Page 60 of Wasted On Us

Tightening my grip on her, I press my forehead against hers. I take a moment to appreciate the woman in front of me—her spirit, her strength, her love. This beautiful, tenacious woman has captured my heart and soul completely.

“It’s you and me, sweet girl,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the celebrations. “Together, through whatever comes our way. I want to wake up every morning with you by my side. To face every sunset with you in my arms. We have the rest of our lives to share, and I want to spend every minute of it with you.”

The world falls away as we stand there, wrapped in our love, basking in our promise for a shared future. I see our life spread out before us in a canvas of joy, challenges, laughter, and tears. It’s daunting and beautiful, and I can’t wait to paint it with her. In that moment, I feel a rush of overwhelming gratitude for this woman who has chosen to share her life with me.

As I pull her closer, our hearts beat in sync, two rhythms becoming one. This isn’t just a love story. It’s our story, and it’s just beginning. We are no longer Lorenson and García—two halves of a neighborhood feud. That was once upon a time. Now, we’re Eden and Mateo, ready to face whatever comes our way. Together.

And as we stand there, under the wide expanse of the setting sun, with the cheers of our families echoing around us, I realize home isn’t a place. It isn’t this new house or this neighborhood. Home is here, in Eden’s arms, in the love we share.

With that realization, the final chapter of our feud closes, making way for the start of our love story. A love story of a girl and a boy, two families, and a neighborhood that watched them fall in love.

We started as tragically as Romeo and Juliet, but we got our happy ending. Unlike those star-crossed lovers, our tale doesn’t end in tragedy. Instead, this is the first page of a new chapter, filled with promise and hope.

This isn’t where our story ends.

This is our beautiful beginning.