Page 59 of Wasted On Us

Dad finally flips the burgers, pretending to wipe sweat from his brow. “Dios mío, Dan. I do not know how you survive such labor. The stress of flipping burgers, the unbearable heat of the grill… Play your cards right, and I just might invite you over to my place sometime so you can actually relax.”

“Relaxation is overrated. Hard work builds character, Sal,” Daniel retorts, as if he’s been flipping burgers his entire life.

I can’t believe they’ve resorted to nicknames, but I’m not opposed.

Dad chuckles, turning to me. “Mateo, how do you put up with such a man as your girlfriend’s father?”

“Practice,” I reply, grinning. “And Abuelita’s food. That makes anything better.”

Daniel shakes his head, pointing at Dad with his spatula. “You, my friend, need a lesson in grilling etiquette.”

“Just as you need a lesson in relaxation, Dan,” Dad retorts with a smirk. “Perhaps we should swap for a day. You can enjoy la vida tranquila while I slave over your grill.”

They both laugh, the tension between them melting away like the fat on the sizzling burgers. It’s surreal, watching them interact like this. A welcome change, a sign that things may finally be moving forward for our families. As I watch them bicker, their laughter mingling with the smell of grilled food and the sound of our families chatting in the background, I can’t help but feel hopeful. This is what we’ve been fighting for, and for a moment, it feels like we might have won.

Dad was nervous about using Mrs. Lambert’s yard like this at first. She’s had the whole house packed up and cleaned out for the new owners, who are supposed to be taking over at the end of the month. I know some of his hesitancy is from the incident with Abuelita, but I’ve reassured him that she gave her full permission, and so did the new owner. I’m certain that there isn’t a problem at all. Once I told him we could use his grill instead of Daniel’s, he relented, and then I helped him push it over into the yard.

Eden has been dashing from their backyard to this one all afternoon, carrying bowls of watermelon and potato salad back and forth as she jokes with her sisters. I’m happy that I was able to gather everyone here on the same day, even if it was a nightmare to schedule with Ensley’s business and Elowyn trying to plan her wedding.

I finally get a moment with Eden to myself, dragging her away from arranging a tray of cut fruit in the center of the patio table. Before I can say anything, I hear raised voices from the grill. I start to panic, turning to hear what has the two men so riled up.

“No, I’m telling you,” Daniel insists, waving his beer in the air for emphasis. “If you use propane, you get to taste the meat. Not the heat. Charcoal is for people trying to mask unseasoned meat.”

The tension leaves me in a laugh, Eden rolling her eyes at the two men.

“How long do you think this will go on?”

“Probably forever,” I groan. “If medium-rare meat is their only issue, I’ll take it. Can you believe they stopped speaking to each other for decades when they could have been having fun fake mad at each other instead? The banter is first-rate.”

She smiles, shaking her head. “I can’t wait to move out. And with that new building of yours, I can’t believe you don’t have any apartments open for me.”

“What if I told you I have something better?” Eden’s been bugging me for an open unit since I finally got that residential property transferred into my control. The truth is, we have a ton of available rentals. I just don’t think any of them are good enough for her. Now that her business has taken off, she deserves something a little more tailored to her needs and her personal taste.

“What could be better than an apartment away from here, our own space? After all, you’ve refused to leave the area. I’ve asked.” Eden sighs in exasperation. She knows that I can’t leave Abuelita, or my father’s dealership. As much as I love her, I have my obligations to my family, too. I just had to get a little creative to solve the problem. “You won’t even move into the apartment with me.”

“I told you, I have something better in mind.” I was so confident about all of this when I woke up this morning. But now, the reality is setting in, and I’m starting to get nervous. My hands shake as I fumble in my pocket, and I take a deep breath, reminding myself of how much I love her, and how happy she’s made me this past year.

Her wide-eyed gaze snaps together with mine. “What’s that?”

Oh, hell. Just go for it, Mateo.

Slipping the black velvet box out of my pocket, I drop to my knee in the middle of the grass. The argument by the grill stops. So does all of the chatter from the girls on the patio. A blanket of silence descends upon the backyard, and I feel everyone’s eyes turn to me all at once.

“Are you okay?” Eden asks, still not totally understanding what’s happening.

Popping open the lid of the box, I reveal the canary-yellow diamond engagement ring I picked out two months ago. It’s special and unique, just like she is. “I will be if you say yes.”

“You do realize this means we’ll have to live together, right?” She crosses her arms, a playful smile on her lips. I get it. The whole idea feels insane. Mateo García, buying a ring.

“And that’s why I also bought this house. It’s ours, Eden, so will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Her eyes grow wide, welling with tears, and for a second, I worry she might scream. Instead, she reaches for my hand, pulling me to my feet before kissing me so hard I see stars. Both of our fathers clap, and I hear Abuelita actually let out a whoop in the background.

“Yes!” Eden says, resting her head on my shoulder, making me the happiest man alive.

Leaning back, I take in the woman I love, the ring now on her finger, our families cheering around us. Everything else fades into the background. Her eyes shimmer with happiness and unshed tears, creating a symphony of joy within me. The world itself seems to breathe with us, the trees in the backyard swaying to the rhythm of our beating hearts.

Eden’s laughter fills the air, blending seamlessly with the vibrant celebration surrounding us. It’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard, a symphony of joy and love that echoes my own happiness. It seeps into my skin, invades my blood, and takes root in my soul. This is where I belong—with her, wrapped up in her love, our lives intertwined as we stand with our families in the backyard of our new home.

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