Page 111 of Love or Leave

They grinned at each other and said in unison, "Group chat."

"You answer, I'll drive," Antonio said, opening the door for her.

Cara slipped into the front seat and pulled out her phone.

Max: Where the hell are you two?

She rolled her eyes and replied, letting him know they were on their way, and relaxed into the seat.

Antonio eased out of the driveway and took her hand in his between them. It was easy, comfortable. Natural.

She smiled down at their intertwined fingers, basking in the warmth of his hand. "It's nice to touch you," she said.

Antonio chuckled softly. "I was just thinking the exact same thing."

They drove in peaceful silence, but inside Cara was filled with excited energy. They'd been on a couple of dates, and their friends obviously knew they were together, but this was the first time they would walk into an event, hand in hand, and introduce each other to strangers as each other's significant other.

They pulled into the parking lot of the Mapleton Country Club, and Antonio glanced her way. "Ready?" he asked.

"Oh, yes."

They walked into the Fireplace Lounge and immediately spotted their people, clustered together in the center of the empty room in front of the gigantic fireplace.

It was still two days before the wedding, and the decorators hadn't yet arrived. But she could already tell by the room that their “grounded glam” theme was going to be incredible.

Their friends turned and came toward them at once, like a bunch of planets finding a new center to orbit. They all greeted each other and hugged.

"Why were you late?" Natalie asked with an eyebrow wag that made Max wince.

"My fault," Antonio said. "I had to go home for a gift."

"He got me a board game," Cara said, turning to Antonio, beaming.

He kissed her temple. "Once I'm settled into my new place, I was thinking of having a game night. Everyone's invited."

Willow smiled. "I'm in! I'll bring the beer, but just know I have zero strategy."

Antonio smirked her way. "Even better," he said with a laugh.

The wedding planner and Adam's uncle David came into the room and started directing everyone. Cara felt Antonio's fingers lace with hers again, and she squeezed, never wanting to let go.

She looked around at her friends and knew this was the start of an amazing future together. The next time they were all together, they'd be celebrating something even bigger. But for now, they were here. Together. Out in the open.

Exactly where they were all meant to be.

Adam & Chelsea's Wedding

Willow jolted awake from a queasy wave splashing up her throat. She rolled out of bed and sprinted down the hallway with her hand over her mouth, just barely making it to the toilet in time.

She wished she could chalk it up to nerves—Chelsea was getting married that afternoon and there were a million things to do. Or maybe blame a sudden illness. A twenty-four-hour flu or something.

But this was the third morning in a row. Was there such thing as a seventy-two-hour flu that only made you nauseous in the morning?

She dropped her chin to her chest. She was drowning in denial.

Suddenly she heard movement down the hall, then a frantic knock on the bathroom door.

"Willow?" Chelsea asked, her voice laced with concern.

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