Love in Bloom (De La Fuente Family 3)

Erin slipped her arm around the waist of her friend as she turned her to look in the mirror. “We look so pretty.”

“We do. Let’s go knock ‘em dead.” Sadie grabbed her makeup bag, shoved it in her purse and dragged Erin out of the restroom.

Graduation was due to start in five minutes and Erin felt sick with nerves. Luckily, all she had to do was walk up on the stage to collect her degree. Well, all she’d been collecting today was a piece of card with instructions written on how to collect her actual degree certificate. But the whole day wasn’t just for the graduates, it was also for family and friends.

Erin had no family and her best friend, Sadie, was graduating with her. She missed her mom more than ever today because it had been their dream as she’d grown up to graduate from university. And now she was, but had no one out in the audience for her.

“Hey,” Sadie hugged her, “I said no tears.”

She took a deep breath and smiled. “I’m fine…I think.”

Sadie rolled her eyes. “Never mind, we have to go and take our seats.”

While the speeches got underway, Erin wondered what Mateo was doing. She hadn’t heard anything from him in the four weeks since the whole thing blew up.

She missed him like crazy and had been so tempted to call him. At first, she didn’t because she’d been angry that he’d blame her for not trusting him, but then she’d become more upset as time went on. His lack of contact spoke volumes and she presumed he’d moved back home and gotten on with his life. She only wished she could do the same.

But as Michelle, who had been elected the Valedictorian started her speech, Erin thought back to the life that she thought was in her grasp. She’d longed to move back to Montana with Mateo and to keep house while he started working at the high school.

She would hunt for a job because her years at college weren’t going to go to waste. Their house would have to have a yard for when the kids came along…what was she thinking? That had all been a pipe dream and without Mateo she had nothing. The big question was did she have the guts to go after him? The guts to stand in front of him and tell him how much she loved him?

Yes, she did!

When Sadie nudged her to her feet because it was their classes turn to head over to the stage, Erin offered her the first real smile of the day.

Sadie nearly tripped and looked at her wondering what was going on.

She couldn’t blame her friend considering all the grief she’d given her over the past few weeks.

Having made her decision though, it was easy to smile because not only was she excited at the prospect of seeing Mateo again, but she was impatient to get to him.

“Erin Louise Taylor.”

Hearing her name being called, Erin took to the stage and focused on the dean who held her degree. As she took hold and smiled for the camera, she continued across the stage.

There was only a slight hesitation in her step when she saw who waited for her at the other side. Tears gathered on her lashes and she tried to blink them away.

Her steps were slow as she walked over to where he stood. Her eyes took all of him in. His navy blue suit looked amazing on his tall frame and as she got closer, she realized he looked really nervous—as in ready to puke with nerves.

“You came,” she whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks.

“It’s your graduation. I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

He looked like he’d lost weight since she’d last seen him…just like she had.

“I missed you.” She tried to smile through her tears but didn’t think she managed it.

“Missed you too, babe.” Mateo stepped closer, cupping one side of her face. “I had a whole apology prepared, but the main thing is that I’m so damn sorry. I was an idiot, but fuck it, I love you. I want you to move to Montana with me. I want to keep you barefoot and pregnant.”

Loud laughter from behind caused Erin to turn and that’s when she saw all Mateo’s family. His mom and dad with all Mateo’s siblings stood there. Lucia looked appalled but the others looked amused.

“Telling her you want to keep her knocked up isn’t going to earn any points,” Diego chuckled and shook his head.

“Stay out of it,” Mateo grumbled.

Erin turned back and admitted, “I’d just made the decision to visit you in Montana. I had nothing else left to lose and thought that I had to get you back.”

“You always had me Erin. Always.”