James and Leona chose to live in a little apartment near the boardwalk, where they first met. Leona's mother was the only parent to show up to help, with several of Leona's cousins in tow.
"Where do you want the boxes with the clothes?" Tania asked Leona as James talked to his new mother-in-law outside.
"You can put them in our room," Leona answered, going through the box with all the plates and bowls. She pointed to the door on the other side of the room.
"Ooh~" Tania and Fernanda, Leona's other cousin, said together, grinning mischievously at their cousin. "'Our' room?"
Leona cracked a smile, trying to hide it with her shoulder. "Yes, our room," she said. "Now go."
Tania nodded, sending Leona a knowing look as she carried the boxes away.
Fernanda walked over to Leona, checking if anyone was around them before talking. "So, have you guys done it yet?" She asked, and Leona turned pink.
"Ay, Fernanda, that's none of your business!"
"So you have?"
Leona cupped her face, feeling the hotness, and Fernanda squealed.
"Fernanda!" Leona yelled, but it was too late. Tania heard the squeal and ran back into the room, asking a million questions a minute.
"How was it?" Was the main question, which Leona tried desperately to ignore, but her body language said everything. Her cousins pulled her into a big hug, which she had no choice but to give in to after a few moments. At that moment, Rafael walked in, carrying Leona's favorite armchair.
"Oh, put that in the corner over there, Raf," Leona said, managing to pull her arm out of the hug and pointing. Rafael complied. "Thanks, primo."
Rafael didn't say a word as he left.
"He's still mad?" Tania asked, scrunching her face.
Leona nodded. Rafael, like Leona's father, was furious when he discovered Leona and James had eloped. But Leona didn't want to let that get to her. She had decided as soon as she married James that their relationship came first, and that was that.
After everyone left, Leona and James sat among the boxes, eating their ordered pizza.
"To happy beginnings," James said.
"And to happy endings," Leona added.
YOU ARE READING
James + Leona
Short Story🌊 On a busy day at the beach in California, James Yang meets Leona Fernandez. 🌊 They fall in love and decide to start a life together, despite their family's lack of approval. 🌊 Will they make it together, or fall apart? ▪️▪️▪️ 🌊 Inspired by...
