Page 147 of Along Came Amor
“Obviously. I don’t know how she got the groomsmen to join the strippers, but that was genius.” Ronnie’s drink appeared on the bar, topped with a Maraschino cherry. She picked it up and turned to face the rest of the club. “Speaking of, is that Ashton’s friend?”
Ava had already spotted Roman making his way onto the dance floor, probably looking for her. She didn’t say anything.
Ronnie sent her a sly look. “He’s pretty cute. And I heard he’s single.”
A chill went down Ava’s spine. The dramatic irony was going to kill her.
“Oh yeah?” she heard herself say. She tried to summon her Resting Pleasant Face but didn’t have the energy.
“Just saying, you don’t need to be alone forever. And you could do a lot worse than a guy like that.”
Sarcastic Ava wanted to say,If I were in a relationship, who would be your last minute babysitter?But she didn’t. Ronnie meant well. Even if she did sound exactly like their grandmother.
And then, Ava surprised herself by saying just that. “You sound like Abuela.”
Ronnie blanched. “Damn, you’re right. It’s wild how their limiting beliefs sink into us, even if we want to believe we’re more evolved and shit. Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Ava picked up her ginger ale, just to have something to do with her hands. Ronnie had unknowingly said something extremely wise.
It’s wild how their limiting beliefs sink into us...
But Ava was too tired to fully examine it.
“I’m going to get back out there,” Ronnie said. “Feel better, Ava.”
“You too.”
The reply had been automatic, and luckily, Ronnie hadn’t heard her over the music. It was a sign that Ava was too much in her head. She needed to get out of here.
Except...
She pressed her fingers to her eyes, which had started to feel dry and achy—a sure sign that she needed to take something if she wanted to stave off a migraine. Roman was going to be sodisappointed that she hadn’t told Jasmine. No matter what she did, she was hurting someone.
Be good, Ava.
She tried. She really did. But it was never enough.
It was never going to be enough.
After texting her mother that she had a headache, Ava slipped from the party without saying goodbye to anyone.
Scared Ava was firmly in control. And it sucked.
Chapter 45
One Day Until the Wedding
The next day, Roman texted Ava multiple times, but she either didn’t respond or said she was “busy.”
He had a feeling he knew why.
But she couldn’t avoid him forever. They both had to attend the rehearsal. And after a call with Camille that morning, he was going to explode if he didn’t tell Ava his news soon.
Belinda gathered everyone on the beach. It was late afternoon, and as hot and humid as one would expect from late August in Puerto Rico. A few markers were set in the sand to show where the chairs, aisle, and arch would be. The crashing surf provided the soundtrack, reminding Roman of the last time he’d been here, when he’d lost his swim trunks. The groomsmen and bridesmaids were all there, along with Jasmine’s parents and brother. Yadiel was present in his capacity as ring bearer and Michelle’s ten-year-old niece, Danica, was the flower girl.
Jasmine had decided to walk herself down the aisle, but her parents would be waiting for her. When she reached the arch, they would take their seats. Jasmine’s brother was going to reada poem, chosen by the bride and groom. Then, the officiant would perform a short ceremony.
Ashton had told Roman there had been some drama over the officiant. Jasmine had asked Miriam Perez, who’d played her onscreen mother inCarmen in Charge, to perform the ceremony. Miriam, in addition to being a renowned improv actress, had also officiated dozens of weddings. But Jasmine’s grandmother had booked a priest without clearing it with anyone first. A huge argument had ensued, and Esperanza hadn’t let it go until Ashton played the machísmo card and intervened.
