Page 155 of Along Came Amor
“Of course I have a ring.”
“Where is it?”
“This happens to be the one time I don’t have it on my person.” Roman scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’m an idiot.”
“You’re in love.” Ashton’s words were tinged with schadenfreude. “Welcome to the club, muchacho.”
“Did you mean it?” Gabe asked. “The proposal?”
Roman sighed. “Yeah. But I didn’t expect her to accept. Not yet, anyway.”
Gabe frowned. “Then why bring it up?”
“Ava needs time to get used to things. Besides, I was only trying to get her to hold my hand.”
Gabe’s dark brows rose, impressed. “That’s genius.”
No, it was stupid. Roman had planned to lay the groundwork slowly, not spring the idea of marriage on Ava like a flippant command, and in the least romantic setting possible. But now the question was out there. He couldn’t take it back, couldn’t create the perfect moment to bring it up. Goddamn his impulsive tendencies.
He groaned again. “I need to find her. To explain.”
Ashton rubbed the back of his neck. “I think she’s a little busy right now.”
Roman’s gaze narrowed. “What do you mean?”
Once again, Ashton wouldn’t look at him. “If you think her family let her leave this party without comment, you haven’t been paying attention.”
Roman’s eyes went wide.
“Now,” Ashton said sharply.
Before Roman could take a single step toward the ballroom, Gabe grabbed him in a headlock.
Chapter 48
Ten Minutes Earlier
Ava’s eyes darted around the ballroom, taking note of her relatives like an antelope trying to maneuver through a grassland scattered with lions.
There, by the bar, her mother and Titi Val spoke quickly with their heads together.
Next to the buffet table, Willow and Olympia yelled at each other, tears streaming down their faces.
Behind them, Ava’s father rubbed his temples the way Ava did when she was getting a migraine.
At the edge of the dance floor, Abuela and Michelle argued animatedly, while Titi Nereida prayed the rosary in Spanish at the top of her lungs.
Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores...
For one brief, shining moment, Ava thought she’d be able to sneak out unnoticed.
Until Olympia spotted her.
Her stepmother turned her tear-stained face to Ava and wailed, “How could you say that about me?”
Willow’s face pinched in anger. “Because you’re the evil stepmother, Mom!”
The commotion drew Abuela’s attention and she barreled toward Ava like an oncoming express train, wagging her finger in the air. “Mira, I never said I wanted you to get knocked around.”
