“Heh. I’m just a jumble of emotions. I hate him; I pity him. Then I contemplate what your cousin, Miguel, did to him. Anyway, Dr. Linde believes the root of all my reflection is ReAnna. Though I’ll never see her again. I wanted to save El Santo’s girls—”
“Now, you want to save him.”
After a few beats, I catch Dominic’s eye contact. Those mossy green eyes, with honey wells, scare the shit out of me. The fear of him falling out of love leaves me crushed to smithereens.
He takes my hand. “You have a right to your feelings, Aria.”
“Well, the answer is I did want to save him while I was processing how I felt,” I grumble. “But you should hate me.”
“I’d rather hate your mother.” He gives my hand a little squeeze. “Now, mami, it’s your motherfucking birthday, and I’m a rich man despite Dario’s actions. So, we can Netflix, Hulu, Disney, all that shit, tomorrow since you refused a getaway.”
My lips press against the most confident man’s in the entire universe. The oxygen in my lungs dissipates.
Glasses of Dom Perignon are handed to us by an attendant at the entrance of the glass-bottom yacht. The entire hull is glass as well. I descend the steps inside and pull at Dominic’s hand, strutting in my strappy heels. These six inches are coming off after a few photos and staying off for good.
“Dom, is that Ros? Do I hear—?”
Inside, I gasp at the sight of my family. Gramps is closest to me at a dessert table. Frowning, he thrusts a pretzel stick into a chocolate fountain. Next to him, Mr. Alvarez has a matching glare until he bites into his own chocolate-covered pretzel.
Sheesh, these two. Our first holiday together, they fought about whose dearly departed wife was the better baker. I showed them pictures of me as a fat kid. Gramps won the argument.
As Yasiel tips a bottle of champagne, Rolando runs toward me. The tot falls flat on his butt.
“Mi hijo,” Roslyn chides as I scoop him up into my arms. “If it weren’t for this loaded pullup, he’d be crying.”
“I’ll go change him . . . eh, never mind.” I pause, not becoming the doormat Dr. Linde broke down and called me. I still think it’s payback for the sponge bat from when I was little. Doormat. Self-punishment. I continued the self-torment Momma started when she left.
“Cousin!” Siobhan’s voice comes from behind me, and I whip around. She’s entering with Lincoln and their children. She reaches behind her, clasping the latch to the necklace I’d mailed her a few weeks ago. “I told you not to send this since your birthday was coming up. You never listen.”
This also pays homage to how I subconsciously believe I don’t deserve anything. But I promise, I’ve gotten better.
Over the next few hours, I’m astonished by all the affection showered on me. When Gram was alive, I had the best birthdays. She’d cook all my favorites. That was all I needed. I glance around, searching for the man I never expected so that I can return his love.
Yasiel cocks his head while standing next to a glass wall. The backdrop of exotic fish swimming by is beautiful. My fingers itch for my camera, but I don’t have to capture a single photo because I’d hounded the paid photographer earlier. Dominic covered everything.
I step over and grab the glass out of his hand. “You’ve nursed an entire bottle, Yasielito.”
“That’s what you think, mami.” He winks. “Now that I have you alone. My birthday is—”
“Three weeks. I know.” I smile.
“I’ll be eighteen. Legal.”
“Boy, stop.” Siobhan slides her arm between mine. “No entanglements happening here.
“Entanglements?” Roslyn purrs.
“I like you too, chula.” He looks her up and down. “But you have a kid. No bueno.”
“Listen here, you little . . .”
I turn toward Roslyn, who may have reformed her ways since having Rolando, but she still has a mouth. It’s good that Mr. Alvarez has her tot’s attention. As I wait for her to bite Yasielito’s head off, something catches my attention. Dominic’s floating before fronds of jagged coral. He’s traded his tuxedo for a wet suit and scuba gear. In his hand is a piece of driftwood. Carved into it are the words, MARRY ME.
I’m rendered speechless. Tears blur my eyes as I glance at my forever and nod like crazy.
Extended Epilogue: Dominic
While holding up the driftwood, asking Aria to marry me, I never felt more out of control in my life. Aria Jones penetrated my defenses long ago. She challenged me in so many ways, and that’s all I can think about as I tug back into my tuxedo pants. Barefoot and shirtless, I can’t wait to hold her in my arms. I head back into the room.
Aria’s still standing at the spot I told Yasiel to bring her to. Her hands are on the glass as she stares into the turquoise water. One by one, her family and friends turn around.
Lincoln holds up a finger to shush one of his children.
I whisper to her abuelo, “Am I on the drawing board yet?”
The old man winks. “Sure are. Negative ten points.”
“Really?” I cock a brow, not offended in the slightest, while removing an engagement ring.
“Real proposals aren’t this fancy deal. You get on one knee, son.”
As I continue toward Aria, Papi growls at him. “It was passionate! You antiguo—”
“Gramps,” Aria mutters, turning around. Her beautiful brown eyes connect with mine. “It’s perfect. Don’t listen to him. He really likes you.”
“I don’t give a damn if he likes me.” I lie. It would be nice. “Long as you do.”
“Oh, sometimes I don’t like you, Dom, you force me to be a better woman. To love myself more than I ever knew was possible.” She grins as my arms encircle her waist. “So, Nope. Never said I liked you 24/7.”
I yank her toward me.
“Negative one hundred,” her gramps calls out.
“Hush up,” Siobhan says.
Aria whispers, “Don’t get on one knee. Spite Gramps. Trust me, Dom, he appreciates defiance.”
As I place the ring on her finger, she gives the gorgeous laugh that made me fall in love with her.
“Oh my God, this is beautiful!”
“You’re beautiful.” I press my mouth against hers. The kiss stirs down deep, testing my temptation.
I rest my forehead against hers, speaking for only us to hear. “From the minute I first met you, you’ve been my bone. All challenge. Big trouble. You’ve changed my life. You showed me I could love again. And love so much harder. You mean the absolute world to me. So, let’s hurry the rest of this party so I can have you.”
“Damn, I want you so bad right now, Dom.” She giggles against my chest then steps back, flexing her ring finger. “Hey, guys, I’m going to be Mrs. Alvarez!”
The women descend on her with hugs. A little while later, an attendant hands Aria gifts. Though we have a photographer, I lean against the dessert table, watching her through the lens of her vintage camera, taking a few pictures. She’d been hesitant about bringing it this morning when I suggested it. Now, I know it’s because of Dario.