Page 79 of Good Luck Charm for the Wolf

But hey, I have sisters who believe in me and a job that keeps my hands busy.

I take a deep breath, smooth my hands over my hips, and push out into the restaurant.

Except something’s off.

The lights are lower.

Soft music plays from the speakers. Not the usual pop playlist.

This is something sweeter.

Romantic, even.

And the smell isn’t pizza.

It’s, I don’t know. Flowers?

I blink, scanning the room, and nearly stumble as my brain tries to process what I’m seeing.

Flowers. And not just flowers.

But carnations.

Like from our first dinner together.

My heart squeezes as I take them in.

Carnations.

In every color.

Dozens.

And they are everywhere.

I am talking vases on every table. Garlands of them hanging from the ceiling.

My sisters are standing next to one another, and Horace is behind Carina, his big hands on her shoulders. They’re smiling, their eyes glistening with unshed tears as I try to comprehend.

Something catches my gaze and there, just above the mural, I see it.

A giant banner stretched across the back wall that reads in bold, playful script:

FATE MAY HAVE STARTED THIS, BUT I CHOOSE YOU.

My heart stops.

No.

No way.

Can it be?

I step further in, completely disoriented now, and that’s when I see the rest of the people gathered.

Uncle Uzzi. Mrs. Giancarlo. That woman, the ex-client, and her husband who were with Doug the first time I really saw him inside this place.

A few regulars, too. And some people I vaguely recognize from previous encounters.

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