Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry,” he says, taking a step closer to me. “I’m so, so sorry.”
“Yeah, well, sorry doesn’t get me my job back,” I tell him. “Sorry doesn’t fix things between us.”
“What would fix it?” His voice is soft and broken at the same time.
“I don’t even know,” I say, taking a deep breath before walking past him and away from him. I have to zigzag my way through people who are all around us, avoiding looking at anyone as I get the fuck out of here.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
stone
I watch her walk away from me, zigzagging through everyone I know and love to escape me. “I am so fucked!” I shout, throwing my hands up, but she doesn’t stop moving. “Don’t you walk away from me, Ryleigh.” She continues walking, but that doesn’t surprise me since it’s her. “You are the love of my fucking life!” I roar, and she finally stops and slowly turns around. People move out of the way so I can get to her, but I stand on my side of the room, and she stands on her side. “You are the love of my life,” I repeat, this time quieter, “and I’m going to marry you.”
She folds her arms over her chest and glares at me. “Don’t you fucking dare propose to me right now.”
“You’ll know when I’m proposing to you,” I tell her, walking past everyone to go to her. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. I’m sorry I let you go. I’m just plain sorry that my stupid ass let you go.” I stand in front of her. “I’m going to make you mine.” I grab her face. “I’m going to make you mine today and every single fucking day after this.” I bring her face to mine, smashing my lips on hers.
“About fucking time,” Uncle Matthew says from behind me.
I let go of her lips, my thumbs rubbing her wet cheeks. Her eyes open slowly as she looks at me. “Will you come with me so we can talk?” I kiss her softly again. “In private.”
“You want to do it in private?” Matthew laughs. “After all of that?” I look over at him, and he has his hands on his hips. “We’re all invested in this now.”
“Why don’t we give them some privacy?” my father urges.
“I think they said everything they had to say,” Tyler says, his eyes glaring at me. “Ryleigh, are you ready to go?”
“She’s not going anywhere,” I declare, trying to sound as respectful as I can, but no fucking way is she going away from me.
“Is that so?” Romeo asks.
“Perhaps everyone needs to calm down a little.” Christopher holds up both his hands, earning him a glare from Romeo. Christopher then looks at my Uncle Justin, who nods and goes to stand next to him.
“I think that we all need to give them a bit of space,” he finally declares, looking at Romeo and his father. I know he probably doesn’t want to go toe-to-toe with his son-in-law and father, so I step up before anything else gets said or things start happening.
“I’m really sorry this played out in front of everyone.” I slip my hand in Ryleigh’s, and I’m expecting her to snatch it out of mine. “Now, if you will all excuse us.” I look over at Ryleigh. “We’re going to get out of here.”
“Might as well just go with him, and then you know.” I look over and see Jessica, who looks at Ryleigh. “Call us or come back.”
“Jessica,” Tyler snaps.
At the same time, Romeo groans, “Mom.”
“What?” She throws up her hands, getting frustrated with it. “They need to talk.” She points at us. “And they need to do it in private, without all the eyes.” Her finger then points all around the room.
“And opinions,” my mother interrupts.
I don’t wait for anyone else to say anything. Instead, I walk with her out of the house, and by some miracle, she follows me. Only when we are out of the door and it’s closed behind us does she pull her hand from mine. “You don’t have to do anything,” she says. “It’s over, no one is watching us.”
I stop in my tracks and turn to face her. “You think I give a shit if people are listening or watching?” I ask, but I don’t wait for her answer. “I don’t give a shit. The only reason I wanted to leave was so I could hold you in my arms, on my lap.”
“What?” she gasps in a whisper.
“I don’t care who hears this conversation. I don’t care if we do it in the middle of game seven of the Stanley Cup. I don’t give two shits who hears this conversation.” I smile at her softly. “I just want to do it while touching you.” I slip my hand back into hers and pull her down the driveway and across the street, walking up the driveway.