Page 28 of Ruined in Vows

“Stop being so obvious. Your papà is looking this way,” Athena whispers in my ear, snapping me from my trance. My eyes shift, noticing my father, brother and the balloons decorating the room, for the first time. I mean I knew they were here, but when Dante is around me everyone else seems to fade into the background.

Plastering on a smile, I take small steps toward Papà who is leaning against the bar. He eyes me suspiciously, taking a sip of expensive scotch.

“Papà,” I greet, hugging him and hoping to distract him from whatever he thinks he saw.

Placing his glass on the bar top, he places his hands on my shoulders, kissing one cheek then the other. “Happy birthday, sweetheart,” he murmurs, his lips curved up in a subtle smile. He has never been overly affectionate, so I will take it.

“Thank you,” I reply, beaming at him. It’s times like this that I like my papà, but they are fleeting. Ninety nine percent of the time he is a controlling tyrant.

Before he can say more, I turn to face my brother. He takes me in a hug, whispering in my ear, “Happy eighteenth birthday, Leg.” He pulls back, producing a gift bag.

Taking it from him, I slide my hand inside, pulling out a small black velvet box. Flipping the lid open, I gasp at the sight of the earrings staring back at me. They must be at least two carats. My assumption is proven correct when Nico speaks. “Two Carat, brilliant cut, platinum, pear shaped stud earrings.”

“I love them.” I murmur.

He smiles. “Good. A special gift for a special birthday.”

“Nice. Can I expect the same for my eighteenth birthday,” Athena teases, staring at my brother with heart eyes. Just like I knew he would, he ignores her completely, turning back to thebar and reaching for his drink. “I take it that was a no,” Athena mumbles and I can’t help the snort that leaves me.

“Shall we sit? Dinner is being served at eight.” Mamma looks down at the Rolex on her wrist, a gift from my papà - no doubt for one of his many transgressions.

“Let the girls get a drink first, Val,” Papà grunts, waving for the server. He appears with a tray full of glasses filled with pink sparkling liquid. Pink champagne. We are all handed a glass and before I can take a sip, Papà adds. “Dom Perignon Plenitude 2.”

“Let’s get some pictures before we drink.” Lillia says excitedly, pulling her cell phone from her purse.

I resist a groan. Though I have never had any kind of social media account, for obvious reasons, my friends all have them and are constantly posting every facet of their lives. It’s always been a source of contention within my friend group, especially when they want to post me across their accounts, and I have to reject their requests. For my own safety, and my family’s, it is better for my face not to be plastered everywhere. Something my friends don’t understand.

“Where will these pictures end up?” I ask pointedly.

Lillia rolls her eyes. “I know the deal, Allegra. No faces on social media. Let's get one of us clinking glasses. At least then we have something to remember your birthday by.” She smiles.

“Okay,” I agree, following Lillia’s instructions as she takes several pictures of the four of us clinking glasses.

When we are done, I sip my champagne slowly, awareness trickling through my veins when I feel eyes on me. Glancing around, I find Dante in conversation with my brother, but his eyes are on me. It’s only then, I remember I haven’t spoken to him since I arrived.

Finding my papà distracted with Mamma, I make my way over to them. Dante’s lips curve up into a smile the closer I get, and I can’t help my own forming.

“Hey,” I say, coming up to stand beside him.

He curls one hand around my waist, pulling me in close as he presses a kiss to my cheek. My breath hitches in my throat. Dante has always been nice to me, but he has never openly touched me, kissed me, or been so reckless with his affections.

“Happy birthday, principessa,” he murmurs, sliding his hand in his pocket and pulling out a familiar red box with gold scripted writing. My eyes snap to his, chest heaving with the quickness of my pulse. Is this what I think it is? He hands it to me, clearing his throat. “I know you’ve wanted this for a while now.”

My heart hammers in my chest as I unclasp the box and flip the lid. Emotion clogs my throat when I see the white gold, Brushed Love Bracelet, sitting on the red cushion. Does he… my thoughts trail off and I shake my head. But… this has to mean something right? It is a love bracelet after all.

“Thank you,” I whisper, meeting his gaze. His face is his usual blank mask, but I see a hint of something more in his brown eyes.

“You are very welcome, principessa.”

“What is it?” my brother's voice breaks our bubble, and I swear Dante takes a step away from me. I glance at Nico to find him frowning down at the box in my hand curiously.

“It’s the love bracelet that I have wanted for a while now,” I tell him.

He chuckles. “You know you could have just asked Mamma to get it for you and she would have.”

I shake my head. “I didn’t want Mamma to buy it for me. I wanted it to…” I trail off, clamping my mouth shut before I say something I shouldn’t. Something like, I wanted it to meansomething, which is why I always brought it up when I was around Dante.

“Okay,” Nico says, his gaze bouncing between us. “Well, let’s sit. Everyone is waiting for us.” I look over my shoulder to find my family and friends sitting around the table, all eyes on us.

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