Page 123 of Yours, Finally

"Now we're talking," he said, and kissed me some more.

It took us a while to stop, but we eventually did.

He put his forehead on mine. "Can you believe we're in the kitchen, kissing like this?"

"I can, but more than anything? I'm just happy."

He sighed and gave me one more kiss. "Loving you is inevitable. I'm glad I can show that to the world now."

I smiled, high on the joy flooding my bloodstream. "That first kiss in the gala a couple of years ago? To think you told me you were prepared to see me falling for someone else."

"I have never been happier to be proven wrong."

"I have never been happier to see that making mistakes isn't a sentence."

"And now to see how everyone else reacts."

"How about we shock them? Let's give them no warnings."

"I would say that's a little devious… but I won't, because it's making me laugh to imagine some of their faces. I can't wait to see how they react."

"People at the party, or people tomorrow at the office?"

"Everyone. I want everyone to know, and be happy for us. Or not. I will be on cloud nine anyway."

Later, we said goodbye at the kitchen door, agreeing to meet first thing in the morning at the office. I closed the door, myheart beating like a hummingbird's, but I watched him through the window.

He lifted both arms above his head in a celebratory gesture. His smile was wide and happy, like he'd been the underdog to his own story, but had won the match for the whole team.

I laughed and blew a kiss at him through the window, before he pumped his fist in the air one more time.

Chapter 37

Jake

I stood by thebig double doors to Remington Estate, partially hidden by the stone pillars arching around the entrance. Vi was in charge of driving her parents in, under the pretense that they lived together, and we had found a special place for our simple dinner.

"I can't wait to see their reaction." Max rubbed his hands together, a charming, playful smile on his face.

He, Javier, Gabe, and I waited for the guests of honor by the door. Across the large hall behind us, Lina and Eva chatted while guarding the entrance to the ballroom.

Behind them, people buzzed about, catching up after years without seeing each other in some cases. Servers walkedaround offering drinks and finger foods, and laughter exploded randomly like popcorn.

I smiled. "They'll be here any minute now."

"Ope— they're here now!" Gabe made a sign to Lina, and she and Eva closed the doors to the ballroom.

Vi's car made it into the yard, slowly rolling to us. The guys and I waited by the door on the small terrace outside; seeing us would make it seem more of a normal evening. The car parked by the entrance stairs, the big fountain behind it. The four of us went down to meet them; I rushed to open Vi's door while Gabe opened his mom's.

"What a joy to see you all here!" Tía Sonia kissed Gabe on the cheek, and hugged Max and Javier hello since she hadn't seen them in a while longer.

I casually gave Vi a kiss hello, but neither Max or Javier noticed.

"Thank you for joining us for dinner tonight," Tío Raúl said, and he, Vi, and I joined the rest of the group by the stairs. "Did Eva make it, Max?"

"Of course, yes. She wouldn't miss it. We're in awe that there is such a thing as parental figures who made it to forty years together. We want to take notes!"

Tía and tío laughed.