Page 65 of Pucks and Likes

“Just saying. And they didn’t have us or rings, so one out of two is good,” Clara teases, and Louisa just beams.

I’m grinning along with them, but then Alex says, “I have her ring.” My eyes cut to him as he turns to look at me with an innocent expression on his face. “What?”

“You have a ring? For me?”

“Yeah,” he says simply, grabbing a chunk of my ass. “Had it for a while.”

“What?” I shriek. “I want to see it.”

He shakes his head. “No way. Not until I know you’ll be putting it on and will never take it off.”

I search his eyes for his look of mischief, but he’s serious.

He bought me a ring.

“When did you buy it?”

“The day after our dinner.”

After he figured out I was pregnant.

“Oh, ’cause I’m pregnant and you thought I’d need you to marry me?” I ask matter-of-factly, because surely that’s it.

I watch annoyance fill his gaze, and his jaw tightens. He narrows his eyes, but before he can answer, Louisa chimes in. “Or maybe because he knew he loved you.”

“And because he thinks you’re amazing,” Clara adds.

“Because he wants to spend the rest of his life with you. My little baby nephew is just a bonus on top of all the amazing things you already bring to the table,” Eliza throws out, and of course, Alex just smiles smugly. “He obviously isn’t scared of your left hook.”

Alex grins. “Actually, I’m terrified of it, but I’ll just make sure never to piss you off like that.”

A giggle escapes me. “That’s a lie. You live to drive me wild.”

He nods, not the least bit ashamed. “Yup. But my reasons are all what they said,” he says, waving his free hand at them. “But also…because I don’t want to drive anyone but you wild for the rest of my life.”

Emotion suffocates me as I stay locked in his heated gaze. I don’t know what to say. Or maybe I do; I’m just too scared. Alex, I don’t think he knows fear.

He leans in, kissing my lips. “I love you, mami. Now, if you’re ready, we’ve got a flight to catch.”

My heart skips a beat as I remember that not only do I have to tell him about my past if I want us to have the future he’s promising, but I have to meet his mom.

CHAPTER 28

Alex

Mom: When will you be on your way?

Me: Soon. Just settling in before I head to you.

Mom: I can’t wait to see you. I’m so excited.

Me: Me too. See you soon.

Mom: Not soon enough.

I chuckle to myself, wondering if she’ll think that once I show up with her future daughter-in-law and grandbaby in tow. I fully expect to get a cocha flung at me, but I can’t help but be excited for her to meet Elliot. I know my mom is going to love her and adore her just as I do. I sit on the bed, scrolling through Instagram as Elliot throws everything out of her bag.

She’s doing that thing where she’s freaking out but doesn’t want me to know. She has her lips pressed together in a hard line, her eyes wild with nervousness, and her shoulders are bent back so tightly, I’m worried she’ll pull something. She curses under her breath, but I feel her chancing glances at me to make sure I don’t hear her. She’s been doing this since I moved in with her, and as I always do, I give her time to figure out her emotions and what she wants to do. When there is no end in sight without my help, I do what needs to be done.

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