Page 24 of All's Fair in Love & Vegas

“Ourkids.”

Thepause between us is awkward whenZakrealizes what he said, but a grin bursts on my face.

“Ithink you’ll be a girl dad,”Isay. “I’vealways likedLilianaandMiranda.”

“Twingirls?”

Ilace our fingers. “Imean, probably, right?”

Coolwater rushes over our hands asZakgently swings our arms through the green water. “LilianaandMirandaRamos.Andtheir mama,StephaniRamos.”Myheart explodes in my chest as he peers over at me with the signatureRamossmirk. “Ilike the sound of that.”

Ilove it, too, but my expression slips. “Idon’t want to be likeKris, though,”Iadd softly. “Idon’t want kids anytime soon.Iwanna go on world tours withTimelessand make more music.”

“Hey,” he calls out, tugging me closer. “Noneof this is happening tomorrow.Maybeone day. ’Causebelieve me, babe,Igot a lot left in me beforeIwanna slow down.”

Reliefwashes over me, unfurling the growing tension in my muscles until they sway with the water keeping us afloat.

Mockingbirdssquawk in the huisache along the riverbank, mocking the group ahead of us.

Zak’sdark, wet hair falls over his shoulders, the tips submerged in the river and sticking to the parts of his flesh already populated with the beginnings of sleeves—black outlines of roses and shattered clocks waiting to be filled in with color or shading that he hasn’t decided on yet.

“Whatdo you want,Z?”Iask.

“Ahouse,” he replies, “with a backyard big enough to build my beautiful wife her recording studio and practice space forTimeless.”Hissnake bites spread far apart. “Andtwo little girls namedLilianaandMirandabecause my wife andIpicked out their names when we were eighteen.”

Ifmy heart could stop thudding so hard soIcould breathe, that would be great.

“Whatmakes you so sure about us?”Iask.

“Ijust know.”

Isquint at him. “Brujo.”

Hechuckles and splashes me with water. “Yousay that like it’s a dirty word.”

Itake a chilly, sweet sip ofBigRed, gently tugging at his fingers, picturing that kind of future with him.

EverytimeI’vethought about the future, it’s always been muddy and indiscernible.ButwhenZakbrings my hand to his lips, plants a kiss, and grins at me with those gorgeous features, the mud disappears and the future becomes clear as day.

Foreverwith him is the only thingIcan see.

Chapter10

“A.W.O.L.”

–Monuments

Myeyesache from the sunlight streaming in through the window.Afterhiding out in my room from whoever was on the porch, they refused to shut, andIdidn’t sleep at all.

Instead,Itexted someone familiar, someone safe and oblivious to everything that’s happened sinceI’vebeen back inSanAntonio.

Myphone vibrates on the mattress.There’sa photo attached to the text.

Mydumbass is so used to picking up your coffee otw to the studio and nowI’mstuck with two coffees this morning lol

Sureyou can’t deliver?

Isthat an invitation?

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