My father clears his throat because my mother’s so excited and wrapped up in Bianca’s family, she seems to have totally forgotten about him.
“Sorry.This is my husband, Santino.”
“It’s a pleasure, Mr.Hernandez.”Pop smiles and reaches his hand out to Bianca’s father.
“Jesús, please.”
“Tino.”
So far, so good.No one’s thrown a punch or an insult.
“What fine-looking boys you have,” Ma says, finally catching sight of Javi and Luis.
“Let’s go outside,” I say because this is getting weird and uncomfortable.
The love fest is great, but I need a drink, and by the look on Bianca’s face, I’m pretty sure she needs one too.
Bianca stands next to me,watching our families talking nonstop.I hook my arm around her waist, pulling her against me as I look out over the city from the patio.
“It’s going well,” I tell her, feeling more nervous than I did when the day started.“Don’t you want a drink?”
Dinner went better than expected.There hasn’t been an awkward silence or a heated exchange of words.The siblings seemed to take to each other, chattering about sports.At their core, our families are the same.Macho men, bossy women, and filled with tons of love.
“No.I’m not in the mood.I need to keep my head clear.This has gone shockingly smooth,” she says before taking a small sip of water.“Even my mother seems to be enjoying herself.Nice touch on the decorating bit too.”
“I figured she’d like it and it would give us a chance to get to know each other better.”
Bianca rests her head against my arm and sighs.“You’re a smart cookie, Mr.Gallo.”
“I’m always thinking ahead, baby.”
My entire life, I’ve planned down to the smallest detail.High school sports and grades, the perfect college team, and my professional career.The only thing I hadn’t planned was Bianca.I wasn’t sure I’d ever find someone who would make me a one-woman man, but then she landed right in my arms like she was meant to be there forever.
“Are you happy?”I ask her, kissing the top of her head.
“More than I have been in a long time.”She glances up at me as I pull away.“You make me happy.”
“You don’t regret breaking your no-sex promise to yourself?”
“It’s a good thing I made that promise.What if I hadn’t?I might have found someone else, and we wouldn’t be standing here right now.”
I hold her chin between my fingers.“You were meant to be here, Bianca.No man would’ve been right for you except me.We’d still be standing here, no matter what happened before the day I moved in.”
“You’re always so sure of yourself.”She smiles.
“When I want something, I go after it, and I don’t stop until I get what I want.”I lean forward and press my lips to hers.
“You can be very persuasive,” she says with a smirk.
“I think it’s time for the surprise.”I grab her hand, guiding her back toward our families.
“They’re going to be so excited.”
She has no idea just how excited everyone’s going to be.
“Stay here.Let me go grab the tickets.”
She nods and turns to her grandmother.“Are you doing okay, Abuela?”
