Page 107 of Worth the Fall

Meanwhile, Taylor and Austin are… well, a little too into their slow dance.

They’re off to the side, but not far enough to escape notice. Taylor’s hands are locked behind Austin’s neck, her head tilted back as she laughs at something he says. He leans in, whispering in her ear, and her cheeks flush.

"Should we intervene?" Mia asks, raising an eyebrow as she watches them.

"Nah," I say, chuckling. "They’re harmless."

Just then, Taylor throws her head back dramatically, laughing louder than the music, and Austin tightens his arms around her waist, pulling her even closer.

Mia gives me a look.

"Okay, maybe a little intervention," I admit, stepping forward to give Austin a firm pat on the shoulder. "Hey, Romeo, save some of that for later, yeah?"

Austin grins sheepishly, stepping back. Taylor, of course, just smirks. "Jealous, Miguel?"

"Of Austin’s lack of boundaries? Not really," I tease, earning a laugh from Mia.

The highlight of the night is Hector’s toast.

He stands at the head table, champagne flute in hand, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Ladies and gentlemen," he begins, his voice carrying easily over the chatter. "I’d like to say a few words about my best friend Miguel and his new wife, Mia."

I groan quietly, already bracing myself.

Hector grins. "Now, I’ve known Miguel for a long time. And in that time, I’ve learned a few things about him. One, he’s terrible at karaoke. Two, he eats churros like they’re an Olympic sport. And three, he’s never been this happy in his life."

The room lets out a collective "Aww," and I shoot him a warning look.

"But seriously," Hector continues, his tone softening. "Mia, you’ve done something I didn’t think was possible. You’ve made my best friend better. Not that he was bad before, but now? He’s kinder, he’s lighter, and he smiles like a lovesick fool whenever he looks at you."

The crowd laughs, and Mia squeezes my hand, her eyes shining.

"And Miguel," Hector says, looking at me directly. "You’ve got the real deal here. Mia is smart, strong, and has somehow agreed to put up with you for the rest of her life. Don’t screw it up."

"I won’t," I promise, earning more laughter.

"To Mia and Miguel," Hector says, raising his glass. "May your life together be full of love, laughter, and maybe a little less churro hoarding."

The room erupts into applause as everyone raises their glasses, and I shake my head, laughing.

"Was that so bad?" Hector asks as he sits down.

I smirk. "You’ll pay for that later."

He grins. "Worth it."

By the time the night winds down, the dance floor is littered with abandoned shoes, and Felicity is fast asleep on Celine’s lap, her curls a wild mess and her cheeks flushed from dancing.

Mia and I slip away to the terrace for a quiet moment, the city lights twinkling in the distance. She leans into me, her head on my shoulder, and I wrap an arm around her waist.

"This was perfect," she says softly.

"It was," I agree, kissing the top of her head.

She tilts her head up, her eyes meeting mine. "How does it feel to be married, Mr. Ramirez?"

"Like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be," I reply.

Her lips curve into a smile, and I lean down to kiss her, savoring the quiet, the joy, and the absolute certainty that this is just the beginning of our forever.

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