Page 139 of The Replay

We work the event together for a bit longer. She doesn't let go and I'm happy to let her lead, as we walk through the party like we're not a secret anymore.

It's easy to suspend reason and pretend everything has been said, when she looks at me with happiness radiating from her. If she feels as much relief and determination as I do, then I know exactly why. We're set up. This time, with no deadline in sight.

We get separated when Pen comes to ask a few questions, and Mariana ends up leaving with her. She gives me a quick kiss and we laugh at Pen's reaction, before they disappear into the crowd.

I socialize with different people until I find Cora with Maisie and her wife. They ask about Mari and me but I don't tell them anything. Which prompts them to say I'm being annoying and therefore I belong right in with the family.

I laugh as I go in search of my friends. First I find Rafa and Lori, standing in each other's arms like they are dancing, except there's no music, and they don't move. They only gaze at each other and talk. I do not interrupt their moment. I walk away and join Saint and his people, plus Logan and Evie.

"Your dad doesn't frown nearly as much as you do," Pat, Saint's dad tells our quarterback.

"My frown is my brand," Logan replies. "I did not inherit that from him."

"Nor from your mother," Evie says. "I was very happy to see his parents are not as… severe… as my future husband."

"Don't lie." Logan arches an eyebrow at her. "You'd miss my frowns if they were gone."

We all laugh. It's easy to join them when I'm so light inside. Can't wait to see how my friends react when Mariana and I tell them… whatever she and I decide. Once we finally put all our cards on the table, when there's no reason to rush.

"Fine, yes." She gives him a peck he returns. "I'd miss those frowns."

"It's like if Saint lost his dimples," Ames jokes. "Unfathomable."

"Lots of people would miss my dimples, though." Saint smirks. "Logan's frowns are more of an acquired taste."

We laugh again, right as Pen and Bear join us.

"Here." She pushes Bear into the group. "Take care of my husband, please. The event is dwindling and I need to go help with a couple of things. He's too distracting."

"In a good way," Bear says, like we need an explanation.

"Oh, yeah," Pen confirms. "I'm too obsessed. That's exactly the problem. Also…"

She grins and raises an eyebrow at me. I fake confusion.

She shakes her head, humor in the tilt of her mouth. "You didn't tell them that you've been seen walking around kissing Mariana in public, have you?"

"What?!" My friends exclaim around me.

"Mariana told me there might be new developments," Pen says, "but she needed to talk to Dom before explaining more. So don't say more either, Dom. Not until I'm here to hear it!"

"I can't make it public until I talk to Mariana," I argue.

"That's what I thought." Pen points a finger to me. "Now I have to go. See you all later."

She leaves, but the rest of the group grins at me like they don't need the details.

Logan pats my shoulder. "Only thing is, we're too clever not to connect the dots."

"We always knew this was the only possible ending to your story with Mariana." Saint's dimples pop more than ever. "See now why we were pushy?"

I roll my eyes in a mix of humor and exasperation. "No one ever needs to be pushy, least of all you lot. But you can't help yourselves, can you?"

"We cannot." Evie laughs. "And I hope you know we'll drill you for details, too."

I say goodbye half an hour later. I try to find Mariana but I don't, so I text her and go home. She asked me to get in bed but I'm too restless to do so. I kill time by doing my rehab exercises, then stretch the night with a long shower.

I'm sitting at the edge of my bed in my underwear, putting my brace on again after a long functional massage, when Mariana appears at my bedroom door. She leans on the frame, her make up and hair still perfectly in place, and her dress long and curved like a renaissance painting.