Page 93 (1/1)

Bell placed another slice of cake on the plate Regina had just scooped ice crea at Regina’s hand "What is that?"

Pat eyes were instantly on Regina’s hand as well Regina slanced over at Brandon, as now sitting with Ro at whatever story Manny was telling them

She was so relieved that any aardness between him and Sofia’s brothers seemed to wear off even more every time they were around them They’d all been around for her father’s services, and then later they’d been invited to Alex’s home for Sal and Grace’s baby shower Even Eric had been civil enough, and while he wasn’t going out of his way to chat with Brandon, they’d been in the sauy talkdown the two plates of cake she had in her hand then picked up Regina’s hand to get a better look at her ring "Is that what I think it is?"

"I don’t know," Regina teased and turned in Max’s direction "Is that what I think it is?"

The smile on Pat’s face instantly went flat, and for so deal?"

Pat looked around wide-eyed, pressing her lips together, and waited for Valerie to walk aith another two plates of cake "Don’t be ridiculous," she practically hissed, but Regina caught the humor in her sister’s eyes "We’re barely friends The ina s around the table, and took Regina’s hand in hers "Are you engaged?"

With a giddy s for for you to be done with all the foruys and Mo her, then Bell, which caught the attention of Valerie and Sofia, alking by "What’s going on?" Valerie asked

"Gina and Brandon are engaged," Bell nearly squealed

"Oh ! Congratulations," Valerie said, reaching out to hug her

Next ca "I’ina barely had a chance to smile and thank them when both Pat and Bell whisked her away They walked over to Brandon and practically tackle-hugged hiina’scake Withinabout, and Brandon and Regina were besieged with hugs and ishes

~~

Brandon

"¡Ay qué guapo!" Regina’s elderly Aunt Benny held Brandon’s hand in her fragile little hand, nodding with a big sina slanced back at Brandon "Brandon no habla Español" She turned back to Brandon "She’s says you’re very handsome and welco to her aunt with a srateful he remembered one of the few Spanish words he knew He wasn’t sure what Regina had said to her aunt, but he was fairly certain she’d once again reina had warned Brandon about her aunt ahead of time "No matter how many times I reminded her Ryan didn’t speak Spanish, he’d had to sit and listen to her long stories in Spanish otten older Ryan always just s now He slanced back at Regina "¿Le dieron pastel?" She then turned back to Brandon with a concerned look "¿Coain Brandon sed "She wants to know if you had cake"

"Yes," Brandon sina’sway too fast for Brandon to keep up with his very li aquarium in the next room This was his first moment alone since they arrived, and he took a deep breath then exhaled slowly These visits with her fa a little easier It was always a bit tense at first, but after a few rats"

Brandon turned, surprised to see Sofie s not to look as uncomfortable as he felt

So far all the other times he’d had to be around her, especially since he’d been busy consoling Regina at her father’s services, she’d been the only one of the Moreno clan he had yet to speak to He figured it’d happen eventually He just didn’t think it’d happen when they were alone

"Gina’s a great girl You two should be really happy" She glanced in the direction where Bell and Romero sat with her brother Art and his wife "Her family really likes you too, as they should"

Brandon s "Yeah, Aunt Benny says I’hed sweetly "Aunt Benny knohat she’s talking about"

Feeling the smirk diminish, he took a sip of his beer, not sure how to respond to that Sofie glanced around, a bit guarded