my fresh drink, I slurped down a mouthful of the sugary sweet cocktail hyperaware of the fact they were all watching me: Luca, Matteo, Isaac, Arianne, and Nicco. I wasn’t used to being in the limelight, and I wasn’t sure I liked it.
Knocking back the rest of my drink, I inhaled a deep breath and said, “I’m going to dance.”
Without waiting for their replies, I melted into the sea of bodies, trying to find Lucii and Nate. They were already pressed close, grinding on each other as they moved to the seductive tones of The Weeknd.
An arm wrapped around my waist from behind and I readied myself to scold Matteo, but when I spun around, I was met with Luca’s cheeky grin. “One dance?” He pouted and I found myself grinning back.
“Fine, but just one. Seems like the neighborly thing to do.”
Luca grabbed my hands and began weaving shapes in the air. The guy had moves, rolling and popping his hips in a way that had me licking my lips. “See something you like?” he teased.
“Less talking, more dancing, Casanova.” I closed my eyes and let the music carry me away. This was what college was all about. Meeting cute guys and dancing in bars. Late nights, and early morning walks of shame back to your dorm room.
I wasn’t supposed to be pining after a guy who would never take me out dancing or buy me flowers or make reservations at a fancy restaurant. I bet Luca would do all of those things. I mean, the guy had driven me to class when he worked right around the corner from our building.
My eyes fluttered open to Luca’s heated stare as he watched me sway to the music. “You are so fucking beautiful.” He grinned.
Just then someone barreled past us, knocking me into Luca. “Watch it, asshole,” he shouted over the music, but the guy disappeared into the sea of bodies.
“Relax, I’m fine.”
He ran his hands up my shoulders, holding me closer. “You sure?”
“Sure.” I nodded. “But answer me this. How drunk are you right now?”
“I think you have me mistaken for someone else.” He flashed me a goofy smile.
“You’re so wasted.” I batted his chest, freezing when I felt his muscles contract beneath my palm.
“Nora, I—”
“Take a walk, new guy.” Matteo appeared. “The lady owes me a dance.”
“The lady is kind of busy.” I rolled my eyes and even over the music, I heard the two of them chuckle.
“She’s all yours.” Luca conceded, and I shot him a questioning look.