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As soon as her hand is in mine, I pull her into my embrace and find her mouth with mine.
Her kiss is my homecoming. The plushness of her lips, the warm wetness of her tongue. With one arm around Leo and the other around Isabella, I light up from inside in a way I don’t think I’ve ever had. Not even back in Ocotillo with them.
Because now there are witnesses. There is nothing confusing about this.
Leo is mine. And, if this kiss is an indicator, Isabella’s mine too.
My family. My home.
Isabella breaks the kiss, her warm brown eyes in mine. “I love you. You’re crazy and ridiculous, but I love you.”
I place my hand at the small of her back. Pull her a bit closer, feeling her hips against my thigh.
“Look at all the people!” Leo calls out, spreading one arm out toward the audience.
Isabella laughs, placing her hand against my chest. “You’re famous, mijo.”
I glance back at my bandmates. They’re all smiling too. Apollo’s wiping away tears, Blaise is leaning on his knees like he’s watching a blockbuster movie, and Holden’s arms are crossed over his chest, a big smile on his face.
They were right when they said “we’ll” get her back. I just didn’t know how far they’d go to make that happen. “Thank you,” I mouth.
“You owe us!” Holden calls out.
I laugh. “Ain’t that the truth!”
Leo leans forward in my arms, grabbing at the microphone. “Hi, everybody,” his small voice echoes through the enormous building.
The audience cheers and says hello back.
“I’m Leo. And my mama.” He touches Isabella. “Her name is Isabella.”
Isabella hides her face in her hand. “Oh God.”
“Takes after me!” I say. “Wants to be the center of attention.”
“You two will have to fight for it,” she replies.
“And my papa. That is –” Leo stops and he bounces, a smile as big as that one on the Christmas card. The image that changed everything. “That is my papa!”
The crowd continues to erupt.
“You bet I am,” I say, then kiss his temple.
Isabella sniffs into my chest.
There’s so much to discuss. So much to work out.
But this is a moment neither of us can take back. No more control over what is or isn’t.
Because the love between Isabella and me… it just is.
Chapter 20
Isabella
The view from Rex’s suite is incredible. The expanse of New York City rolls out before us. So much open sky and space.
I wrap my sweater around me. Spring in New York is much cooler than spring in Ocotillo Valley. It quickly becomes colder than I’d like.
