Page 167 of Along Came Amor
Ava and Roman were spinning around the dance floor to a Marc Anthony song when Ashton grabbed Roman’s shoulder.
“Mira,” he commanded, turning Roman to the left.
They all looked, and Ava’s mouth dropped open. Roman’s mother and Ashton’s father were dancing a few feet away, but that wasn’t all they were doing.
They were alsokissing.
Ignacio caught the guys watching and smirked. “What, you two are the only ones allowed to have a secret romance?”
Ashton looked shell-shocked, and Roman appeared to be hiding a grin. He elbowed Ashton in the side.
“Guess we’ll be brothers in real life too.”
Ashton sent Roman and Ava a wounded look. “That makes you two related,” he retorted, and stalked off.
“No it doesn’t,” Roman called after him, then turned to Ava. “It doesn’t, right?”
She laughed and shook her head. “Ashton is only my cousin by marriage. We’re in the clear.”
“Whew.” He wiped his forehead in mock-relief.
The reception was a blast. Ava danced with her dad, her grandparents, Willow, Michelle, Titi Val, Gabe, and Damaris. Damaris flirted with Lily Benitez, one of Jasmine’s former costars, and Mikayla chatted excitedly with Willow, who was recounting the drama from the night before. The food was delicious, and the cake—vanilla with lemon and raspberry—was divine. Every time Ava looked at Jasmine, there was a huge smile on her cousin’s face.
And every time Ava looked at Roman, her own face broke into a grin.
She was fanning herself after an energetic salsa with Tío Luisito when Roman approached, holding two glasses of the guava colada. He passed one to her, and they stood and sipped, surveying the party in full swing around them.
“We did it,” he said, gesturing toward Ashton and Jasmine. “They’re married. Mission accomplished.”
“Good work, best man,” she said, nudging him with her shoulder.
He put his arm around her and held her snug against his side. “Back at you, maid of honor.”
Ava cleared her throat. “You know... I’m still not sure if I want to get married again. And if I do, I don’t want all this.”
He met her gaze. “Ava, it’s okay if—”
“But I don’t think I’d be opposed to eloping.”
His eyebrows shot up, and his expression of shock morphed into glee. “Right now?”
She laughed and leaned into him. “Not this very minute, but... maybe someday.”
He hugged her tighter. “That’s good enough for me. And wheneversomedaycomes...” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. “I’m ready.”
Ava’s eyes went wide and her hand flew to her mouth. “Is that a—”
He nodded.
“When did you—”
“A month ago. Of course, the one time I didn’t have it on me, I accidentally proposed.” He grimaced.
When she reached for the box, he tsked and held it away, fighting back a grin. “You get it when you say yes. Notmaybe.”
Ava sputtered out a laugh. “I don’t even get to see it?”
“No.”
