Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“What? I thought you wanted tacos too.”
“I do,” I say, still chucking. I squeeze her hand before pointing to her ring finger. “I was talking about what I thought would look good right here.”
Her eyes sparkle as those lips curve up in a sneaky grin. “A taco could fit there.”
I narrow my gaze, and she sputters with laughter. I cuddle her closer, kissing her lips with all the love I feel flowing through me. She cups my face, deepening the kiss, and everything fades away as I’m fully engrossed in this girl. Like it always does.
When she pulls back, I bring her hand up, kissing each fingertip, her palm, and then her knuckles. “Or my ring.”
Her eyes dance with mine as she swallows. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve been sure,” I say, moving my other hand from her belly to my back pocket for my wallet. I let go of her hand as she watches me open my wallet, sliding out a little white velvet pouch. I didn’t want a ring box since I wasn’t sure when I would get her to agree to marry me. I wanted the ring on my person at all times, and this was the best way. Before I can open the pouch, though, she covers it with her hand.
“Maybe we should wait,” she suggests, and I hold her gaze.
“For?”
“I need to tell you something.”
I search her gaze. “Do you plan on taking it off after I put it on and you tell me what you’ve got to tell me?”
“No, but you might want it back.”
I scoff, opening the pouch and holding up the gold band with a single two-carat heart-shaped diamond. Her eyes widen, tears spilling over, as she gawks up at me. I kiss her ring finger then slide the ring down it. I look into her eyes and, in Spanish, I whisper, “I’ll never ask for it back. It’s yours if you’ll have me as yours.”
Her lip quivers before she whispers, “Alex…”
“Be my wife.”
She nods slowly and then whispers, “You’re mine.”
“Yes, mami. I am.”
“And I’m yours.”
“Forever,” I tell her, meaning every single syllable that leaves my lips.
Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, can change how I feel about this girl.
I only need for her to believe that.
CHAPTER 31
Elliot
The weight of the ring on my finger is heavy.
Physically and metaphorically.
It’s hard to ignore the weight when I’m being shown off to his family, pride and love in Alex’s eyes. If I’m honest with myself, he’s never looked at me with anything but love. As much as I want to try to convince myself that this thing between us isn’t real, I know it is. He has been consistent the whole time I’ve known him. I was the one pushing him away, but I can’t any longer. I don’t want to.
I rub the band of the ring with my thumb as I watch him hug his mom. She whispers something in his ear, kissing him loudly on the cheek. The party is still in full swing, but Alex has practice in the morning and I’m exhausted. And overwhelmed. Still, I plaster a big grin on my face as she takes my hand, bringing me into her arms. I melt into her motherly embrace and sigh deeply.
She kisses my cheek then my temple before gripping my biceps and meeting my gaze. “Did you have fun?”
I smile widely, not faking it. “So much fun. I’m so full.”
She beams. “Good.” She cups my cheek. “I’ll see you at the game, yes? We sit together?”
I nod eagerly. “I’d love that. I have to work, but I can sit with you most of the time.”
“I got a box for you guys,” Alex says, and his mom beams.
“Great. So, you come and go, and I’ll love on you in between, yes?”
Tears burn my eyes. “Yes. I’d love that.”
She wraps me in another hug, kissing my cheek. Against my ear, she says, “I know you don’t have a mom, so I’ll be yours, okay?”
My heart clenches as I blink back my tears. The whole night, she asked me everything and anything she could think of. She fed me, she hugged me, and she showed me off like Alex did. I noticed she did that for Alex’s sisters-in-law as well. Gladys Cruz loves hard, openly, and I think I fell in love with her tonight too.
“Thank you,” I say on a sigh as she pulls back, cradling my stomach.
She rubs her grandson and then smiles up at me. “You got my number?”
I nod. “I do.”
“Good. Send me all the belly pictures, and I’ll come stay when he gets here.”
Emotion squeezes my throat as I nod. “I can’t wait.”
She kisses my cheek again and then pats the spot she kissed. “Go on, you’re tired.”
I throw a wide smile at her as Alex’s fingers thread with mine, and he guides me away. I look up at him as he waves back to his mom, and the walls I thought I’d successfully thrown up crack a bit. Once more, I’m rubbing the ring on my finger as he opens the door for me and helps me in. After putting on my seat belt, I hear my phone sound with a text. I open to find it’s from Gladys, three pictures of Alex and me dancing. In one, he has his forehead to mine, his hands cradling my stomach as we grin at each other. The next, my back is to his front as he holds me, his mouth nuzzled in my neck as I smile widely. And in the last one, he is sliding the ring down my finger, his eyes locked on mine, and I’m smiling so damn big.