Chapter 9
Gage
I spot her the moment she walks onto the beach. She’s dressed in an orange dress that shows off her tanned shoulders and slender legs. Her long hair is pulled away from her face, a few pieces escaping and blowing around her cheeks in the breeze.
“God, she’s fucking gorgeous,” I mutter.
“She always was,” Svetlana agrees. “Your mom and pop are happy she’s here.
All they’ve ever wanted for you was to find a partner.
” Svetlana glances over her shoulder at my brother Joe.
Then, she turns back to me. “We’re all proud of you, Gage.
What you’ve achieved professionally is incredible.
But we all want to see you happy too and Callie’s always made you perk up.
” She presses a kiss to one of my cheeks before smacking her palm against my other cheek. “Don’t fuck it up.”
I snicker as she walks away. “Yeah, thanks.”
She waves at me over her shoulder.
I turn back toward Callie, frowning when I note she’s pulled into a conversation with my sisters. She has Matteo perched on her hip and she’s grinning at something my niece is saying.
Sighing, I swipe a beer from Pablo.
“Can’t believe your parents have been married for fifty years,” he remarks, surprisingly sentimental.
“Yeah,” I agree, turning to take in the party.
A tent has been set up on the beach. Several tables have been prepared, the table settings elegant yet simple.
Beautiful floral arrangements decorate each table, and a nameplate, written in fancy script, sits in the center of each plate.
The plates are painted with sweeping greens and ripe oranges—a symbol of my mother’s birthplace.
“Your parents are truly living the dream,” Pablo continues.
I glance at him, noting the way he stares at Mom and Pop, a small grin on his lips.
His father passed years ago in a tragic storm that resulted in flash flooding.
Since then, he and his mom, my aunt Maria, were constant fixtures at our family dinners and holidays.
Mom and Pop enveloped them with open arms, and I don’t think I truly appreciated until this moment just how incredible the family, the life, that they built is.
It’s a life most only dream of. A life I aspire to emulate.
Over the next hour, I try to snag face time with Callie. But man is it tough.
At every turn, she’s talking to one of my family members.
The Agua de Valencia—it’s basically the baby of a Screwdriver and a Long Island iced tea—is flowing.
Tapas are being passed around by a friendly catering staff.
My nieces and nephews are playing games that someone, probably Jessica, orchestrated.
Music wraps around us and Mom and Pop begin to sway.
Finally. This is my moment.
I cut into Callie’s conversation with Martina and Alejandra. “Dance with me.” I extend a hand to her.
Martina covers her mouth with a giggle while Alejandra rolls her eyes.
“Smooth, Gage,” Alejandra comments.
Callie bites her bottom lip and her eyes dart between me and my sister. Why won’t she look at me? I hate that she looks hesitant, even worried.
“Cal.” My tone is firmer than a moment ago. Nerves expand in my stomach, rushing upward into my chest and throat.
She meets my gaze and I know. Instantly. Something’s off. Something happened.
Does she have cold feet? Did I push too hard? What the hell changed between last night, this morning, and now?
“Dance with me,” I repeat, a plea wrapping around my words.
Alejandra and Martina must sense something is unfolding between Callie and me because they dip out of the conversation gracefully.
I pull Callie toward the dance floor. She glances up at me, placing one arm on my shoulder.
My hand slides along her waist, my palm centering against her back. I know her curves by memory, and I hate that right now, her body tightens at my touch. “What’s going on, Calla Lily?” I murmur as we start to sway.
She blinks and rolls her lips together.
Fuck. I messed something up. But what? What happened?
“Gage…” Her voice breaks and the emotion in that word, in my name, feels like a freaking throat punch.
“Tell me,” I demand, nudging her even closer. If this is our last dance, I’m going to savor it.
“Gage, I’m so sorry,” she whispers, her eyes filling with moisture as they meet mine.
“For what?” I turn us farther away from my family and their nosy looks.
She’s going to tell me she can’t do this. That she tried but I’m not the man she wants for her future. That the life I laid out isn’t a version she wants to invest in. I’m not the man for her—I never was.
I brace myself for the impact of her words. But they don’t come.
Instead, she admits, “Grayson Watches pulled the endorsement deal.”
I frown. Stop swaying. Stare at her. “Okay?”
“Okay?” she repeats, shaking her head. “I let you down.”
“You let me…” I trail off. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m supposed to have your best interests, professionally.”
“You do!”
“I lost the deal. We didn’t respond in time and—”
“I’m retiring,” I blurt out.
Nearby, I hear Svetlana gasp. Joe hushes her.
Carla’s eyes widen and fly to Callie and me.
Ricardo gives her a stern look and she averts her gaze.
My family is going to be the death of me.
“You are?” she murmurs, her fingers gripping my shoulder.
I nod. “It’s time, Cal. It’s been time.” I give her a smile. “Look on the bright side, now you won’t be dating one of your players.”
She shakes her head. “This isn’t what I wanted for you. Gage, I’m sorry.”
“Callie.” I pull her closer and kiss her forehead. “It’s okay,” I whisper. “Sometimes, decisions are made for us and…it’s almost easier that way. More bearable.”
She pulls back slightly to meet my eyes again.
“I want you, Callie. Tell me we’re okay. Tell me we’re gonna do this for real.”
Her eyes widen. She blinks back tears. “I’m in love with you, Gage. I love you.”
“Plot twist,” Carla sings.
“Oh, shit. Tio’s still got it,” Jake comments.
“Shh!” Mark admonishes them.
“I love you too, baby,” I say truthfully. She presses her lips together, her eyes still wary. “I don’t care about the offer,” I add, reassuring her. “I just care about you.”
“Aww,” Alejandra sighs.
I glare at my family who have all stopped every damn thing that they are doing to gawk at us. All they need is popcorn.
I turn back to Callie. “Keep adventuring with me, Cal. Please.”
“Yes,” she whispers on an exhale. Her eyes widen and then brim with tears. “Yes, Gage.” A smile rolls over her mouth until she beams at me. “I want everything with you. All of this.” She gestures to my family. “I love you,” she says it again, and my heart nearly bursts.
I grin back and lift her chin, before dropping my mouth to hers. I kiss her slowly. Deeply. Completely.
“Thatta boy, Tio!” I hear Jake holler.
Cheers and claps erupt from my family.
“Quick! Someone call the priest!” Mom jokes.
“Mom! Be cool,” Jessica chastises.
Callie and I pull away slowly. Her eyes are awestruck, and I know I’m staring back at her with a goofy grin on my face.
“You’re it for me, Gage. I just wasn’t ready to admit it. Good ol’ Gutierrez,” she murmurs. I give her a look and she giggles, placing her fingertips to her mouth. “It’s nothing. I mean, it’s everything but—”
I pull her in for another kiss.
We’re interrupted—again—by my family.
This time, it’s Pop clinking a fork against his glass.
We turn toward him. He lifts his champagne flute in the air. In a matter of moments, the servers have distributed flutes to my entire family. We move in closer to hear Pop over the breeze.
Behind us, the tables are being set with Valencian salads, cheese and meat platters, and warm olives.
But right now, we all lean in to hear Pop’s toast.
He beams at each of his children, their significant others, his sister, his nephew, all the grandkids that round out our family, and my mom, the love of his life.
“You’ve made every one of my dreams come true,” he tells her. “Fifty years, half a century, and look at the life we’re living.”
“The best life,” Mom agrees, tears in her eyes.
Beside me, Joe reaches for Svetlana’s hand. She laces their fingers together and wraps her other arm around Jake.
Pablo and Martina sway with Jorge and Nico between them.
Our family huddles together, brimming with endless respect, admiration, and love.
“The greatest adventure,” Pop continues. “I wouldn’t want to be on it with anyone but you. And having all of you here, along for the ride…” He pauses to glance at each of us. “Makes every moment more worthwhile. Thank you for giving your mother and me the family we once prayed for.”
“Happy Anniversary, Pop and Mom,” Alejandra says, lifting her glass higher.
“Happy Anniversary,” the rest of us echo.
Callie clinks her glass with mine. She’s nestled under my arm and already, I never want to let her go.
“One day, this can be us,” she murmurs, almost as if she’s telling herself.
I drop a kiss to the crown of her head. “One day, this will be us,” I promise.
Deep down, I know it’s true.
This day, with this woman by my side, and our future before us is my final touchdown.
The one that matters most.