“You’re an idiot. You know that?”
He laughs, and the sound reverberates through me, so I whack him on the chest.
“I’m serious. You’re having surgery, Zach.” I shuffle to a sit so we’re eye to eye.
“It’ll be fine. They’re just inserting a screw for a hundred days and then taking it out. It’s nothing major.”
“You’re kidding, right? You could’ve really hurt yourself out there.”
“But I didn’t, and we won, so the risk was worth the reward, I’d say.”
“And what happens when the risk stops working out in your favor?”
He studies my face.
“I’ll worry about that when I get there. Right now, though, taking risks got me you.”
He cups my chin with his good hand, coaxing me in for a kiss.
“Yeah?” I say against his lips. “Well, maybe I’d like you in one piece for our wedding.”
He pulls back. “Our wedding?” His grin turns stupidly boyish. “Damn, say it again.”
I roll my eyes to hide my smile because I’ll never get bored of saying it. I’m marrying Zach Evans. My best friend, my soulmate, the only man I’ve ever truly loved.
“You’re lucky I like you,” I mumble as his fingers slide through mine.
When I feel his thumb brushing over the ring on my finger, I feel this strong sense of calm.
He’s mine.
I’m his.
He brings my hand up between us and kisses every single one of my knuckles. Then, he turns my hand slightly and kisses the ring.
I watch his face as he does it. He's focused entirely on the ring, as though he still can't comprehend that this is real. I get it. I might’ve been wearing this ring for a few weeks now, but it hasn’t felt real. Not until Zach knew about it.
“I love it, Zach. It’s perfect.”
“Good. I’d be pretty devastated if you hated the symbol of my lifelong obsession with you.”
I can’t help smiling at the absurdity of this somehow becoming my life—lying in the back of Zach’s truck, wrapped in his sweatshirt, wearing his jersey... and his ring. Security will probably come kick us out soon, but until then, I’m staying exactly where I am.
The cold air nips at my cheeks, but everywhere Zach touches me feels warm.
His thumb traces the inside of my wrist slowly before his eyes flick back to mine.
“You wearing my ring is doing something to me,” he admits.
“Mhm.” I drag my fingertips lightly down his chest. “Imagine how you’re gonna feel when I’m wearing nothing but the ring,” I tease.
He growls, dropping my hand and pulling me in for another kiss. That’s when every thought melts away.His wrist will heal. Everyone will accept we’re engaged I’ll be able to live the life I want.Finally, I can enjoy being in his world, because it’s mine now too.
When he pulls back, the streetlight catches his face, and he just looks at me for a second. “I love you, Honeycomb. Always have.”
“I love you too, Zach.”
His mouth claims mine again, deeper this time. Under the blanket, his good hand slides up my thigh, his fingertips slipping beneath the hem of the oversized Evans jersey I’m wearing.
