Page 740 of End Game

“I want the loud parts and the quiet ones. I want to keep building a life with you, and I choose you exactly as you are.”

Cami looks toward Dex. “Your turn.”

He takes a breath.

“I had jokes.”

Griffin says quietly from behind him, “We know.”

Dex points toward him without taking his eyes off me. “Don't heckle the groom.”

A few people laugh.

Then his hand closes more firmly around mine.

“I spent a really long time thinking love was something people gave you until you got difficult enough that they changed their mind.”

The room disappears around him.

“You changed that. You never loved me like I was temporary. Even before either of us knew what the hell we were doing, you looked at me like I was worth figuring out.”

My throat tightens.

“You make me want a future I used to be scared to plan for. So I'm choosing you too. On purpose. Repeatedly. Probably annoyingly. For as long as you'll put up with me.”

I laugh softly. “That's a long time.”

“Good.”

Cami wipes quickly beneath one eye. “Okay. Rings, before I become emotionally compromised.”

Griffin hands Dex my ring.

It's black and clean, simple enough that it looks exactly like something I would have picked for myself.

Dex takes my left hand but doesn't immediately slide the band onto my finger.

“Wait.”

I look at him.

His expression has changed, the humor softening around the edges.

“Before I put this on you, the most important part is inside.”

He turns the ring between his fingers so I can see the engraving.

THANKS FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME

I stare at it.

Then at him.

Dex bites his lip.

“That was almost my entire vow.”

The laugh that comes out of me catches in my throat halfway through.