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I turn to Cam, and baby CJ is staring at me. I poke at his belly, and he giggles. “There’s going to be another one of you on the way soon.”

Cam laughs. “According to Chase, that’s his next goal. Meanwhile, I am trying to convince Adri on another one.”

“Really? You want more kids?”

He steals a quick look at his wife. “Yeah. I told her three more, and she laughed at me, but I think I can get her on board for another one or two. Bron is growing so fast, and I want another before CJ gets much older.”

“That’s a teenager, a toddler, and a baby, Cam.”

“It’s a death wish, isn’t it?” He chuckles, but his words don’t erase the look of determination in his eyes. This must be what it’s like when you have a real partner in your life.

I’ve never wanted another child. Ayla and I are a perfect unit.

“Excuse me, Papi.” I turn, and Ayla is staring at me with a smile. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

She points up and shakes her shoulders. “Merengue is playing. We have to show these people how it’s done.”

“Excuse me, Cam.” I stand up and extend my hand in the way I’m hoping she expects every man to ask for a dance. She takes it, and we get to the middle of the floor.

On the other end, some members of Lauren’s family are dancing. I take Ayla’s right hand in mine and place my left one on her shoulder. We begin swaying to the fast beat of the music.

Ayla learned this really fast and has gotten so good at it. I’m proud that we dance at least once a week. A has always been proud of our culture, wanting to learn our ways and keep them present.

“You dance like an angel, negrita.”

“Gracias, Papi. You have to dance with B too. We’ve been practicing, but Mr. Cam doesn’t know Spanish music. He can’t dance with her.”

I nod. “Of course. Remember what I said, a good guy always dances with all the girls in a group. Even if he comes to the dance with one girl, he has to be attentive to all her friends. Because everyone should enjoy themselves. Don’t ever expect any less than that.”

She smiles a little, and I’m hoping that when she goes anywhere with a guy, it will be about twenty years from now. She looks over at the table and calls Bron over. Her friend shakes her head, but A waves her hand faster.

Soon, I’m dancing with both of them to Anthony Santos. I take turns turning them around.

We all laugh, and Adri is taking lots of pics of us. She and Winter join us, and at one point, I’m the one guy dancing with four girls. And that’s just fine, because that’s how it used to be growing up with my cousins. I was always the one guy who could dance and made sure they all got on the floor.

Lauren joins us with Justin and Felix, and it’s not long before there’s a big circle, and all the Latinos are in the middle, dancing and clapping. We take turns going into the center.

This wedding takes me back to growing up. Since I left Monte Cristi to come to the U.S. to play baseball, I haven’t been to a wedding like this. Happy, beautiful, and full of life. Everything mine should have been but wasn’t.

As my Ayla starts dancing in the middle of the circle, I smile. I didn’t have all of this on my wedding day, but the very best thing in my life came six months later.

10

Lux

I thought he was hot the first time I saw him with that wide, mind-obliterating smile. His eyes devour and suggest things that only live in my head. Images of that hard, sexy body—with strong arms to hold you in—make me conjure, remember, and repeat.

But today, watching Oliver dance with his daughter and bringing our group of friends in…it takes my attraction to a new level. He’s dancing with Ayla, Bron, Winter, Adri, and Lauren, managing to give them all his attention. He’s about to make me combust.

But…think, Luciana. Where have you heard something like that before? Yeah, Mateo talking to his friend on the phone.

A real man can handle many ladies. I have enough to give all of them.

Except…Ollie is not Mateo. He’s not creeping with groupies and z-listed reality starlets. I think?

He’s dancing with his child, to whom he’s totally devoted. God knows my panties slid a little down my leg watching the way he beamed with pride when Ayla walked down the aisle. Now, he’s including her best friend, your niece, and all your friends. Because they’re all like a big family.