That’s the right motivation.
“I’m notstalkingher. It wasn’t hard to figure out this was where you’d be. People were talking about it before the game.” Ryland turns his attention from Lola to Indie. “We need to talk, Indigo.”
I hate the way he calls herIndigo. Something about it is like fingernails on a chalkboard. Like he’s hoping someone will realize who she is, or he’s too good to call her Indie. Whatever it is, it feels condescending.
“We have nothing to talk about.” Indie sits straighter at my side, and I squeeze her hand, silently letting her know I have her back. I’ll step in if she wants me to. “You need to leave.”
Ryland scoffs. “I don’tneedto do anything. You owe me a conversation, Indigo.”
“Why the hell would I owe you that?” Indie’s voice rises. “Youbroke up withme, Ryland. Or did you forget?”
“You really fumbled that, dude,” Griffin mutters. “Big mistake. Huge.”
Mira snorts beside him at thePretty Womanreference, but Ryland either doesn’t get it or doesn’t care. He glares at Griffin and Mira before turning his attention back to Indie.
“I broke up with you because I didn’t think you wanted the same things as me, babe. But now, here you are, pretending to date this fucking hockey player, so you’re clearly fine with the attention.” Ryland runs a hand through his auburn hair. “You’ve made your point, okay? Just come home and I’ll forgive you.”
“Oh, fuck no,” Lola growls.
I have to agree. Fuck. No.
When I move to stand up, Indie tugs me back down.
“You’llforgiveme? For what? For moving on after you dumped me and started dating actresses? For not being completely heartbroken? What exactly do you think you’re forgiving me for?” Indie’s voice is steady, even as her hand trembles in mine.
I’m so fucking proud of her, even though I’m pissed this asshole is here putting my girl through this and fucking up our celebration.
“I’ll forgive you for trying to make me jealous with this meathead jock,” Ryland says, looking down his nose at me. “You’ve made your point, okay? I’m sufficiently jealous. But enough is enough, Indigo. I know you’re in love with me. You can stop throwing a tantrum now.”
Slowly, Indie pushes to her feet. She stands in front of Lola, who still appears ready to launch herself at Ryland. I stand with her, prepared to do whatever is necessary to protect the woman I love. How dare this prick pull something like this here? There are at least a dozen phones pointed our way as people record while watching the drama with wide eyes.
“I don’t give a shit if you’re jealous, Ryland. And I’m sure as hell not trying tomake a point. I’d have to care about you to want to do either of those things, and I don’t.”
Her ex opens his mouth to protest, but Indie makes a slashing movement with her free hand to shut him up.
“I never loved you,” she says loudly. Lifting her chin, she looks down her nose at Ryland. “I dated you because you were there, my parents liked you, and because I was trying to deny what my heart has always known. I’m sorry for that, because I was using you to lie to myself. But you used me, too, didn’t you?”
My heart hammers in my chest. I suck in a careful breath before holding it when she opens her mouth to continue speaking.
“I was lying to myself because I’ve spent the last ten years trying to get over Sebastian. But no matter what I did, or who I dated, I never could. Every date, every kiss, hell, every argument, I wished they were with him. Because I love him.I’vealwaysloved him, and I’ll never stop. Never.” She’s breathing heavily, the words having poured out of her mouth like rapids. The sound of her ragged breaths is loud in the stunned silence.
Time slows and everything fades around us as I turn and peer down at the woman I’ve loved since I was a scrawny, pimple-faced fifteen-year-old boy. “You love me?”
Her laughter is watery as her eyes fill with moisture. She looks up at me, the softest, most beautiful smile on her face, and I commit it to memory. “This isn’t exactly the way I imagined telling you, but yes. I love you. So much. Always have, always will.”
Turning, I cup her face with both of my hands. “Thank god. Because I love you, too, Rosebud. So fucking much that I’d resigned myself to dying alone. Because if I couldn’t have you, I didn’t want anyone.”
“Bash…”
Her eyes fill with tears, and I brush one away with my thumb before leaning in and claiming her mouth in a passionate kiss. She lets out a cry that I swallow up as our friends clap and cheer.
I only half hear them.
We’re both breathing hard when we break apart. Her lips are swollen, there are tear tracks on her cheeks, but her eyes are full of joy, and her smile is the most beautiful, radiant thing I’ve ever seen.
“Oh, come on,” Ryland says, his eyes taking on a cruel glint I don’t like. “You can’t honestly expect anyone to believe you’re really with this guy. I mean, look at him, then look at you.”
“Does this guy have a death wish?” Lexi asks loudly enough for everyone to hear.
