Page 99 of Vow

“That’s a smart move on their part.”

“Andino.”

“Well,” he uttered.

Gio sighed. “She flew down to Florida this past weekend to see her parents, but came back on Monday morning. Stopped into the club to say hello, I think, but she didn’t stay. That’s the first time she’s been back there since it sold, according to the guy I talked to.”

“Huh.”

He bet that fucking sucked for her.

“The For Sale sign on the house has a sold marker,” Gio added quieter. “I take it they haven’t fully closed, though, as she’s still there even though she’s moving the rest of her things out slowly.”

Jesus.

The air was gone from his lungs, and it was painful.

She was this close to leaving.

Too fucking close.

“All right, thanks,” Andino said.

“I’m sorry. I know this isn’t what you want.”

“She’s not gone yet. That’s what matters. There’s still time. I can still fix this once I finish with the rest. It doesn’t matter. I’ll fucking fly to Florida for all I give a damn. I can fix it.”

“I know you can, son,” Gio murmured.

His father sounded like he believed him.

Andino wasn’t even sure he believed himself.

• • •

Showtime.

Andino carefully balanced the large white box with the matching satin bow in his hands as he maneuvered through the halls of the church. He only set the box down long enough to greet his mother when she came out of her dressing room.

“Look at you,” Kim said, smiling widely. She fixed his tie—though he knew it wasn’t crooked because his father, uncles, and grandmother did the same goddamn thing earlier—and smoothed the lapels of his tux with the kind hands only a mother could have. Proud, he thought. She looked proud of him. “You’re so handsome, my boy.”

Andino smiled. “Thank you, Ma.”

“Are you ready for today?”

“More than ready.”

It wasn’t a lie.

He was ready for today.

It was the beginning of the end, so to speak.

Kim’s smile faltered for a brief second. “Really?”

Andino shrugged, and bent down to kiss his mother on her forehead. He stayed there for a few seconds, knowing this was what his mother deserved. She always wanted to make sure he was happy, and so he wanted to do the same with her.

“Really, Ma. Don’t you worry about me today. All I want is for you to enjoy the show.”