Page 168 of Along Came Amor
“How do I know there’s a ring in there? It could be empty.”
He appeared to be considering her question, then, quick as a wink, he opened and shut the box. Too fast for her to see any details, but enough for her to note the flash of gold and sparkle inside.
Therewasa ring. He wasn’t bluffing.
Holy shit.
“Don’t feel pressured,” he warned. “Just because I always want more doesn’t mean I’m not happy or that you aren’t giving enough. You’ll never be too much or too little for me, Ava.”
Her eyes stung. She’d never realized just how much she’d needed to hear that from someone. Tofeelthat. To rest easy in the knowledge that she didn’t have to be perfect to be loved.
“I love you,” she whispered.
His smile softened and he set their drinks aside on a high table, taking her in his arms. “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
“One more time.”
She melted against him. “I love you.”
He kissed her, long, slow, and all-consuming. Just the way she liked. He shifted back just enough to breathe, “I love you, too,” against her lips.
Behind them, someone muttered, “They’re next.”
Ava turned her head to grin at Titi Nereida. “Maybe.”
But she knew, deep down, that the answer wasyes.
Epilogue
Next Year
“How’s the drama program coming along?” Jasmine asked.
“Really well,” Ava replied, shaking the ice in her lemonade. She and Roman had spent the past two months in Europe, and Ava had a lot to catch up on with her cousins. While away, they’d worked remotely—Roman on Casa Donato, and Ava on building a nonprofit to pair public schools in the outer boroughs with Broadway actors for in-class drama workshops. “We’re about to start a four-week summer camp and we’re all set to launch in the new school year.”
“That’s fantastic,” Jasmine said, as Michelle came over to join them. They all winced at Yadiel’s ear-splitting scream as Gabe tossed him into the pool.
They were gathered in the backyard of Roman’s house in Los Angeles—or rather, Ava’s house. For someone who’d struggled to feel at home anywhere, it was taking some time for her to get used to the idea that all of Roman’s homes were now hers, too.
Jasmine opened her mouth to speak, then her eyes went round. “Is that aring?”
“Oh my god, you did it.” Michelle snatched up Ava’s left hand. “You eloped!”
“While we were in Europe,” Ava said, blushing, as she told her cousins how it happened.
One night, when she and Roman were in Paris, Ava had turned to him as they were walking back to their hotel from dinner, and said, “I’m ready.”
Roman dropped to one knee then and there, to the delight of the patrons at the sidewalk cafe beside them.
“Is that a yes?” he’d asked.
Tears sprang to her eyes as she’d nodded. “It’s a yes.”
As promised, he finally showed her the ring, but only as he was sliding it on her finger. Except Ava couldn’t look away from his face, at the open vulnerability that had drawn her in from the moment they’d first met.
“I love you so much,” she whispered as tears spilled down her cheeks. “I’ll never be able to say it enough.”
