Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Ruben looked down at his feet self-consciously, before meeting Matthew’s gaze. “I’ve heard good things. My father is loyal to his old boxing club, but after seeing you in action, I thought I’d try this one out. If that’s okay with you.”
“Sure it is,” William said heartily before he could open his mouth. “And you said you brought a few more people with you?”
Matthew frowned at his brother, but William sent him a barely discernible head shake. “More people?”
“Oh, there he is! As beautiful as Oliver said he was.”
Matthew spun on his sneakered heel to see Olivia Garcia cooing at little Wilde. He turned to Ruben in confusion. A part of him was sure Ruben had come to beat the shit out of him. Or try to. “You brought your grandmother?”
“No. I did.”
Oliver.
Matthew wasn’t sure what was going on. Why had he come here with his family in tow? Was he afraid to see him alone after Matthew’s performance at the restaurant? Was he trying to make a point? If so, it was lost on him.
He looked good. Tired, but good. His curls were mussed, as if he’d been running his hands through his hair, and the baggy t-shirt he wore was one of Matthew’s.
Had Oliver been missing him too?
“Why?”
Oliver stepped closer. “She wanted to meet you and your family. After you left, she said you were right about the kind of man I was, and it was nice that someone outside of the family finally saw it. She also said the way you were willing to fight for me reminded her of her husband. And my father.”
Matthew was holding his breath. When he didn’t turn away, Oliver moved even closer. “I was so busy trying to keep everything balanced and separate that I didn’t realize how unfair I was being. To my family, to myself. To you. You were proving that you loved me every day. Sharing your life and everyone in it without holding anything back. I just—it felt too good to be true. But I know better now, and I promise I won’t hold back anymore. Not with you. No matter what anyone says.”
“Believe me,” his grandmother interjected wryly. “Things were said. And I have a few children who’ll need to go to confession before I invite them over for family dinner again.”
Oliver’s smile was wobbly. “They’ll come around. But I don’t care how long it takes them anymore. I love you, and I want everyone to know it.”
When he still didn’t respond, Oliver bit his lip and looked away. “I know it might be too late for—”
“It’s not!” Kate, Bronte and William all shouted in unison, startling all three Garcias.
“It’s not too late.” William came up and squeezed Matthew’s shoulder. “He’s surprised, that’s all. We’re not the kind of people who are all that used to getting everything we want. Throws us a bit, right, Matty?”
Matthew smiled. He met Oliver’s gaze and after a moment, they both started to laugh.
“Is that a normal reaction for them or should we be worried?” Bronte said to no one in particular.
Then Oliver was in Matthew’s arms and kissing him in front of God, his grandmother and everyone.
Oliver pressed his lips against Matthew’s ear. “I hope you’re ready for this.”
“I have been since the first time I saw you, Legs.”
“Good. Because Ruben’s already got my things in the back of his truck and my grandmother keeps mentioning wedding venues.”
This.
This was what he’d been waiting for. This was all he needed for the rest of his life.
“Finally.”
Robert Wayne smiled proudly at the older woman holding his nephew. “I’m the one that got those two together, you know.”
Olivia Garcia looked up at him with a gleam in her eye. “Isn’t that wonderful? I heard all about it, but I thought there were two matchmakers for my Oliver. Are you Nora or Barbie?”