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“You need to set up a production company,” Ryleigh throws out. “Bring in the money and produce it like that. He can’t tell you no.”
“There is an idea,” Gabriella agrees. “A family affair.”
“You can draw up the contracts,” my mother says to Ryleigh.
“I’m in criminal law,” she huffs. “Call me if anyone kills anyone on the set.”
I think about what I’m about to say next, and I know I should talk to Gabriella about it in private, but instead, I just blurt out, “I’m moving out of LA.”
Gabriella is the only one who gasps. “What?” she asks, and I lean over and kiss her lips.
“Where are you going to go?” my father asks, unfazed by this news.
“Dallas,” I announce, looking at Gabriella, who just sits there with her mouth hanging open. “I want to live together.”
She goes from shocked to shy as her face fills with a little smile and then just her smile beams. “Do you?” she asks.
My chest fills with this feeling like I’m complete. “Yeah,” I say, and then I gasp. “I should probably ask your father.”
“No!” my father and Ryleigh shout.
“You get on a plane and go see him face-to-face,” my father instructs, and I nod at him, and Gabriella just shakes her head.
“If the guy I was with went to ask my father if we could live together,” Ryleigh says. “It would be an immediate no, and also, I wouldn’t be with him anymore.”
“He has to ask my permission.” My father looks at Ryleigh, who stands straight.
“Then you live with him. Before he asks you anything, he better be asking me.” She pushes off from the counter. “Ask my father if he can live with me.” She shakes her head. “Are you insane?” She walks out of the room.
“It’s the proper thing to do!” I shout at her back.
“It’s also the proper thing to not try to sleep with someone else,” she retorts over her shoulder and flips me the bird.
“She’s got a lot of pent-up anger,” my father observes, laughing, “but she loves you.”
“I bet,” I say to him and then look over at Gabriella. “Are you okay with us living with each other?”
“Are you okay with living in Dallas?” she asks, and I shrug.
“I don’t care where I live as long as you are there with me.” I lean in, and she puts her hand on my cheek. “You are my home.”
THIRTY-THREE
THREE MONTHS LATER
GABRIELLA
“The bouncy castle is being set up now,” the party planner tells me, “and the caterer is on his way and should be here in about thirty minutes.” He smiles at me. “They set up the five barbecues outside under a tent.” I just nod at him, rethinking hosting my family lunch.
“Thank you so much,” I tell him. “If you need me, I’ll be beside the bar,” I joke with him, but secretly, I might have no choice.
“Where do you want me to put this?” I look up from washing my hands to look over at Romeo. He stands there with two big white boxes.
“What is it?” I ask, not sure what it is. He walks into the kitchen and puts it on the white island. He opens the envelope on top of the box. “Congrats on the new house. Here is something to show my love.” He puts the envelope down.
“Who is it from?” I ask, walking around the island. He just shrugs his shoulders as he opens the top box.
“Oh my God,” he says, taking a frame out of the box showing a picture of Romeo not looking his best, but beside him Ryleigh looks amazing. I can’t help but laugh out loud. “They are all pictures of her,” he complains, taking out the five frames.
