Page 116 of Love or Leave

She gave a side-long glance to Antonio and wished she could read his mind. They hadn't really talked aboutthemsince they officially became a couple. It had only been a few weeks, but she wanted to make sure they were on the track she wanted to be on.

Her fingers tightened around his. "I want this to be us someday," she said in a near whisper, as if she was confessing.

Antonio didn't flinch. He didn't even blink. He just turned toward her and smiled his heart-stopping smile.

"I talked to Max this morning about us," he said.

She blinked, surprised. "You did?"

Antonio nodded.

What the hell? Why wouldn't he just talk to her?

Antonio turned toward her, took both her hands. He probably sensed her annoyance. "I just wanted him to know my intentions. Full transparency."

Cara wanted to roll her eyes, but more than that, she wanted to know what they talked about. "Your intentions?"

He stared at her for a moment, carefully choosing his words. "I want a future with you, and I want…"

"What?" she asked, impatient with his trailing off. She silently hoped he was ready to take the next step.

She knew she was ready.

"I want you to consider moving in with me."

His words removed all the tension her body was holding. She sank in relief.

Thank God he was on the same page as her.

She hadn't wanted to invite herself to move in with him, but she was definitely considering it.

Her shoulders relaxed and she moved in closer, leaning against his chest. "I thought I was going to have to gradually leave my stuff at your place until you got the hint."

He gave a soft laugh and brushed a thumb over her cheek. "Why don't you just think of it as yourplace, and move everything in all at once?"

Cara stood on her tiptoes and kissed him as his arms came around her back and lifted her into the air.

Antonio set her down and smiled into her eyes. "We'll make it our home together."

She beamed and kissed him again. It seemed like they were heading toward their own wedding someday.

And someday didn't feel too far away at all.

Ethan sat at the head table, quietly nursing a beer as laughter and music swirled around the reception. He'd carefully planned out his speech weeks before and printed it on a single index card. Short and sweet, as Adam requested.

He'd even rehearsed it out loud to Natalie as they cuddled on the couch in their home the night before. So he was ready whenAdam's uncle, who'd been emceeing for the evening, appeared at his side with a grin and a microphone.

"Best man means you're the speech guy," he said.

Ethan smiled and took the mic, then stood and gently tapped a dessert spoon on a crystal water glass. The sound echoed across the warm, candlelit room as everyone turned to look at him. He pulled his index card from his breast pocket and began.

"Adam and I met when we were seven years old playing on the same little league team," Ethan said. "He showed up to the first game wearing two left cleats because, and I quote, 'the right one didn't feel right.'"

Laughter rumbled through the room and Adam shrugged, as if that made perfect sense.

"When we were in grade eight, he asked my why a skeleton wouldn't want to go to a dance.”

“Because he had nobodyto go with," Adam piped up from his seat.