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She closes her eyes. “That was so foolish of me. I’m sorry.” Her eyes open and they are full of promise as she says, “I won’t pull any of that shit again. I promise.”
My smile widens. “I believe you, love. I just had to give you shit for it.”
“I love you, Maxwell Hugh Devlin. With all of me.”
My grip tightens on her. “I love you with all of me, Irelynn Rose… soon to be Devlin.” I study her expression, adoration filling me as I watch her face light up like the sky during Fourth of July fireworks. She beams at me, her face brighter than the full moon last night. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. This isn’t my official proposal. It’s gonna be much, much bigger and better than this.” My grin widens. “So prepare yourself, woman. Because I’m going to put a ring on that finger of yours soon.” Grabbing her left hand, I kiss her ring finger.
“I can’t wait until you do. Nothing would make me happier. Except to marry you.”
I wink at her. “That day is coming. Maybe sooner than you think.”
Chapter twenty-seven
Irelynn
October16,2018,2:30p.m.
I sit beside Max, my hand on his leg, wearing the same clothes that I escaped in last night, except I now wear another one of his sweatshirts. Even though Max is sitting right beside me, it’s still comforting to be wearing his shirt, helping to quell my anxiety at being out in public.
It’s ironic that I missed doing the simplest of things, such as going out to dinner with my parents, boyfriend, and his best friend, when I was held captive.
Now it feels strange. My eyes dart around the room as I lift my water glass to my lips, my throat dry as I scan the other diners, happily eating and talking, like nothing is amiss.
“Breathe with me, beautiful.” His voice is a gentle caress against my face, my panicked breaths falling from my lungs too fast, making me feel dizzy.
Moving my gaze to his, we lock eyes as I breathe in and out with him, focusing on the fine details of his face. The mixture of gold and caramel against the darker blond of his facial hair. His skin paler than it was when I first met him, losing the summer tan since we aren’t outdoors as much. His blue eyes are a slightly deeper hue, almost a sapphire color, as the worry lingers inside them. Once my anxiety eases and my body regulates to its normal level, the darkness leaves, and his eyes change back to their baby blue hue.
“As always, thank you,” I whisper as I lean closer to him.
“You’re welcome, my love. Always.” He kisses my cheek. “Do you want to leave?”
Shaking my head, I squeeze his leg gently. “Not quite yet.” I glance around the table, but Darin is engaged in a conversation with my parents, so they aren’t paying us any attention. “Although part of me wants to be selfish and drag you to our hotel room.”
He chuckles, his hand moving higher on my thigh. “Soon, baby.” I clench my thighs together, trapping his hand, as he whispers in that low tone that makes my belly flutter. “I promise to make it worth your while.”
Swallowing hard, I look into the eyes of the love of my life. The man I gave my heart to when we first met and didn’t even realize it. “You always deliver, Max. You don’t even need to promise. I know, without a single doubt, that you will.” Picking up my water glass, I take a long drink.
He gives me that sexy grin and I can feel the wetness pooling in my panties.
God, how the fuck did I get so damned lucky to be loved and adored by this amazing man?
My dad diverts Max’s attention, talking to him about us going to campus and medically withdrawing for the semester. We are within the withdrawal period, so it will be fine. But the thought of returning to campus causes me to shiver.
Draining my water glass, Darin leans over. “You need a refill, Irelynn?”
“Yes, please.”
He raises his hand, flagging the waiter down. Darin sits on the other side of me and hasn’t been himself since the earlier incident with Vanessa.
When his gaze meets mine again, I lean forward, spinning the glass around with my fingertips. “How are you holding up?”
He lifts one shoulder, a sad smile on his face. “About as well as can be expected, I guess.” His shoulders droop and his stare is distant for a couple of minutes before he looks back at me. “How about you?”
I slowly exhale, sadness filling my gaze. “She’s been my best friend since my freshmen year of college. We had terrible roommates, and that’s how we met. I thought I knew her well.” I stop speaking when the waiter returns with a fresh glass of ice water, removing my empty glass from the table. Taking a drink, I slowly set it down, my heart heavy. “But I couldn’t have predicted the way she reacted earlier. Not in a million years.”
Max’s hand squeezes my leg, and I turn my sad eyes to his. He gives me a small smile, his blue eyes full of the pain I’m feeling. Putting my hand on his, I gently squeeze. He’d carry all my pain if he could.
“I know what you mean.” Darin’s low voice draws my attention back to him. “I don’t know her as well as you, obviously. But I never predicted… this.”
