Ryder digs into his pocket and pulls out a diamond ring. “I bought this before we graduated from high school. I’ve held onto it, and it’s long past time to give it to you. Ava, you are my best friend. You are my heart, my soul, my reason for everything. Will you marry me?”
My knees give out, but Ryder hurries back to standing and wraps his arms around me, keeping me upright. I look at the ring. It’s small and delicate and perfect.
“I will,” I whisper against his lips. “Even if your music tastes have changed to disappointing levels.”
“Debatable.”
“Not really.”
Ryder laughs, then kisses me, and kisses me, and kisses me until my head spins and my body melts into him. Behind us, our family claps.
“You knew, didn’t you?” I hear my mom hiss-whisper to my dad.
“The kid’s traditional. Called me on his way here,” Dad says.
“Sneak,” I say against Ryder’s lips.
“But you love it.”
I do. I love everything about this man. He holds every piece of my heart forever.
* * *
“You don’t need to do this,” I say, adjusting Ryder’s tie.
He kisses my forehead. “I know, but it feels like I should. Too much work and heart went into the field house. I need to stand up for it.”
I kiss him, slow and steady. “I’ll be right here.”
When Ryder steps back, I fiddle with the diamond ring on my finger, watching as he steps to the dais. Cameras and reporters gather around the Kings’ table, ready for an official statement. From Ryder they’re so rare, it’s like sharks with blood in the water. They came piling into Burton Field’s press room.
Only two days after Mitch’s cruel slander, we’re here. Ryder has hardly seemed ruffled, and I couldn’t be prouder of him. He’s embraced his teammates, even opened up to them about his autism, struggles he has, and how he’s made adaptations to get to where he is now.
He’s been honest about the baby we lost, our separation, and all it’s done is bring his teammates closer to him in deeper bonds and deeper friendship.
Griffin doesn’t take kindly to people hurting his friends. His feelings on the matter explain why he is so surly near the front of the dais.
Parker reminded Ryder of his own rough upbringing, and they connected on a different level than they had before. He stands next to Dax. Both glaring much like Griffin, both angry Ryder feels like he has to make such a statement in the first place.
I hold my breath when they flip his microphone on.
“Thank you all for coming today. I know a lot of you have seen or heard the allegations made by Mitchell Huntington.” Ryder lifts his eyes for the first time. He tugs on his collar. “Mr. Huntington is my father’s nephew. I was adopted by Josh Huntington when I was eleven, but Mitch is not my family, and blood has nothing to do with it. We were never close.”
Ryder pauses amidst a few clicks of cameras. He flashes a look toward me in the wings. I give him a nod and what I hope is an encouraging smile.
He glances down at his notes again. “While attending Washington State, I thought I could possibly try to have a friendship with Mitch. We were older, but it was soon clear, a relationship wouldn’t be possible. He does not have a place in my life.”
He’s a decent man and won’t give details why it didn’t work. The night he proposed, Ryder told me everything that happened in Washington. I’m not sure I’d be as decent as he’s being. I now know all about the ways Mitch put him down, the way he would take advantage of Ryder’s trust and trick him into going to strip clubs or frat parties simply to watch him shut down or panic.
Mitch never gave Ryder the respect human beings deserve. Ryder Huntington isn’t stupid, he isn’t less-than. He’s intelligent, filled with emotions and feelings, and a beautiful soul.
“Since signing with the Vegas Kings, Mitch has tried to reach out,” Ryder goes on. “I haven’t reciprocated. From my perspective, the desire to be in my life intensified only after I continually renewed contracts. Irony is often lost on me, but even I can guess the motivation.”
Ryder rubs his thumbs and fingers together, making a symbol for money.
A few chuckles fill the press room. I clasp my hands in front of my mouth, bursting at the seams. I love this man.
“Unfortunately, because of his interview, I felt the need to defend myself against his allegations about the Youth Field House.” Ryder’s jaw tightens. Under the table he flicks his fingers as he reads. “This has been a passion project for years. I have been heavily involved in its construction, and plan to continue with my involvement.
