Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 49490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“Let’s do it.”
Amber chose seven judges: Great H’s current hotshot QB, Coach Malveney, three food bloggers, and two random fans in attendance.
Our online audience had set the challenge for each of us to make our version of the perfect pizza bagel. Great H Bagels and Boardwalk Pizza provided samples to feed the crowd that had shown up, but the pizza bagels the judges would taste had been made specifically by us.
Let’s keep it real: My bagel was better, but Mateo’s toppings were far superior. If combined, we’d have made the perfect pizza bagel, but separately, it was up to the judges’ palates.
“I like this one,” Coach stated, pushing the plate forward.
The QB milked his off-field moment in the spotlight, biting into one, lifting his brows to the delight of the audience, then frowning and moving on to the next plate before ultimately choosing one. “Yo, this one.”
The crowd went wild.
Our two locals weighed in next.
“I think you’re gonna win,” I whispered, sidling close to Mateo.
“For sure.”
“Asshole.” I nudged his shoulder and laughed, sobering a moment later. “The truth is that no matter whose name they call, I’m the winner.”
He huffed. “How does that math work?”
“I’m with you,” I replied, clapping as the locals finished judging.
The three bloggers were next. Their spiel about consistency, flavor, and texture was nothing but static. There was something so raw and earnest in his gaze, and I couldn’t ignore it.
“Oh, yeah?” Mateo’s eyes were bright and filled with something that looked a lot like affection and…hope.
“Yeah. If you hadn’t instigated a damn pizza war, this might never have happened. But I don’t care about bagels or pizza. I just want you, Mateo.”
“First of all, you started the war. Not me.” Mateo stabbed a finger at my chest and gazed deep into my eyes. “And second, I want you too.”
I licked my lips, overcome with emotion. This wasn’t the time or place, but damn it, the lump in my throat was the size of a grapefruit. “Fuck, I want to kiss you.”
No, it was more than that. I wanted to shed skin and own my truth once and for all. My chest ached with unspoken words and the weight of heavy secrets I didn’t have to keep anymore.
Mateo nudged my elbow. “Careful. You’re asking for trouble if you keep that up.”
Amber took the mike from the food blogger. I heard her thank the town, the volunteers, Boardwalk Pizza, the Cavaretti family, Mateo, and me. People were watching us. I could feel the curious stares, but it was white noise.
He was everything. The only thing that mattered.
“And the winner is…Mateo Cavaretti!”
Mateo grinned and threw his arms in the air, pumping up the crowd with juvenile antics. I had to laugh…and roll my eyes, more aware of the static crackling the air.
“Your bagel still sucks,” I snarked, shocked that my voice didn’t hitch.
“Yeah, I know. I think my winning personality sealed the deal,” he boasted with a playful wink, slapping high fives with his cousins.
“That must be it.”
Mateo’s eyes twinkled merrily. “You look like you can’t decide if you want to punch me or kiss me.”
“Actually, I know exactly what I want.”
I grabbed his face in my hands…in public, on camera, ready to be broadcast across the Internet—and kissed him as if my life depended on it.
A surprised hush fell, immediately chased by a whooping roar of approval.
Mateo chuckled against my lips. “You realize that you just came out, right?”
“Yeah, I ’spose I did. I’m glad. I’ve wanted this for a long, long time.” I laughed because it felt so fucking amazing, and blurted, “I love you.”
His nostrils flared, and his eyes took on a stormy sheen. I could see battles play out in his head, see him looking for loopholes, traps, and tricks the way he’d done for so many years. And I could see the moment he realized there was no reason to fight, no reason to hide.
Mateo smiled tenderly. “I love you, too.”
We kissed again, then turned to the crowd with our arms raised.
My heart soared in my chest. This was a real win.
We were a touchdown in the final seconds of a championship game, a Super Bowl ring, and a billion-dollar lottery ticket all in one. He was a gift out of the blue, and I was going to do my best to make sure Mateo knew I was in this with him all the way. Beginning with bagels and pizza and leading to…a new start.
EPILOGUE
“Love is life. All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love.”—Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
Three years later
Rob
Bang bang bang
I pulled my earplugs out with a sigh. Either I’d put them in wrong or they were useless at cutting out construction noise. Then again, there probably wasn’t a quiet way to remove a brick wall. Thankfully, it looked like the crew was almost done for the day.