He dips down, pressing his nose to my neck, inhaling.
Then he whispers, “We got the deal.”
I pull back, eyes wide. “For real?”
“For real.” He nods, eyes glowing.
I squeal and throw my arms around his neck again. He laughs and lifts me off the floor, spinning me around like we’re in a movie. I’m so proud of him I could burst.
“Esteban!” I squeak. “This is amazing!”
He kisses my cheek before setting me down gently and guiding me back toward the couch. “Come here, baby. Let me tell you everything.”
We settle down, and I slide onto his lap without a second thought. His arms wrap around me like it’s the most natural thing in the world. He belongs here, and so do I.
He tells me everything. How McNeal brought another lawyer, how he explained his decision, how they signed the papers and celebrated over dinner. I listen, eyes wide, hanging onto every word.
When he finishes, I smile and rest my forehead against his. “I knew you’d get it.”
His smile softens. He kisses me, slow and deep. Thekind of kiss that says everything he doesn’t have to. That he loves me. That we’re in this together. That nothing can shake us now.
I kiss him back with everything I have, love, pride, relief, all of it. My fingers slide into his hair as I melt into him, completely.
When we finally pull apart, breathless and grinning, he cups my cheek.
“Eva,” he says softly, “move in with me.”
My heart skips.
“I love having you here,” he continues. “I love coming home and seeing you on my couch. I love waking up with you in my arms. I love cooking for you?—”
“And eating with me,” I add with a teasing smile.
“That too.” He chuckles. “And I love making love to you whenever we want. I love… us. I want all of it. Every day. And more.”
I’m frozen, my heart climbing right out of my chest.
“I want to marry you soon,” he says. “I want you to chase every dream you’ve ever had. I want to see you create your skincare brand, and I want to be the guy who’s there cheering you on. Always.”
I stare at him, feeling like the world has just cracked open in the most beautiful way.
Then I say the only words I can.
“Yes,” I whisper. “Yes to all of it.”
He kisses me again, and this time, it tastes like forever.
Epilogue
Esteban
One year later
The ocean glitters under the midday sun, waves crashing in the perfect kind of rhythm that matches the thundering beat of my heart. I stand barefoot in the sand, the warm grains sinking between my toes, wearing a crisp white shirt and tan linen pants. My hands are slightly clammy, my chest is tight, and I can’t stop smiling.
This is it.
I glance around the beach, taking in the scene I’ll never forget. We’re in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, the place we talked about back when all of this was just a game, when Eva and I were pretending to be engaged. Back then, it was just a cover story. Now, it’s the most real thing I’ve ever known. That dream destination wedding we joked about? We made it happen. And it’s more perfect than I could’ve imagined.
