Page 208 of Challenge Me

“For you.”

She grunted. “And?”

“It’s a promise.” I held my hand flat in the air between us. “It’s sort of like my ring. Every second that I wear this, I’m promising your dad that I’ll stay. That I choose him, over and over again.”

“And you . . . choose me?”

“Yeah, I do. You’re a package deal with your dad, but that only requires I tolerate you. And here’s the thing. I think tolerating someone is a piss-poor way to live.”

“Okay.”

“Yeah, okay. Don’t you want to hear what I’m going to do instead?”

She shook her head, but it was clear that she was listening.

“I’m going to freaking love you.” I nodded toward the Fehu rune. “And as long as I do, the twins are going to protect you, just like they’ve protected me. The best they could, at least.”

“Why do Freyja and . . .”

“Freyr,” I filled in when she struggled with it.

“Why do they care?”

“Because I care—ever since you showed up in Florida with your little notebook and snarky attitude. Don’t tell me it wasn’t snarky. You called me a gold-digger.”

With the tiniest hint of a smile, she lifted her shoulders.

“I’m committing to your dad, but I’m also committing to you. All in. You can give me the silent treatment whenever you want, but I won’t give up on getting back to what we had before I left. Got it?”

When she looked at her mom, Avery nodded at her with an encouraging smile. I tensed when Mal grabbed my hand and got to her feet. Without a word, I followed her out of the aisle, then up the steps. We joined a line for concessions, and I cocked my head.

“Hungry?”

“Slushie.”

“I assume I’m paying.”

She grunted. While we waited, she played with the pendant, flipping it this way and that, while she ran her finger over the etched surface.

“Do you like it?” I asked.

“Mm.”

“You’re killing me, kid. I know your dad talked to you before he proposed, so you must’ve been okay with it.”

Silently, she glanced at my ring. I held it out with a thoughtful hum.

“I’m still figuring out what to put on his. Any ideas?”

“Mm-mm.”

We got to the front of the line, and I ordered her favorite flavor. With both slushies, I led her to an open area with few people but a good view of the field. Leaning my elbows on the railing, I took a long drink.

“Pure freaking sugar.” Holding it in front of me, I made a face. “This is more Oli’s style than mine.”

“Why’d you get it?”

“Because you did.”