Chapter 51
Wedding Day
Ava knew there was a lot of speculation about her and Roman as they walked down the aisle together and took their places on
opposite sides of the floral arch. Titi Nereida had hissed, “Are you next?” as they’d passed her, and Sammy made a comment
that started with, “If this were a movie...” but Ronnie smacked his arm before he could finish.
For once, Ava didn’t care what anyone thought. She had never felt more loved, or more confident in her ability to speak up
for herself. Sure, it would take practice before it came easily, but she knew Roman and her primas would encourage her.
The bride was absolutely radiant in her boho style wedding dress and white sandals, with the enormous bouquet of tropical flowers Ava had helped design. Jasmine wore her hair loose, opting for diamond encrusted clips instead of a veil to keep the wind from blowing her hair into her face. Ashton waited for her with love shining from his every pore. He wore a beige linen suit with a white shirt and no tie, and he looked every inch the telenovela heartthrob. Behind him, the sun setting over the water provided a gorgeous backdrop.
The groomsmen sported long-sleeved white guayabera shirts, and the bridesmaids were clad in magenta cocktail-length halter
dresses. In deference to the sand, everyone wore flat sandals.
As Ava stood holding her smaller bouquet, she checked in with herself. But there were no lingering feelings of jealousy, of
wishing she had what Jasmine had. Jasmine was on her path, and Ava was on her own.
As Ava looked to Roman, who sent her a grin, she thought that right now, the path ahead looked pretty damn good.
The ceremony was beautiful and blessedly short. By the time it was over and Jasmine had yelled, “Let’s party!” from the end
of the aisle, the viejitos were drooping from the heat and Ava had sweated through her makeup.
Instead of taking Roman’s elbow to walk down the aisle, Ava held his hand and laced their fingers together. He raised their
joined hands to his lips and kissed her left ring finger, right in front of all the assembled guests.
It felt like a promise.
Endless photos were taken, and at the reception, everyone made a beeline for the open bar to try the guava pina colada Ava
and Roman had created together at Casa Donato.
Michelle appeared at Ava’s side and held up her glass. “You know all the tías are going to get drunk on these, right?”
“Oh yeah. Willow’s planning to record videos for blackmail purposes.”
Mich smirked. “Smart kid.”
The DJ played all the Latin party hits, and Jasmine and Ashton performed a duet of “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing that included the famous lift.
Ava and Roman gave their speeches, keeping the content firmly focused on Jasmine and Ashton. However, when Roman was nearing
the end of his, someone called out, “Were you on Recuerdos Peligrosos ?”
Roman paused. “Yes. Yes, I was.”
Another voice yelled, “I knew it!”
After a slight hesitation, Roman bowed, and the attendees clapped.
Many pina coladas later, Jasmine dragged Ava and Michelle onto the dais with her to sing “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls.
“But we haven’t practiced!” Ava protested.
Jasmine shoved a microphone into Ava’s hand. “We sang this a million times in Michelle’s bedroom.”
“When we were ten!”
But Ava went along with it, bopping around with her cousins, laughing through the lyrics as she sang Emma and Mel C’s lines.
Ava couldn’t remember the last time she’d done something so silly, or so fun.
Ava and Roman were spinning around the dance floor to a Marc Anthony song when Ashton grabbed Roman’s shoulder.
“ Mira ,” he commanded, turning Roman to the left.
They all looked, and Ava’s mouth dropped open. Roman’s mother and Ashton’s father were dancing a few feet away, but that wasn’t
all they were doing.
They were also kissing .
Ignacio caught the guys watching and smirked. “What, you two are the only ones allowed to have a secret romance?”
Ashton looked shell-shocked, and Roman appeared to be hiding a grin. He elbowed Ashton in the side.
“Guess we’ll be brothers in real life too.”
Ashton sent Roman and Ava a wounded look. “That makes you two related,” he retorted, and stalked off.
“No it doesn’t,” Roman called after him, then turned to Ava. “It doesn’t, right?”
She laughed and shook her head. “Ashton is only my cousin by marriage. We’re in the clear.”
“Whew.” He wiped his forehead in mock-relief.
The reception was a blast. Ava danced with her dad, her grandparents, Willow, Michelle, Titi Val, Gabe, and Damaris. Damaris
flirted with Lily Benitez, one of Jasmine’s former costars, and Mikayla chatted excitedly with Willow, who was recounting
the drama from the night before. The food was delicious, and the cake—vanilla with lemon and raspberry—was divine. Every time
Ava looked at Jasmine, there was a huge smile on her cousin’s face.
And every time Ava looked at Roman, her own face broke into a grin.
She was fanning herself after an energetic salsa with Tío Luisito when Roman approached, holding two glasses of the guava
colada. He passed one to her, and they stood and sipped, surveying the party in full swing around them.
“We did it,” he said, gesturing toward Ashton and Jasmine. “They’re married. Mission accomplished.”
“Good work, best man,” she said, nudging him with her shoulder.
He put his arm around her and held her snug against his side. “Back at you, maid of honor.”
Ava cleared her throat. “You know... I’m still not sure if I want to get married again. And if I do, I don’t want all this.”
He met her gaze. “Ava, it’s okay if—”
“But I don’t think I’d be opposed to eloping.”
His eyebrows shot up, and his expression of shock morphed into glee. “Right now?”
She laughed and leaned into him. “Not this very minute, but... maybe someday.”
He hugged her tighter. “That’s good enough for me. And whenever someday comes...” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. “I’m ready.”
Ava’s eyes went wide and her hand flew to her mouth. “Is that a—”
He nodded.
“When did you—”
“A month ago. Of course, the one time I didn’t have it on me, I accidentally proposed.” He grimaced.
When she reached for the box, he tsked and held it away, fighting back a grin. “You get it when you say yes. Not maybe .”
Ava sputtered out a laugh. “I don’t even get to see it?”
“No.”
“How do I know there’s a ring in there? It could be empty.”
He appeared to be considering her question, then, quick as a wink, he opened and shut the box. Too fast for her to see any
details, but enough for her to note the flash of gold and sparkle inside.
There was a ring. He wasn’t bluffing.
Holy shit.
“Don’t feel pressured,” he warned. “Just because I always want more doesn’t mean I’m not happy or that you aren’t giving enough.
You’ll never be too much or too little for me, Ava.”
Her eyes stung. She’d never realized just how much she’d needed to hear that from someone. To feel that. To rest easy in the knowledge that she didn’t have to be perfect to be loved.
“I love you,” she whispered.
His smile softened and he set their drinks aside on a high table, taking her in his arms. “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
“One more time.”
She melted against him. “I love you.”
He kissed her, long, slow, and all-consuming. Just the way she liked. He shifted back just enough to breathe, “I love you,
too,” against her lips.
Behind them, someone muttered, “They’re next.”
Ava turned her head to grin at Titi Nereida. “Maybe.”
But she knew, deep down, that the answer was yes .