"I think it's safe to say you're as much a closet romantic as I am," Carlos said. Water, though, was a good idea for both of them, and it was with a deep sigh that he sat up and untangled himself from Gael, before getting up to get two bottles of water from the kitchen and bringing them back to bed.

"We're probably both going to be hungover in the morning," he said as he handed one to Gael and flopped back on the bed. "But maybe that'll keep you from wanting to die while cooking for, what, eight?" Probably Gael had lost his mind a little, he thought. Half of it was his own fault, though, since he'd come up with inviting half of them. "Maybe if we make puppy eyes you can con Sarah into some of it. Baking, at least."