Page 149 of Along Came Amor
Roman took his place next to Ava at the little orange flag that marked the start of the aisle. She’d finally removed the sunglasses and he desperately wanted to talk to her, but her serene smile was firmly in place and he knew there was no reaching her now. So he held his tongue and offered her his elbow.
Walking down the aisle with her was bittersweet. One of her hands was on his arm, and she pretended to hold a bouquet in the other. Her eyes remained straight ahead and it was a wonder Roman didn’t trip because he couldn’t look away from her. For the briefest moment, they stood in the spot where the arch would go, and in his imagination, they weren’t maid of honor and best man, but bride and groom. Then the momentwas over and they parted to stand on either side of the imaginary arch, waiting for Gabe and Michelle to join them next.
Once everyone was assembled in the proper order, Belinda called, “And now it’s Jasmine’s turn!” She began to hum a slightly off-key rendition of “Here Comes the Bride.”
As Jasmine started down the aisle, it was clear why she was an award-winning actress. She moved with gravitas and grace, like she was clad in a diamond-encrusted gown with an eight-foot-long train instead of a white tank top and denim shorts. Roman glanced over at Ashton, who watched Jasmine walk toward him with his heart in his eyes. Then Roman looked to Ava. She still wore the same placid expression, but he knew her well enough now to know the truth: this experience was breaking her. It was there in the tightness around her eyes, the pinch of her mouth, the set of her shoulders. She was holding herself very still, as if the slightest breeze would shatter her into a million pieces.
He wanted to hold her, to comfort her, to fix whatever was hurting her. But he couldn’t. She wouldn’tlethim. And it was tearing him apart inside.
This ends today, he thought. No more hiding. No more secrets. Come hell or high water, they were getting to the bottom of whatever was still holding her back, and he would convince her tolet him fucking help.
Somehow, he got through the rest of the rehearsal. Most of it was a blur. He couldn’t have said what poem Jasmine’s brother read, or what the officiant said, even though it had everyone laughing. All of his attention was on Ava.
When it was over and they all filed off in pairs, he stayed close to her and spoke out of the corner of his mouth. “Let’s go inside and talk before everyone else gets to the dinner.”
She gave him a brief nod and slipped her sunglasses back on. They made their way over the sand and across the pool deck, where they had once flirted and lathered each other in sunscreen.
The exact spot where Roman had realized he was in love with her.
As they passed the rows of lounge chairs, his steps slowed and he fondly remembered that day. A few people sat sipping drinks, their faces shielded from the sun by beach umbrellas tilted low. Two women were chatting loudly in Spanish, their voices clearly audible over the music drifting from the bar inside.
“Where’s Gloria?” one of the women said. “I thought you were bringing her as your guest.”
Ava froze, and Roman nearly ran into her. Alarmed, he turned her to face him. Was it her headache? Was she going to faint? He opened his mouth to ask, but she pressed a finger to her lips to shush him. He played back the question he had overheard. The name “Gloria” sounded familiar but he couldn’t say why.
An older woman’s voice responded in Spanish. “Jasmine said no.” The words were punctuated with an offended sniff.
Ava grabbed Roman’s arm, whether to stop him from interrupting or for emotional support, he wasn’t sure. He stood still and listened.
“Why?” the first speaker asked.
“Because of Ava.”
“Oh, that’s right. Gloria was her mother-in-law.”
Ah.Thatwas why the name sounded familiar. He kept his gaze on Ava, who fairly vibrated with tension. He suspected she knew exactly who the women were.
The second speaker went on. “After everything Gloria did for her, Ava won’t even answer her calls.” Atsk. “So selfish.”
Next to Roman, Ava sucked in a sharp breath. He wanted to hold her, but her grip on his arm was like iron. His blood started to boil.
“Is Ava still upset over the divorce?”
“You know how she is. Always too sensitive.”
“I heard Hector is getting married again.” The first speaker’s tone held the hush of hot chisme.
“Yes. To some girl from the neighborhood.”
“Is she pretty?”
Another sniff. “Not as pretty as Ava.”
“Well, who is?” The woman’s tone turned thoughtful. “With that face, you’d think she’d be able to find another man.”
“She’s not trying. I told her to apologize. You don’t have to mean it, I said. But men like to think they’re right.”
“Did she do it?”
