I can't go through with it. I try to play it cool, maintaining a polite level of distance, but the guilt is too much to take. There's no way I can let Molly sit in my truck and pretend like I'm indifferent. And the blush that creeps across her cheeks when I comment on her dress tells me how pleased she is that I noticed.

This whole situation sucks.

When I pull up to Uncle Alejandro and Aunt Marisol's Cape Cod Molly's eyes go wide. "This is the party?" she says, observing the dozens of cars lining both sides of the street. "Who'd they invite, the Miami Dolphins?"

I laugh. "Don't let the twins hear you say that. They already think their sixteenth birthday should be observed as a national holiday." I park the truck and kill the engine. "Are you ready?"

"But there are so many people." When Molly turns to me, her face goes pale. "I don't know if this is a good idea."

"Why not? They're going to be your family soon. Don't you want to meet them?"

"Well, yes. But—" She pauses. "I can count my family members on one hand. But yours—yours can fill up the Hard Rock Stadium."

It's an exaggeration, but not by much. I don't know many people with families the size of mine. When the De la Mora's get together—which is more often than not—we're a force to be reckoned with.

Molly sniffles next to me. "What if they don't like me?"

She can't be serious. "They're going to love you."

Molly's fingers inch down the length of Sonny's back. She takes a shaky breath and turns back to the party. It's an outdoor cookout with rectangle tables set up in the side yard next to the house. A mob of happy relatives fill most of the seats and mill around Uncle Alejandro as he barbecues pork on the grill. Like every family gathering, the rhythmic patterns of contemporary salsa music bellow through the speakers parked on the back deck.

As Molly opens the door, she gives me one last look. "Please don't abandon me."

Her desperate expression tugs at my heart. "I won't. I promise."

With a satisfied nod, she hooks Sonny to his leash and hops out of the truck, slinging a lightweight purse over her freckled shoulder. When I meet them on the sidewalk, I once again marvel at how pretty she is. The delicate material of her sundress caresses her curves and ripples around her calves, while her blonde hair spills past her shoulders in golden waves. For the millionth time, I push the thought of how lucky Val is to the back of my mind.

The closer we get to the party, the harder Sonny tugs on the leash. He's bouncing along the sidewalk, tail wagging and lips pulling into his signature grin. "Want me to take him?"

Molly gives me a grateful smile. "Thank you."

Our fingers brush together as she passes over the leash and my muscles spark with the urge to take hold of her hand. It surprises me, but it surprises Molly more, like the jolt really happened and it wasn't just my imagination.

We're still staring at each other, bewildered, when someone calls my name. "Leonardo De la Mora, come give your mother a hug."

I tear my eyes away from Molly and force a good-natured laugh. "Si, Mamá."

Sonny lets out a bark and pulls me toward my mother's waiting arms. She sighs once she has me in her gasp. "Another week safe at work. The good Lord has once again answered my prayers."

"Mamá, I'll be fine. You worry too much."

"It's my job to worry." She smiles when she pulls away. "This must be Molly?"

I step aside to introduce them. "Mamá, this is Molly Simpson. Molly, this is my mother, Isabel De la Mora."

Molly tentatively steps closer. "It's very nice to meet you."

She extends her hand but Mom catches her in an embrace. "We're big huggers in this family—I hope you don't mind."

A muffled laugh escapes through Molly's lips. "Not at all. Thank you."

The need to watch out for her slams into me, nearly knocking me off my feet. "Just as long as you guys don't scare her away. You know, not everyone's used to so many touchy-feely people all in one place."

Mom laughs. "Nonsense, hijo. Love is meant to be shared."

"Well, look what the cat dragged in," another female voice says. She saunters up to us and scratches Sonny on the head, her dark eyes locked on mine. "It's about time you got here."

"Lela! I thought you had to work?" I say, folding my younger sister into a hug.

"We had an extra server scheduled so Roberto let me leave." When she pulls away, Lela turns to Molly and slowly takes her in. She tosses a curious look my way before introducing herself. "You must be Val's fiancé. I'm Lela. It's nice to finally meet you."

Before Molly can respond, the twins barrel down upon us, screeching, each one throwing their arms around Molly's neck. "I can't believe you're here!" Claudia swoons. Elena joins in. "Now you get to meet everyone!"

Molly's overwhelmed. I can tell by the way her eyes widen, and how her lips form a perfect O. But she doesn't shy away from the attention, like someone else might after meeting my boisterous family. Instead, she squares her shoulders and reaches into her bag, pulling out two cards. "Happy birthday to the both of you. I got you a little something. It's nothing special, but I hope you like it."

Their arms fly around her again. "We love it!" Claudia exclaims, before she even knows what it is. "We'll put them with our other presents!" Elena adds with a grin.

We all laugh as the twins take off toward a table spilling over with a boxed cake and colorfully-wrapped gifts.

My gaze scans the rest of the party, and I realize not everyone is here. "Where's Papá?"

"He and Lou volunteered to stay with Val. He looks so good today, hijo," my mother says in a grateful voice. She places a hand over her heart. "Something tells me he's going to wake up soon. I can feel it."

"Let's hope he does," Lela says. Then she smiles at Molly and regards her closely. "I bet you're ready, huh? Get him out of the hospital and have him all to yourself."

Like so often when we talk about Val, a pink tinge crawls up Molly's neck and over her cheeks. "He means so much to so many people," she says after a thoughtful pause. "I keep praying for a miracle."

Lela's smile grows wider. "I'm a firm believer in miracles. All we need to do is trust that everything will fall into place."

A look of surprise flashes across Molly's face. She's about to say something when she's interrupted by another visitor.

"Molly—you made it! I'm so happy to see you!" Aunt Marisol weaves around the tables and grasps Molly's face in her hands. "The mother of my future grandchildren. I just know my grandbabies are going to have the De la Mora nose—strong, powerful, elegant—and your beautiful blue eyes!"

Molly tries to smile, but her cheeks are squished between my aunt's palms. "It's so good to see you again."

Mom claps her hands together. "Marisol, leave the poor girl alone! Help me bring the food out from the house—it looks like Alejandro is finished at the grill ."

Aunt Marisol gives Molly one last squeeze before letting my mother drag her away, but before we can find a seat, the twins circle back around, each of them latching onto one of Molly's hands. "Can we introduce you to everyone?" Claudia asks. "They're all dying to meet you!" Elena adds.

Molly's gaze meets mine. "Would you like me to come along?" I ask, remembering my promise to stay with her.

She turns back to the twins, and a smile spreads across her lips. "I think I'll be fine."

As soon as Claudia and Elena pull her away, Lela's gaze cuts to me. She nods toward a table with a few open chairs. "Shall we?"

"Sure."

When I grab a seat at the end of the table, Sonny plops down in the shade, his legs stretching out as he closes his eyes. I scratch the back of my neck and search for Molly in the crowd. Across the yard, the twins steer her toward a table of aunts and uncles, and she smiles graciously as they take turns with introductions.

"Earth to Leo," Lela says with a wave. I didn't even notice her settle into the chair across from me.

I give her my full attention and lean back in my chair. "Sorry, I'm distracted."

"Yeah, I can tell." She flashes a knowing grin, and pulls a hand through her hair, the blunt ends skimming her bare shoulders.

"What?" I ask suspiciously.

"What, what?"

My chin juts forward in defense. "That look. What are you up to?"

Lela presses a hand to her chest. "Who me? I could ask you the same thing."

"What are you talking about?"

Her grin morphs into a smirk. "Like you don't know."

"Know what?"

Lela glances over her shoulder and finds Molly across the yard. When she looks back at me, her eyes are sparkling. "Oh my God. You don't know, do you?"

She's starting to irritate me. I flop my elbows onto the table and cross my arms. "Are you planning to tell me what's on your mind, or are you just going to play games?"

"Oh, sweet, clueless Leo." Lela reaches across the table and takes my hands in hers. "You're in love."

🌴

Words in total, approximately 19,792.

Gah—I'm not sure I'm going to finish this by the end of April! I'm still going to try, but life has been unexpectedly busy. Congratulations to those who've met their ONC goals, and good luck to those still trying. I'm so proud of all of you!

Even if I don't finish when I hope to, I DO plan to finish, and I even made a new cover to set my goal in stone! I hope you like it—Sonny's there, which he has every right to be! I'm glad I was able to work him in.

Thank you for your continued patience and support—it means so much! 🧡