Page 241 of Love Unwritten
She pulls out her phone and shows me a group chat they share called The Silver Vixens, most likely named by none other than Dahlia since it’s her favorite show.
I groan. “It’s already starting.”
“Yup.” She laughs. “Don’t worry, though. When they asked if we were thinking about a church wedding, I took the bullet for you and said my family isn’t religious.”
My eyes bulge. “You what?”
“Kidding!”
I exhale. “Thank God. I think my aunt and Rosa would both pass out.”
“I mean, I wasn’t raised going to Mass like you, but I suppose I’d be willing to make a sacrifice when it’s time for us to tie the—”
I struggle to breathe properly.
She swats my shoulder with a chuckle. “Will you relax? No one has asked me about marriage or babies or whatever else makes commitment-phobes like you anxious.”
“I am not a commitment-phobe.”
“No?” Her eyes glimmer.
“No. I’m just not interested in talking about any of that with anyone who isn’t you.”
She smiles. “So you are open to getting married?”
“If you keep trying to send me into cardiac arrest, we’ll never make it to our wedding day.”
Her smile grows wider. “That’s not a no.”
“No, it’s not.” I kiss her softly before ringing the doorbell.
Rosa opens the door to her house with a bright smile that both Muñoz sisters inherited. “Ellie! You’re here!” She completely ignores me and pulls Ellie into her arms. “It’s so nice to see you again.”
Rosa drags my girlfriend inside without sparing me a second glance.
“Nice to see you too,” I call out.
“Shut the door before all the AC leaves.” She drags Ellie down the main hall toward the kitchen.
“¡Papi!” Nico runs down the hall.
“At least someone is excited to see me.” I catch him in my arms. “How was your sleepover at Julian’s?”
Nico tells me all about his night while I follow him into the house. Everyone is too busy fawning over Ellie to even notice me. I expected as much when I told them she was coming today, but watching it unfold in front of me is a different story.
While I know my family liked Ellie when they got to know her as Nico’s nanny, I want them to love her as my girlfriend. They are important to me, and so is she, so I hope they mesh well.
After Lorenzo’s rough reception as Lily’s fiancé two weeks ago, I’m a bit nervous, although it only takes me twenty minutes to realize I was overreacting.
Ellie is fine. Actually, she is more than fine. She happily sticks to my aunt’s side while she prepares her beloved espagueti verde recipe, and they swap tricks for some of Nico’s favorite recipes.
I hang out in the kitchen with them and take diligent notes on Ellie’s phone for her. I’d usually be watching a game in the living room, but I’d rather avoid sitting with Julian, Lorenzo, and Lily, who refuses to leave my cousin and her new fiancé alone.
“Your secret ingredient is baby spinach?” Ellie stares at my aunt with wide eyes.
My aunt grins. “How else would I get Nico to eat his veggies?”
“Oh my God.” She looks over at me. “Did you know this?”