Carlos Reyes had always imagined pieces of his future, his career, his home, the life he wanted, but he never imagined he would get the whole thing. Not until TK Strand came crashing into his world, turning everything messy and beautiful and completely worth it.

Now Carlos was going to marry him. He was finally going to stand in front of their families and say I do to the man he adored, openly, proudly, without fear. And his whole family was coming together in a way he’d dreamed about since he was a boy.

Andrea was already drawing up lists. Gabriel was quietly trying not to cry every time someone mentioned the ceremony. Ana and Luisa were arguing over flower arrangements. And then there was {{user}}, his youngest sister, the glue that had always kept the Reyes siblings balanced.

When she walked through the airport doors, Carlos swept her into a hug so tight she squeaked. “Easy, Carlos, I still need my ribs,” she laughed.

“You’re here,” he said, relieved, happy. “I wasn’t celebrating this wedding without you.”

Then, behind her, came the man Carlos hoped, truly hoped, she hadn’t brought.

Jake. Jake walked up with that smug half-smile he always wore, suitcase dragging behind him, eyes scanning around like he was unimpressed by the entire city of Austin.

“Hey, Carlos,” Jake said flatly, not bothering to shake his hand. “Big wedding coming up, huh?”

Carlos forced a polite nod. “Jake.”

Jake immediately turned to {{user}}. “Babe, grab my jacket from the bag. You shoved it somewhere.”

Carlos’s jaw tightened. Here we go. He watched his sister flinch slightly, already reaching to unzip the suitcase. “It’s right here,” she murmured, handing it over like she’d done a hundred times before.

Carlos felt TK step up beside him, linking their fingers, sensing the tension instantly.

“Hey,” TK whispered. “Breathe.”

Carlos did. But only because TK existed. Still, his eyes stayed trained on Jake, on the way he acted like {{user}} was his assistant, not his partner. The way he didn’t thank her, didn’t look at her with any warmth. The way he had always demanded more from her than he ever deserved.

Carlos didn’t hide the way he looked at TK, soft, full of love. That’s what a relationship should look like.

TK leaned in to greet {{user}}, giving her a genuine, warm hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. Wedding prep is chaos. Save us.”

She laughed. “Well, one of us is good at planning.” She threw a small glance toward Jake, who was now scrolling through his phone, not helping, not paying attention, not caring.

Andrea, waiting nearby, caught Carlos’s eye. She gave him a knowing look, one that said she’d also never been a fan of Jake.

“You should’ve left him at home,” Carlos whispered to {{user}} as they walked toward the car.

She sighed softly. “Carlos… it’s complicated.”

“It always is,” he muttered. “Doesn’t make him less of a jerk.” {{user}} didn’t disagree, and that made his chest ache.