I can see horses and sheep in some of the fields, adding to the peacefulness of the scene.
However, everything that’s happening before us isn’t peaceful in the least.
Despite it being a small last-minute wedding, there’s a ton of people here running around, setting it up for tomorrow. It looks like the ceremony will take place in the field in front of the house, but there are tents erected too, I suppose in case the weather turns, though the land looks so dry I can’t even imagine it raining here.
And there, striding toward us from the house, hand-in-hand, are Luciano and Ruby.
I step out of the van, following Chloe Ann, and get a better look.
Mateo teases me about how protective I can be over the team’s ex-captain. It’s because Luciano is so full of life, so easy to get along with, lovely to be around. He turns into a major brooding grump from time to time, but even then you just want him to buck up and be happy.
And, so, this is the woman who apparently makes him happy.
Okay, I shouldn’t be so judgey. It’s not my nature, especially when I’ve spent most of my life having people judge me. They still do. They judge me for my tattoos, they judge me for having slept with a married man, they judge me for marrying that said man. Those people don’t understand though, and they don’t want to.
But I want to understand Ruby. I really do.
She’s beautiful, of course I never expected anything less from Luciano, since he’s one of the most handsome men I’ve known, aside from my own husband, who of course always comes out on top.
And I can see why Mateo might think we are alike on appearances alone.
She has a large rack, and even though her tank top has a high-neckline, it doesn’t stop the cleavage. Lord, I know there’s not much we chesty girls can do about that. She’s also on the heavier side, probably about the size as I am, all boobs and hips and ass. Her long black hair swoops freely over her shoulders, and she’s wearing a wicked shade of red lipstick on her very full pout. I immediately need to know what color and brand it is, because finding a true blue-based red lipstick is so hard to find.
Luciano looks amazing, of course. I hate to use the term glowing, but the Portuguese motherfucker is glowing. He’s got a beard, he’s more tanned than I’m used to, dressed down in a white t-shirt and black jeans, his muscles taking on the look of a man who lifts hay bales for a living rather than kick a ball around. It’s still hot, not that it’s my place to say.
“You made it!” Luciano says with a whoop, proceeding to hug and kiss the cheeks of all of us.
“So glad you’re here,” he tells me, holding my shoulders with his hands as he gives me a warm smile. “Let me introduce you to my fiancée. I guess I can only call her that for one more day.”
“Ruby,” he says to her, gesturing for her to come closer. “This is Vera. Vera this is Ruby.”
“Hi,” she says with a big smile. My god she has white teeth. She sticks out her hand. “We kind of met once. At least you were there and I was there.”
I shake her hand. She has a good grip. “I was probably drunk.”
“So was I,” she says with a laugh. Then she’s introduced to Chloe Ann, Thalia, and David Roberto, before we all head up to the house.
The farmhouse is pretty damn big, but it’s not big enough for all of us to sleep in. Chloe Ann quickly claims one of the spare bedrooms in the house for herself, while Mateo and I take a room in the guest cabin, where Alejo and Thalia also have a room. Chloe Ann looks pleased as punch to not be sleeping near us for the next two days.
Then more introductions are made.
I meet Luciano’s friend Benedito, who used to play on Sporting Lisbon with him, along with his lovely wife Teresa. There’s Ruby’s best friend Elena, a pretty Finnish girl with a wicked sense of deadpan humor, and Ruby’s father and stepmother, who are very Texan in the best way.
Everyone goes off and gets settled. Dinner is supposed to be split up today, with the girls part of the bachelorette party, and the boys having the bachelor party. We’re all taking part, except for Ruby’s family who seem more than happy to opt out and have dinner in the nearest town.
So, Thalia and I get ready for a party, even though Ruby already told us we’ll just stay in and have some drinks, on account of there being a thirteen year old girl in the mix, and two babies (David Roberto, and Alice, who is Marco and his wife Ines’ daughter).
That’s fine with me. After the flight and everything, I’m ready to just have a relaxing night in. Give me some wine and some girl time, and I’m a happy camper.
The men, on the other hand, have rented a fucking boat. Luciano is captain again, this time of a booze cruise. We watch as they pile into a couple of cabs and they take off down the road, heading to the harbor. I made Mateo promise me he wouldn’t drink too much, lest he falls off the boat. I don’t know if he has sea legs or not and I don’t want him to find out the hard way.
“Does Luciano even know how to drive a boat?” I ask Ruby as we walk back into the house.
She shrugs, smiling. “I don’t know, but there’s nothing that man can’t do.”
“That’s true.”
“I’m really glad to properly meet you again,” she says to me, leaning in closer. “Luciano tells me all the time that we’d get
