Page 40 of Love or Leave (Mapleton #4)

thirty-five

Epilogue

C ara smoothed the skirt of her red dress, adjusted her earring, and tried not the check the clock. Again.

Antonio was picking her up.

Not meeting her there. Not asking her to come to his place first so no one would see them together. He was picking her up from her place like an actual boyfriend. Because that's what he was—her actual boyfriend.

The doorbell rang, and her heart twirled in her chest. She pulled the heavy wood door open and found Antonio standing on the porch. He was wearing a crisp button-up shirt under a navy suit, with a thick black overcoat.

His mouth curved into a grin, and her heart flooded with warmth. He stepped forward and kissed her cheek, then he held out a neatly wrapped box toward her.

"I was going to get you flowers, but I think you'll like this more," he said.

Cara’s jaw dropped before her face split into an enormous grin. "You brought me a present?"

Antonio nodded. "Open it."

She ripped into the paper, revealing a yellow and blue box with two characters on the front standing back-to-back. "Seven Wonders Duel."

"It's a board game," he said. “For us to play together.”

Aww, he really got her.

She nodded as tears pricked the back of her eyes. She moved into his arms and hugged him. What a one-eighty from being asked out to a minor league hockey game.

"I love it. I love you," she said, she said, pulling back to look into his eyes.

He leaned in close, slowly, and pressed his lips to hers, right there on the front porch for everyone to see.

No one was home, but still, it felt good to be out in the open with him.

"I love you, too," he said. "The internet said it's a good game for highly competitive couples. I thought that would work for us."

She chuckled and set the game down, then took his hand and closed the door. "We should really get going."

Before they even made it to Antonio's car, both of their phones buzzed. At the same time.

They grinned at each other and said in unison, "Group chat."

"You answer, I'll drive," Antonio said, opening the door for her.

Cara slipped into the front seat and pulled out her phone.

Max: Where the hell are you two?

She rolled her eyes and replied, letting him know they were on their way, and relaxed into the seat.

Antonio eased out of the driveway and took her hand in his between them. It was easy, comfortable. Natural.

She smiled down at their intertwined fingers, basking in the warmth of his hand. "It's nice to touch you," she said.

Antonio chuckled softly. "I was just thinking the exact same thing."

They drove in peaceful silence, but inside Cara was filled with excited energy.

They'd been on a couple of dates, and their friends obviously knew they were together, but this was the first time they would walk into an event, hand in hand, and introduce each other to strangers as each other's significant other.

They pulled into the parking lot of the Mapleton Country Club, and Antonio glanced her way. "Ready?" he asked.

"Oh, yes."

They walked into the Fireplace Lounge and immediately spotted their people, clustered together in the center of the empty room in front of the gigantic fireplace.

It was still two days before the wedding, and the decorators hadn't yet arrived. But she could already tell by the room that their “grounded glam” theme was going to be incredible.

Their friends turned and came toward them at once, like a bunch of planets finding a new center to orbit. They all greeted each other and hugged.

"Why were you late?" Natalie asked with an eyebrow wag that made Max wince.

"My fault," Antonio said. "I had to go home for a gift."

"He got me a board game," Cara said, turning to Antonio, beaming.

He kissed her temple. "Once I'm settled into my new place, I was thinking of having a game night. Everyone's invited."

Willow smiled. "I'm in! I'll bring the beer, but just know I have zero strategy."

Antonio smirked her way. "Even better," he said with a laugh.

The wedding planner and Adam's uncle David came into the room and started directing everyone. Cara felt Antonio's fingers lace with hers again, and she squeezed, never wanting to let go.

She looked around at her friends and knew this was the start of an amazing future together. The next time they were all together, they'd be celebrating something even bigger. But for now, they were here. Together. Out in the open.

Exactly where they were all meant to be.