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Alex sets him on the ground as Theo cuddles closer, content as a church mouse snug against his uncle's solid chest.
Taking my extended hand, Sebastian turns to his mother and whispers way too loud, “See, Mumma. Told you I could be good.”
* * *
“Reyna, that was absolutely divine.” Liv drops her napkin beside her plate, rubbing her slightly rounded stomach. “My compliments to your grandmother.”
My cheeks heat even while I nod. I’ve cooked and baked for a lot of people, but for some reason, Henry and Liv’s approval means a great deal to me. Ineedthem to like me for Alex.
But even more than that, Iwantthem to like me. For me.
I move to clear the table, but Alex stops me with a gentle hand on my wrist.
“You did all the hard work, Rey. Allow me.”
He shoots me those damn puppy dog eyes that he’s so fond of, and I’m utterly helpless to do anything other than nod dumbly. He gathers an armful of dishes before heading in the direction of the kitchen, leaving me alone with Liv.
Henry has escaped to Alex’s room, putting Seb and Theo down for a much-needed nap due to jetlag, though both boys were nothing short of angelic throughout the meal.
Seb had taken great enjoyment in telling everyone all about the tamales and the simple rice and beans I’d served alongside. He’d listened in rapture when I’d explained the process of wrapping the tamales in cooked banana leaves, and I was relatively confident that I’d made a good first impression on the little sweetheart.
“I’ve never met a girlfriend of Alex’s before – despite knowing him for half of my life.”
Liv’s words are soft, her hands clasped over her small baby bump and her eyes fixed on mine. “I’m going to be frank, Reyna, if I may?”
I nod, swallowing roughly as I prepare for her next words.
“I’ve never seen Alex look at a single person the way he looks at you, outside of his nephews—who I know for a fact he loves dearly. He looks at you like you are the center of his world.”
A kaleidoscope of butterflies swarms to life in the depths of my stomach, and I fight to keep my face neutral, losing spectacularly when my lips edge upwards in a tremulous smile.
She stops, leaning closer and extending her hand palm up. I rest my trembling hand atop hers, and she squeezes gently. “I amsohappy that he’s finally found you. I’ve been waiting a long time for him to pull his head out of his ass long enough to realize that he’s beyond worthy of love.”
Tears fill her eyes and a lump forms in my throat that makes speech an impossibility.
“Don’t let his demons ruin what I’m sure is the start of something life-altering for you both.”
I smile hesitantly, tears welling in my own eyes before Henry jogs down the stairs, and both Liv and I lean back in our seats. She sends me a small, meaningful smile.
“They’ve finally given up.” He rolls his eyes. “Have kids, they said…”
He shoots me a wink and a grin before pressing a kiss to the top of his wife’s head and then sliding into the empty chair beside her. He gently palms Liv’s stomach, his eyes glowing in reverence. “But I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Closing the gap, he brushes his lips across his wife’s before glancing around the penthouse.
“Where’s Al gone off—”
The unmistakable opening bars of“You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”by The Righteous Brothers echo through the penthouse on the innumerable speakers dotted throughout.
Before anyone can utter a word or go in search of the clear culprit, Alex walks in from the kitchen, literally knocking the breath from my body when he does.
He’s dressed in a full-body Naval jumpsuit identical to Maverick’s fromTop Gun, a shit-eating grin plastered to his face as he sings along completely out of key, “You’re trying hard not to show it,baby.”
My own lips are helpless from joining him in his blatant delight, and my belly laugh rings loudly throughout the space.
I hear a mumbled, “What theactualfuck?” from Henry’s direction, but I pay no heed, fixated as I am on the man before me.
Until that man shocks the hell out of me when he drops to one knee and opens his fist to display a small, square navy box in his hand.
