Austin’s the first to respond. “We appreciate the opportunity. You won’t regret it.”
Noah nods, shaking Hunter’s hand. “Thank you for trusting us.”
“And for being cool as hell,” I add, flashing a grin.
Hunter laughs. “That too.”
We exchange a few more words before the group begins to break apart.
Mrs. McNeal walks over. “You all have to come back this summer,” she says, smiling wide. “I had such a blast with the girls and those babies. I miss having little ones around. You’ve got to come visit again.”
Eva comes to stand beside me, Everly now in Josy’s arms again. She looks up at Mrs. McNeal and says, “We’d love to.”
I reach for Eva’s suitcase and squeeze her hand as we walk out the door. Our Uber is already waiting at the curb. The cool morning air hits us, and for the first time, I don’t feel that usual post-trip crash.
Instead, I feel happy. Really happy because I found the woman of my dreams.
And I’m ready for it.
We slide into the back seat of the Uber, the soft thump of the trunk closing behind us. Eva nestles in close, resting her hand on my thigh like it’s the most natural thing in the world. The car pulls away from the McNeals’ beach house, and I glance at her profile, bare face and still somehow looking like the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
I clear my throat. My chest’s been tight since breakfast, and I can’t leave it unsaid any longer. “Eva,” I begin, my voice lower than I meant it to be. She turns to me immediately. “Last night was amazing. And I’ve been thinking… I wanted to talk about what happens next.”
Her smile brightens, but just as quickly, it falters. I see itin her eyes first the flash of panic, the way her shoulders pull in slightly, like she’s bracing for impact.
“Okay,” she says softly, a little hesitant.
I reach for her hand and thread my fingers through hers. “Hey, don’t look defeated, mi amor. I’m not about to give you the ‘this was a mistake’ talk. Far from it.”
She blinks at me, that uncertain smile still lingering, but there’s hope behind her eyes now.
“I want to date you,” I say. “Really date you. No acting, no faking, no pretending. I like you. A lot. And I’d like to see where this goes… if you’d want the same.”
Her entire face changes—soft, glowing, relieved. She leans in just a little and says, “Yes. I would love to date you, Esteban.”
I nod, grinning like an idiot, trying to play it cool but failing miserably. Inside, I’m buzzing.
“Okay, good.” I chuckle and squeeze her hand. “So, I’ll talk to Noah when we get back. Then we can plan our firstrealofficial date. You know… one where I try to impress you with my cooking skills again and maybe teach you how to dance something else.”
She laughs and tilts her head at me. “Why don’t you wait a few days to talk to Noah?”
I raise a brow. “Why?”
Her smile turns coy. “Just let it be us for a little bit longer before everyone starts knowing our business. I like this, our little bubble.”
“You got it, mi amor.” I lean over and kiss her temple. “Just you and me for a little longer.”
She rests her head on my shoulder, and we ride in comfortable silence, the kind that says everything’s finally falling into place.
I’m beyond grateful that on the return flight, the guys are scattered across the plane. Noah’s in the front row. Eva and I are way in the back, just the two of us, tucked into our little world for the next two hours.
We talk. We laugh. I watch the way her nose crinkles when she smiles big, the way her eyes light up when she’s teasing me about something dumb I said. Every sound of her laughter feels like a win. I swear, I’d do anything just to keep it going.
We kiss a few times, soft and unhurried. Like we’ve both finally exhaled after holding our breath for too long. I tuck a loose strand of her hair that has come loose from her braid behind her ear, and she leans into me like she’s meant to be there. Sheismeant to be there.
But too soon, the captain announces the descent, and reality sets back in.
Back in North Carolina, I grab my truck from the airport lot and drive home alone. The only thing I want is Eva in my passenger seat. Her hand in mine. Her laughter echoing inside the cab. But instead, I’ve got the silence and the ache of missing her already, even though she’s just a few miles away.
