He nods.
“What is it?”
“Do you remember when we first met, and you hadme get that vase for you? The one with all the small papers you kept calling a jar?”
“Same, same, Dom. Jar, vase, tomato, tomato, remember?” I tease.
“Well, this is for you to put the papers in. That way, you don’t have to struggle getting them out of the bottle neck.”
I’m speechless. This is beautiful and thoughtful. Every day, I’m flabbergasted at the fact this man once thought he wasn’t enough. What a beautiful thing, the girl who thinks she’s too much with the man who feels like he’s not enough. As it turns out, you’re the perfect fit for the right person.
“Thank you. This is beautiful.” I hike to my tiptoes, dropping a kiss on his lips and sliding my gift back on the bag. “Remind me to thank you later.” I wink, earning me a smile he freely gives now.
Dom lifts my hand, pressing his lips to my knuckles, his gaze locking with mine in a silent declaration. He sees me. He loves me. Deeply. Wholeheartedly. And so do I.
We join the bonfire hand in hand, spending the rest of the night wrapped up in the feeling we’ve always longed for—like home.
EPILOGUE:
NEXT SUMMER
Dom
“Riley,hija, come eat el asopao before it gets cold,” my mom tells Riley, who’s actively chasing all the kids my brothers brought. Lucas and his stepkids, Oliver and Stella. They’ve been playing for hours, from the toddler all the way to Jade, the teenager. It’s the Riley effect—everyone cheers and brightens up when she’s there.
My family came to visit a week or so ago, staying in the main house where, once upon a time, they used to host families. The Banks were gracious enough to open their house to them, and it’s been a dream come true. I miss them, all of them, but I love my life here. Being able to show them around has been what my heart needed.
“I’m coming as soon as I catch this gremlin!”
She’s still running, trying to catch Birdie, Lucas’ middle child. Seeing them all with Riley, though? Beyond what I could have expected. They took her in as one of their own, and Riley fell into place, just like I knew she would—like she belongs.
“I knew you’d end up with a woman who would give you a run for your money,” Summer, Lucas’s fiancée, says.
“Oh, because you’re the tamed one in your relationship?” Lilly, Oliver’s girlfriend, says. Two Lillys in this place, even if for a short time, have been a lot, but it is what it is.
“I didn’t say that. I just knew that one needed a wild one too. All these Diaz boys do, don’t you, baby?” She taps Lucas’ cheek with an open hand.
“I am not wild,” Lilly says, making Oliver hold in a laugh. “Do not say anything inappropriate in front of your parents.”
“No, díganlo todo in front of us. We made you three, no?”
“Ma!” we shout in unison.
“Okay,” Riley breathes out. “What did I miss?” Her hands rest on her thighs as she struggles to catch her breath.
“Nothing, mi hija. Come eat. You need to nourish your body if you’re giving me grandbabies one day.”
“Ma,” I say, nothing else needs to be said. She knows my biggest boundary with her is the bad habit she has of mentioning babies or food in front of anyone, but especially to Riley.
“Ay, lo siento, lo siento. Bad habits die hard, or whatever you say.”
“It’s okay. I’ll take all the Mama Diaz food, baby or no baby.” She takes her plate and sits on my lap. “Hi.” She kisses my cheek.
I wrap her hair around my fist, twisting it and dropping it over her shoulder. “You’re sweaty. You want water?”
Asopao is not a middle-of-the-summer meal, but that’s what Riley requested, and of course, Mom delivered. No matter how many times I tell this woman she doesn’t have to cook, she still does it.Give Lainey the day off, she told Lilly, who actually took the day off too.
The camp will be back in session in a few days, so everyone is trying to enjoy the calm before the storm.
