The young guy is blinking up at Rivet like he’s seeing her for the first time.
Good, I hope he learned his lesson.
“So, I guess now isn’t the time to ask if I can put my oorah in your who-ha?”
Both Ryan and Jinx groan at his stupidity, but Rivet just takes a few steps away from him. No one offers to help Cannon up off the floor, and he seems quite content just to watch the woman who put him flat on his back without so much as a grunt.
We back away as well, the entertainment for the evening having lost its shine.
Conversations continue as we mingle, but I never leave Ryan’s side. Not only do I love his warmth, but unease grows a little as the party continues, and people keep drinking.
When there’s a lull in the conversation, Ryan looks down at me, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
“I love you,” I blurt.
His eyes sparkle. “Just like that, huh? No fanfare or anything?”
“Just like that.” My cheeks heat because I know his friends standing near heard me, but I don’t regret telling him how I feel. I’ve wanted to tell him since I got back. I played it over and over in my head on the way back to New Mexico, but I lost my courage when I saw him standing on the front porch.
“I love you, too.”
My heart swells.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
His head lowers, and he’s all I can focus on. The sounds swirling around us, the people conversing, and the guys chatting over a game of pool all disappear. Ryan and I are the only two people in this room.
The kiss is chaste by most standards, but for me, it feels like the beginning of something wonderful.
Three months ago, I was wondering when I was going to die. Right now, I can’t wait to begin this new life.