Page 45 of A Sinner's Truth

He got drunk so he could talk to his dead fiancée? Okay, maybe he’s a little more lost in his grief than I originally thought.

“So, sissy, show me around. Does my wife love the place? Because you know what they say:Happy wife, happy life!Although it should probably be:Alive wife, happy life. Am I right?” Santo walks farther into the house.

“I’m sorry,” El mouths to me.

“I should be the one apologising to you,” I tell her. “I’ll try to get him out. You don’t need to deal with this.”

“Gio will be here soon,” she says.

“How often does this happen?” I ask her. I don’t know much about Santo. What I do know is that my heart is hurting for him right now. I understand his grief and his guilt, and I get why he’d feel the need to talk to Shelli. He thinks he’s wronged her in some way by fooling around with me.

“Holy shit, Aria, have you seen this kitchen? It’s insane!” Santo yells out.

“I’ve seen it,” I call back while heading in that direction. I find him standing in the middle of the room.

“Do you want this house?” he asks me.

“Do you?”

“It’s just a house,” he says.

“It’s a house, yes. But it’s the occupants who make it a home,” I tell him.

“Oh, that’s a good line. I’m stealing that one,” Eloise says. “Santo, you need coffee.” She walks towards the coffee machine.

“I don’t need coffee. I need to dance.” He stalks forward, his arms close around my waist, and he picks me up. I squeal as my feet leave the floor and he spins us around.

“Oh my god, stop. Put me down!” I tell him.

“We didn’t have a first dance,” he says.

“Those things are usually skipped when you elope.”

“You should have a big wedding. You’re going to make a very pretty bride one day.” Santo cups my cheeks. I blink up at him. He is the most beautifully broken man I’ve ever seen. His eyes are so dark they’re almost black as they stare back at me with an emotion I’ve never seen on his face before.

“Santo, what’s going on?” Gio’s voice interrupts our moment.

“Bro, I know you’re going to miss me, but we’re moving out,” Santo tells him.

“You’re moving out?”

“Yep. Me and Aria. She’s my wife,” Santo says, while swaying on his feet.

“So I’ve heard. Come on, mate. There’s a job I need you to help me with.” Gio holds out an arm towards the front of the house.

“Thanks for coming.” Eloise kisses her husband briefly on the lips.

“If you call, I come.” He winks at her, and she blushes.

“Aria, you mind going home with El?” Santo asks me. “I’d drive, but… well, I can’t.” He laughs.

“Sure,” I tell him.

Gio grabs Santo by the arm. “Let’s go,” he says before dragging his brother out of the house.

“He’s not going to…” I let my sentence drop off.

“He’ll be fine. Gio will talk to him. They’re all very close, the brothers,” Eloise tells me something I already know.

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