Chapter 47
When Roman realized Ava wasn’t going to take his hand, his stomach had dropped with the heat and velocity of a meteor burning
through Earth’s atmosphere. He still felt like he was falling. But before he could try to fix the situation, he needed information.
“What the hell happened?” he asked Gabe, who quickly filled him in.
The rehearsal dinner technically hadn’t started yet, but a number of family members had shown up early. The mic began broadcasting
during Ava’s revelation about her parents, a detail that made Roman wince. Jasmine had wanted to shut the sound off immediately,
but the system required a password and a reboot, and the AV guys had disappeared. Ashton had gone to look for them, while
Michelle sent Gabe off in search of the rogue mic.
Roman pinched the bridge of his nose. Everything in his body screamed at him to run after Ava, to make sure she was okay,
that they were okay.
But this was his best friend’s wedding, and not only was Roman the best man, he was the boss of this particular establishment. He’d get the fucking sound system sorted, and then he’d find Ava.
And then what?
He didn’t know.
The emotions that had flitted across her face when he’d told her to marry him —fuck, he hadn’t even phrased it as a question!—had made his insides quake. Stunned shock, followed by what he thought was
hope, before landing on fearful disbelief. It had taken every ounce of acting ability he possessed to keep his composure and
follow through with the negotiation.
He’d thought he had her. It was such a benign request. Just hold his hand. He was sure she was going to accept his terms,
accept him .
And then the world had come crashing in on them in the form of Gabriel Aguilar and a missing microphone, along with all the
reminders Ava had piled up around herself for why she didn’t deserve to be loved.
Roman would spend the rest of his life showing her that she did, if only she’d let him.
He was terrified she wouldn’t. What if this was the last straw? What if her fears were stronger than his devotion?
Ashton appeared with the AV techs in tow. One of them winced when he recognized Roman, and he muttered something about “el
jefe” to the others.
Roman followed them to where the sound system was set up. He didn’t say anything, just stood with one hand in his pocket,
the other holding the microphone that had potentially ruined his life. The techs got to work, sweating and darting nervous
looks over their shoulder at Roman.
Once it seemed like they were sufficiently afraid, Roman joined Ashton and Gabe where they waited off to the side. Since he didn’t want to dwell on his own thoughts any longer, he asked, “Was Jasmine upset when she found out?”
Ashton scratched his cheek and wouldn’t meet Roman’s eyes. “Ah... no. I told her two weeks ago.”
“Good,” Roman said, then added, “I’m sorry. We never meant for it to get this complicated.”
Ashton waved Roman’s apology away. “It wouldn’t be a Latine wedding without at least one escandalo. Ask Gabe to tell you what
happened at his sister’s wedding.”
Gabe’s laugh was strained. “Trust me, this was nothing.”
Roman was too distraught to care about other people’s scandals. “Another time.”
Ashton clapped a hand on Roman’s back. “If you could forgive me for not telling you about Yadi, I can get over you broadcasting
a marriage proposal during my wedding rehearsal dinner.”
Gabe sent Roman an incredulous look. “Did you really propose to Ava in a supply closet?”
Roman groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
“Do you even have a ring?” Ashton asked.
“Of course I have a ring.”
“Where is it?”
“This happens to be the one time I don’t have it on my person.” Roman scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’m an idiot.”
“You’re in love.” Ashton’s words were tinged with schadenfreude. “Welcome to the club, muchacho.”
“Did you mean it?” Gabe asked. “The proposal?”
Roman sighed. “Yeah. But I didn’t expect her to accept. Not yet, anyway.”
Gabe frowned. “Then why bring it up?”
“Ava needs time to get used to things. Besides, I was only trying to get her to hold my hand.”
Gabe’s dark brows rose, impressed. “That’s genius.”
No, it was stupid. Roman had planned to lay the groundwork slowly, not spring the idea of marriage on Ava like a flippant
command, and in the least romantic setting possible. But now the question was out there. He couldn’t take it back, couldn’t
create the perfect moment to bring it up. Goddamn his impulsive tendencies.
He groaned again. “I need to find her. To explain.”
Ashton rubbed the back of his neck. “I think she’s a little busy right now.”
Roman’s gaze narrowed. “What do you mean?”
Once again, Ashton wouldn’t look at him. “If you think her family let her leave this party without comment, you haven’t been
paying attention.”
Roman’s eyes went wide.
“Now,” Ashton said sharply.
Before Roman could take a single step toward the ballroom, Gabe grabbed him in a headlock.