Meanwhile, Violet’s unfastening the baby carrier from her chest, and Eva’s right there beside her, holding out her arms. “I got him.”
“Thanks,” Violet says with a tired smile, carefully handing over baby Ethan.
Now Eva and I are both standing on the curb with babies in our arms like some weird preview of domestic bliss. I glance over at her and wiggle my eyebrows. “So... this is what our future looks like, huh?”
She laughs softly, adjusting Ethan in her arms. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
I chuckle. “Come on, admit it, we look good like this. Me and you, matching babies in tow. People would believe we have twins.”
“Twins?” she raises an eyebrow. “Are you trying to scare me off?”
“Not at all. I’m just saying, if this whole fake engagement thing works out, we’ll have practice for the real thing.”
Eva shakes her head but she’s smiling, cheeks faintly pink as she looks down at Ethan. “You’re impossible.”
“I prefer charming,” I say, flashing her a grin as Everly grabs a handful of my shirt and tries to eat it.
Josy walks over and reclaims her daughter. “Thanks, tío. You’re hired for babysitting duty anytime.”
“Gladly,” I say. “But only if Eva helps. We’re a team now, remember?”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue.
After another minute, the car seat is secure and Josy climbs in with Everly. Noah kisses her forehead, then turns to us. “We’ll see y’all at the house.”
They wave goodbye as the SUV pulls away from the curb.
Austin’s Uber isn’t far behind, and soon he, Violet, Adrian and Ethan are on their way too, Adrian already asking Austin a thousand questions before the car even starts moving.
That leaves me and Eva standing at the curb, waiting. She’s beside me in a flowy white tank top and jeans, her long dark hair pulled into a messy ponytail. Sunglasses cover her eyes, but I know exactly what’s behind them. She’s nervous. Trying not to show it.
I nudge her lightly with my elbow. “Ready to dazzle people with our love story?”
She turns her head and smirks. “Yes, sir.”
We laugh, and something in my chest tightens. I’ve seen Eva smile before. I’ve teased her a million times over the years. But this version of her, the one who banters back anddoesn’t immediately blush or hide, yeah, she’s something else.
Our Uber finally pulls in and we toss our luggage in the trunk and slide into the back seat. The driver greets us with a cheerful, “Welcome to paradise,” and pulls out onto the palm-lined road.
It really is something. My eyes are glued to the window as we pass pastel-colored houses, bikes parked in front of tiny shops, streets filled with tourists in flip-flops and tank tops. Bougainvillea climbs over fences, and the ocean peeks out between buildings every few blocks like it’s playing hide and seek.
“I’ve never been to Key West,” I say out loud.
Eva hums. “Me neither. It's gorgeous.”
Fifteen minutes later, we make a right onto a long private road. At the end of it, framed by towering palm trees and fronting a white sand beach, is a house that makes both of us go completely silent.
“Holy shit,” I whisper.
“Is this?—?”
“Yep.”
The Uber rolls to a stop in front of what can only be described as a goddamn mansion.
The place is massive, white stucco walls, modern glass balconies, and big arched windows that reflect the turquoise ocean behind it. There’s a wraparound porch with wide, comfy chairs and hanging lanterns. A stone path leads through perfectly manicured tropical gardens to the grand entrance, where double wooden doors stand at least twelve feet tall.
“This guy said he had a house in Key West,” I mutter,jaw still slack. “Not that he had a freaking oceanfront palace.”
