Page 157 of Requiem for Love

“Audrey, careful,” Joel warned again. “Eesh is precious cargo.”

Audrey released and stood next to her, and for as big as Joel’s sister’s personality could be, they were close in height, with Audrey coming up roughly a half-inch shorter.

“That was a,” Audrey bent forward, half-breathing, half-laughing, “full-on sprint I did to get over here.”

Joel’s lips twitched. “On knees that are pushing forty.”

Audrey straightened, mouth open.

“Can you wait until after we take pictures to kill him?” Ayesha asked. “The bloody tux might stand out.”

“She won’t hurt me,” Joel said. “I have you.”

“You do not,” Ayesha countered.

Audrey narrowed her gaze at him. “I’ll let you have that one because it’s your wedding day, but one is all you’ll get, little brother.”

Audrey returned to the reception, turning around at the last minute to give Joel the finger.

“She might spare me if you tell her I have a kid on the way,” he suggested.

Ayesha spotted the group and the photographer and headed toward them.

“Eesh? Maybe you didn’t hear me. She might spare me if you tell her I have a kid on the way.”

She picked up her pace.

“Eesh? Ayesha, get back here.”

They took pictures, both as a couple and with the entire team and their families. The photographer snapped poses, and Ayesha caught him snapping several candid photos. There was one she reminded herself to specifically request, of Joel and the guys standing near a thicket of trees, laughing and complaining that they didn’t know how Giorgio always ended up looking the best in his tux.

“Olà, querida.”

“Adrían! You came!” As she pulled him into a hug, she felt him sigh. Hopefully, one day, he met someone who deserved a soul as beautiful as his.

She released him.

He looked terrific in a white dress shirt, vest, slacks, and tie, all in a bluish-gray, perfectly complementing his complexion. His tattoos rose above his collar like vines, and his hair fell in thick, shiny waves and curls.

“I was invited. Of course, I came.” He looked at the group and then turned back to her, his voice low.“A propósito, você está linda, minha querida.You look lovely.”

“What was that?” Joel yelled across the lawn. “Eesh, what’d he just say? Not the English part.”

“Is he reading my lips? From that far?”

She shook her head and told Joel to focus on taking his photos.“Thank you, Adrían,” she said. “And I appreciate you being here.”

“It’s a perfect day for a wedding. Even the heavens are as happy for you as I am.”

“You are?”

“Definitely. Your…Joel, he’s a good guy.”

“I saw my name,” Joel yelled again.

“If any of these pictures come out bad because of you, you’ll have me to deal with,” Ayesha warned him.

Mikeoohedand nudged Joel’s shoulder.

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