Page 82 of Love Again

"Yup, he doesn’t know Max is here, either. They grew up together in America."

"Great, I might go introduce myself to them, but I'm going to say hi to Teresa first. She'll never forgive me if I don't go straight to her."

Vítor turned me to face him and ran his hands through my wet hair.

"I don't know how this is my life now, but I'm not going to complain."

I saw Mateus engulfed in one of Teresa's mom hugs and smiled.

"It never ceases to amaze me how easily he makes friendships," Vítor said as I leaned on his chest, his still-cool skin against mine.

"He was raised well by his dads."

"Oh look, there they come."

David and Joel were beaming as they approached the party. The first ones to get to them were Filipe and Joel's little cousins who were only eight, ten, and eleven. After the rest of the family joined them with hugs and congratulations, the happy couple came over to where we were.

"Congratulations guys. I'm so happy for you," I said as I gave each a hug.

David looked at Joel as if for reassurance and then said, "Vítor, I er… I was wondering if I could call you dad."

Vítor's hand trembled in mine. He'd mentioned not long ago how much he hoped that David would one day be ready to call him dad instead of using his first name.

Emotion caught in my throat. I could only imagine how my man was feeling.

"Of course you can, son," Vítor said. "Nothing would make me happier."

"Does that mean that Tiago is your stepdad?" Joel joked.

"He's going to be our daddy," Mateus said, giving David a congratulatory pat on the back. "Come on, food is ready."

Mário already had the food ready to go and buckets of drinks on ice. Afonso looked busy and eager to do his job.

"I'm so happy for them. David has changed so much since Joel came back. He's so much happier now," I said.

Vítor kissed my forehead.

"What would you say if I asked you to marry me soon?"

I turned and gave him a soft kiss with a promise of more later.

"I would say yes," I said, "but I'm not going to be anyone's daddy unless we have our own child."

Vítor's laugh reached all the corners of my heart.

"How did I get so lucky?"

"A Gypsy, a bunch of dried flowers, and a chin dimple."

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