Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
I finish transforming a brunette into a blonde and tuck my tip away, preparing for my last client of the day.
The weekly flower delivery from Mr. Sensational sits on the counter. Mama powers down the computer. Mrs. Cruz is picking her up for the Canasta Club.
She cups my cheek and, in Italian, she says, “Good luck.”
Taking a deep breath, I say, “Thanks.”
Having told her my plan, it all becomes real. My hands start to sweat. Not good, considering I’m going to be handling a pair of scissors.
I glance across the street to the Once Upon a Romance bookstore, drawing inspiration and confidence. Instead of telling myself that I’m no longer in love with Miguel Cruz as I’d done for so long, I whisper, “I’m very much in love with Mikey Cruz.”
I take one more deep breath, certain I’m making the right decision. When I exhale, an imposing and handsome figure with long shaggy hair fills the doorway.
Mikey says, “My mother said I have an appointment?”
Just like that, I’m no longer nervous or clammy. Everything is suddenly right in the world, especially since he’s holding a clear box filled with cannoli.
On our first go-around, Mrs. Cruz wanted a traditional Mexican wedding cake with five tiers to represent her five sons.
How that worked for Mikey and me, I still can’t figure out.
Mama wanted Russian Tea cake and refused to believe me when I explained they were cookies, also known as Mexican wedding cookies.
Then she changed tack and insisted on a tiramisu-inspired cake.
At that point, I didn’t care about the cake and argued in favor of cannoli. Mikey added to the bittersweet fire by asking why we couldn’t just have chocolate cake with vanilla frosting.
My response? This is our wedding, not a child’s birthday party. Let’s just say cake tensions were high. He looked kind of crushed, like I’d thrown his slice on the floor and stepped in it.
But right now, a box of cannoli in hand, hair long, and eyes sparkling, I regret every single hurtful thing I said that came between our love for each other. Also, there’s no denying that, as ever, we’re in sync, even though he doesn’t know what I have planned.
Trying to keep a poker face, I say, “I accept cash and credit cards. Not cannoli.”
“I figured you’d be hungry after a long day.”
Smiling, I take the box from him, set it on the counter of my stylist station, and gesture for him to sit down. “Never mind payment. This one is on the house.”
“So you’re finally going to cut my hair?”
“You have an appointment, don’t you?”
“What changed your mind?”
I shuffle through the drawers until my fingers land on the little box and I slide the ring on ... it’s a round halo-cut diamond set in white gold that’s both timeless and elegant.
Adjusting the chair, I run my fingers through Mikey’s hair, relishing how thick and soft it is. The ring sparkles. He groans a little as if my touch relieves built-up tension.
“You let it grow long. Do you want me to do your usual? Leave it a little longer in the front. Shorter on the sides. Stylish but effortlessly so. Clean up the edges with a nice taper?”
His gaze meets mine in the mirror. “I haven’t let anyone touch my hair since you last cut it.”
My jaw drops. “I thought you were just going for that classic hockey flow.”
“No, Junie. It’s always you.” His lips quirk and he takes my hand in his, drawing me to him until I land in his lap with a playful yelp.
Smiling, I say, “I think these chairs are only good for up to three hundred fifty pounds.”
“I’m more than willing to test things out.”
He kisses my wrist, then my knuckles. The sparkles from the ring dance in his eyes. His lips quirk in acknowledgment.
Swallowing, I say, “I wasn’t sure how long it would take you to notice that I’m wearing the engagement ring.”
“When it comes to you, I notice everything, including the way you looked at me on the altar.”
Just then, the song “That’s Amore” by Dean Martin, with its silly lyrics, comes on.
Mikey’s lip lifts. “Pop said they finally got the sound system hooked up and not a moment too soon.”
We’d been broadcasting our playlists with a portable speaker. I was going to put on this same song as soon as I’d finished the haircut.
“This was my move,” I say, explaining my plans for an engagement redo.
He rubs his nose against mine, shaking his head. “We work better together as a team, Junie.”
“Did you know I was going to—?”
“Profess your love?”
I crack a smile before giggling, cradled in Mikey’s arms. “Yeah, something like that.”
“When Mom said I had an appointment, I thought something might be up. I’d been waiting for the right moment to plan something similar.”
“And what if that moment never came?”
His lips brush mine. “It would’ve. You and I were inevitable.”
“Meant to be.”
Our lips drift together as naturally as inhaling and exhaling, as the beat of our hearts, as the steady thrum of our pulses.
His fingers twine into my hair and I slide mine along the side of his head, down his neck, and over his broad shoulders before melting into his chest.
Just as the kiss deepens, our phones beep with the security app alarm. Mikey presses his mouth to mine in one more kiss before breaking contact.
I spring to my feet, but he casually gets up as if he knows it’s the squirrel again.
Only, instead of a small woodland creature, two moms, a Pop, and five brothers appear—including Asher—along with Margo, Beau, and a few of the others from the hockey team and their wives.
They enter the salon, clapping and cheering. Margo and Leah unfurl a sign that congratulates us on our re-engagement.
Mikey finds my pinky and holds tight, reminding me that this time we’re in it together—it’s no longer the Cruzes against the Popoviks.
Swept up in the excitement, it takes me a moment to ask how they all knew.
My mother wears a smirk, but her gaze keeps darting to Asher, who remains expressionless, save for a slight smile that grows when he taps me on the back.
“Congrats, sis.”
Whereas sometimes it feels like Mikey and I are plugged into the same brain, I can’t figure my twin brother out. But hopefully, he’s sticking around until Thanksgiving, and I can interrogate him and get answers.
“So, when’s the big day?” Erica asks.
She and Shane postponed their honeymoon until after the holidays since they’ll have time off from school.
Mikey and I exchange a glance and I instantly know.
He nods. “We have a lot to be grateful for, especially all of you.”
“Is December first too soon?” I ask.
Mama and Carlotta exchange a glance and say, “We were counting on it.”
Mikey sweeps me into his arms, full bridal carry, and we kiss again.
I whisper, “I love you.”
“I love you, Junie,” he replies. “Will you marry me this time?”
“Definitely,” I say.
Just like the first time I accepted his proposal, he spins me around until we’re both laughing. Only, this time, I am certain we’ll land at the altar.