Page 20 of When Love Changes Everything

Mateo’s smile doesn’t waver. "You probably haven't heard, but those fifty-cent gumball machines? They're a dollar now. But let me assure you, those novelty shops don't carry anything as exquisite as this." His gaze shifts to me, and I catch the warmth in his eyes. "I wanted something as rare and extraordinary as she is."

My father scoffs, but he refrains from contradicting Mateo's sentiment about his bride-to-be. Instead, he turns on his heel and walks out the door, leaving Mateo and me standing alone once more.

I dart to the window, heart pounding, and watch as my father retreats to the guesthouse. Once he disappears inside, I whirl around to face Mateo.

"Have you lost your mind?!" My voice shakes, my emotions a tangled knot of disbelief, shock, anger, and something unexpected—something terrifyingly close to happiness.

Mateo steps closer, his calmness infuriating. “Too late,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that wraps around me. His lips curve into a confident smile that both soothes and enrages me. “You already said yes."

"You ambushed me!" I exclaim, my voice trembling with a mix of shock and—dare I say it—awe. "What were you thinking, showing up here with a ring? An engagement ring." My gaze flickers to it—a real, breathtakingly beautiful, impossibly perfect engagement ring.

"Do you like it?" he asks, that disarming smile playing on his lips—the one that melts all my defenses, every single time.

I draw in a shaky breath, my emotions a whirlwind beyond control. "I—I love it," I stammer, the words catching in my throat. When my eyes meet his, my heart races, and my chest tightens. I can't look away—from the way his gaze holds mine with unwavering certainty.

“We can't do this, Mateo,” I murmur, my voice cracking at the edges. “Wecan’tdo this.”

His silence is deafening. More unsettling than any words could be. I can see it in his eyes, he's measuring his next words carefully before replying.

"Of course we can," he smiles, reaching for my hand and lifting it to his lips, gently kissing it, his eyes never leaving mine. "We can do whatever we want."

"And what is it that you want?" I ask, my breath caught in my chest as I wait, torn between wanting to hear his response and dreading it.

"I want you,hermosa."

I believe him.

Chapter 8

Mateo

"What happened to us being just friends?" she snaps. "Or have you completely forgotten the hard line you drew in the sand just the other day? And I quote, 'You and I... we’re just friends, remember?'"

"I want to continue being friends," I begin. "But notjust friends. I can't be near you and pretend that I don't feel more. That I don't want more."

Her eyes narrow, and her tone is razor-sharp. "What exactly do you want from me, Mateo?" she demands. "Another friend with benefits? Is that it? Don’t you already have plenty of those to choose from? Zoe, Marian, Mandy, Meredith—God only knows how many others I haven’t caught wind of."

Her words sting, but I catch the edge of something deeper beneath her anger. "You sound jealous," I say softly, with the faintest hint of a smile.

She glares at me, her cheeks flushing. "You’re unbelievable!" she exclaims then spins on her heel, ready to walk away, and without thinking, I reach out, my hand finding her arm.

"Wait," I plead, gently turning her to face me.

Her eyes are fuming, and her lips are pressed in a tight line.

"Hermosa, I've asked you to marry me," I say. "I’ve never proposed to anyone before. Not once."

Her brow furrows, confusion flickering across her face. "What about Sophia?" she asks, doubt threading through her tone.

"I was twenty when I met her. We were young. We got pregnant. We got married. Sophia left Mérida before we ever had the chance to be a real family." I hold her gaze, willing her to see the truth. "I loved Sophia with all my heart, but it was a love born of inexperience, held together by duty and obligation. We were just young parents trying to do our best for Lily. What I feel for you—it’s different. And I know you can feel it too."

I watch as her eyes fill with realization, the flicker of understanding passing like a ripple over her delicate features. My heart pounds, bracing for rejection—a scoff, or the sight of her retreating again. But she doesn’t move. Her composurefalters for just a moment, and in that fragile silence, I watch as the truth begins to sink in.

"I know you're not into older men," I say, "but I can't be the only one feeling this. What I feel for you… it didn’t happen overnight, and you know that. We’ve been dancing around this, around each other, for years. I tried to find something real with other women, tried to force this feeling… but everything led me back to you. The thought of you—I cultivated the idea in my mind for years until it took root in my heart. I can't deny it anymore. I can't fight how strongly I feel for you. I can’t picture my life without you in it.”

"Mateo," she whispers, her gaze never leaving mine.

"You're it for me,hermosa," I say, letting my heart do all the talking. "There's no one else."

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