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The three of them look at me with wide eyes. Hayden clears his throat, “Uh yeah, everything she just said.”
“I mean, yes you’re right about all of that. But we’re not rushing this for any reason other than the fact that I just want to tie myself to him in every possible way right now. I want to say our vows to each other in front of our friends and family. Something small, intimate. Just our loved ones. Why draw it out when we know exactly what we want?” Maddie says in a strong yet quiet voice. She looks up at Elliot, who is looking at her with that intensity and passion he’s always had for her. He reaches a hand up to hold her face and she leans into it. They murmur ‘I love you’s’ and while their PDA is nauseating it’s also just the purest thing I’ve ever seen. It makes me believe that their love could overcome anything.
“You just tell me when and where, and what I need to do to help. And I’ll be there,” I say to Maddie with a smile.
Maddie squeals, running from Elliot to come and hug me. I hug her back tight. “As my maid of honor, I’d hope you would be.”
I grab her shoulders and move her away from me so I can look at her. “Really?” I say.
She gives me a face and says, “Who else would it be, pendejo?”
I smack her arm gently, “Madeline Hart!” She laughs and the knock on the door has us all turning to look at it.
“That must be the movers,” Elliot says before walking over to let them in. Maddie kisses my cheek before going to join him.
Hayden walks in front of me. “Ana, I just want to tie myself to you in every way—” He starts to lower to the ground before I yank him back up and punch his arm.
“Stop it, gringo.” I laugh and he laughs with me.
“One day I’m going to get down on one knee and beg you to marry me,” he says, his humor fading slightly as sincerity takes its place.
“You won’t have to beg, amor,” I whisper. He smiles. “Too much.” I wink.
“Those winks, Ana Reyes.” He smiles and pulls me into him.
It took barely anytime at all to get the beds and couches disassembled and moved out. They were all going to Maddie and Elliot’s new apartment with the exception of the second bed which would be dropped off at a thrift store.
Maddie and I do one final walk through, and then with arms linked we stand in the empty living room.
“So many beginnings happened in this place,” she whispers.
“And so many beginnings are going to happen out there too,” I whisper back, squeezing her arm once.
She looks up at me. “I just can’t believe it’s all over.”
“I know,” I say, looking at her. Both of our eyes are glassy. “I’m so glad to have you by my side. In every beginning, amor.”
“Every one,” she promises. The guys are waiting for us outside, giving us a moment to say goodbye. We slowly turn and walk out of the apartment—our home for four years. I reach for the doorknob but before I pull it closed, I pause.
We take it in one more time before I literally close the door on a chapter of our lives. We turn together, embracing the start of a new one.
FIFTY-SEVEN
NOW, SUMMER
When I wake up the next morning, my head is throbbing. I groan, bringing my hands to my forehead and trying to squeeze the pain out. It doesn’t work.
“Ana?” Maddie whispers, and I turn towards the sound of her voice which is coming from the doorway as she walks to my bed. She’s holding a cup of something, which if she knows me at all is coffee, and places it on my nightstand. “How are you feeling?”
“Like this was all blown way out of proportion,” I grumble.
“Don’t do that,” Maddie scolds me, sitting cross legged on the edge of my bed.
“It was all silly.”
“It wasn’t, Ana,” she reassures me.
“No it was. The guy was just a punk and probably would have just left me alone. But I just freaked out and oh God, I called David,” I groan and let my face fall into my hands. “This guy is seriously going to run away screaming one of these days. If he doesn’t think I’m absolutely insane and a complete mess by now I don’t know what will convince him.”
