Page 81 of It's Always Sonny

Listen, I’m aware of the desperate longing I have for parental approval. Even if this is far, far outside of my wheelhouse, the swell in my chest at their approval is stronger than any discomfort I could ever feel.

But it’s not just their approval that emboldens me.

It’s their smiles.

That same feeling of love that I’ve seen them show to every member of this family is turned on me right now.

So when I keep teasing Sonny, it’s not as scary as it is … exhilarating.

“You have an expansive knowledge of Sonny and Cher’s catalogue. Anything you’d like to share with the class?”

Sonny’s family laughs harder than the crack deserves.

And I eat it up.

“You don’t have much choice when your name is Sonny,” he says into his mic before addressing me, “Cher.”

“As if!” I say in my best Alicia Silverstone. I’m being so bold, I hardly recognize myself, but it’s worth it when all of the female cousins and a couple of the males laugh.

“Clueless! Best Austen adaptation ever,” Emma says.

“Ding ding ding!” I say, pointing at Emma.

Sonny eyes me. “Who are you and what have you done with Parker Emerson?”

I spin to say something sassy, but I’m not used to sneakers, and the movement isn’t as smooth as heels. I stumble and start falling toward Sonny in a repeat of last week. Like then, Sonny catches me, but this time, he has a surer footing and twirls me into a low dip. My arms snake around his muscular neck, and my fingers brush his short hair.

I love his hair short. I’ve never felt it before, and this quick graze isn’t nearly enough.

With our faces only an inch apart, our breath mingles. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were falling for me, PJ.”

“Suck eggs, Santino.”

This gets huge laughs, with Nonna in particular shouting up to the stage. “Atta girl!”

My cheeks warm. “Don’t let me fall,” I whisper.

His eyes gleam. “Never.”

He pulls me back up, and the music starts.

And in spite of my powerful aversion to making a fool of myself, I let the lure of the Lucianos wash over me. With Sonny, I sing, “I Got You Babe.”

And we absolutely crush it.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Sonny

Arctic wind howls around the pavilion, but it doesn’t stop the grownups from staying up late. Even Amber and Lauren come back with Anthony and Gabe after they put their kids to sleep in the cabins. They have iPads set up as monitors so they can watch the kids sleep, and a few of the other families are asleep along that same row.

Some of the older kids grab lanterns and tell us they’re going to star gaze.

“Through storm clouds?” I ask.

“Fine, we’re going to look around,” Noah says.

“Okay,” my mom says. “But make sure you take flashlights and keep your phones on ring.”

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