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“My boyfriend shouldn’t be funding my business,” he’d griped.

“I’m investing. It’s different, baby.”

“Hmph. I’m not putting bagels on the menu. That’s a hard no.”

I’d laughed and kissed him. “No pizza bagels?”

“We’ll save those for special occasions.”

And we did. The Pizza-Bagel Bake-off was now an annual event that attracted fans and tourists from across the globe. We didn’t compete anymore. Instead, we hosted aspiring chefs in the area while still raising money for the community.

In fact, if we didn’t hurry, we’d miss the opening festivities.

“We should go, baby.”

“You’re right.” He didn’t budge, though.

“You okay?”

Mateo nodded, slipping his hand in mine. “Yeah, I’m…I can’t believe it’s real.”

“It’s going to be amazing too. The plans are?—”

“No, I meant…us. Everything we are, everything we’ve done, everything we’re going to do. I just…I love you…so much.”

I crushed him to my chest, holding him close. “I love you too.”

He squeezed our fingers and smiled. “C’mon, let’s go judge some pizza bagels.”

“You’re on.”

Perhaps all was fair in love and war, and maybe in love and pizza too. I preferred peace and harmony…and our new beginning.