Page 139 of The Catch

His thoughts have followed a similar path to mine. Hearing about my show is the last item in our checklist.

"Not yet," I reply. "What if they haven't responded? What if they did, and I learn they don't want to order the episodes?"

"What if they want ten episodes because they see you as the new face of their food entertainment department?"

I shake my head. "Don't. The disappointment will be too much if I let myself imagine."

"But I must." He kisses me. "Who else but me to put these thoughts in your head? You have a built-in cheerleader at home now."

When he talks about home now, it sounds different than it used to.

He shamelessly snakes a hand to my butt— to steal my phone from my back pocket.

I fake sigh. "We did talk about you wearing a skirt. And now that your sisters are making pompoms for us…"

"Ready?"

I nod. He brings me closer and guides me to tuck my head on his shoulder. He holds out my phone behind me and checks my emails. I take in his smell.

In such a short time, he already feels like home. These three months have changed everything.

I don't need a set of rules anymore. I don't need to prevent things from going awry. I don't need to change myself for the future I want.

He cares about me not for what I do, but because of who I am, and he wants it all.

I close my eyes. For several seconds, all I can hear is his heartbeat and the sounds thirty people make around us. The conversation, the laughter, the promises.

He kisses my temple. "Congratulations, mi bella."

"What?!"

I go rigid in his arms, jumping back enough to study him. I'm breathless.

He kisses me on the lips and grins at me. Dimples pop. Earring shines. Chain peeks.

Why would he be congratulating me, unless… unless he read the email and they did… and I'm going to…

He jumps to a bench in the middle of the room. "Attention, everyone! May I get a big whoop to celebrate Amelia Guerrero, the new host of ‘Food For TheHeart’!"

He points at me with a hand, while inviting me over to stand on the bench with him. People around us start clapping and hollering. In a daze, I take his hand and let him bring me up next to him.

He gives me a smacking kiss. "Congrats, Ames. Your ten-episode season is planned to release in early winter."

The next bit of celebration goes by in a blur, too. Saint jumps down the bench and helps me down. Shoulder pats are heavy on me again. Evie grins.

She hugs me. "Congratulations. I'll binge the season and replay it a few times."

"I'll set up a watch party," Saint says.

Logan stands near Evie and puts a hand on her back. "Damián is saying we should go to his house for a barbecue."

Food brings me back to my senses.

"Oh! I have the perfect dessert," I say. "We'll just need to stop by at home for it."

"You do? Have dessert?" Saint looks at me confused. "I didn't see you bake anything."

"That's because I didn't want you to see me baking."