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I move to go toward them, but Jasmine holds up her hand, “Wait.”
“What’s going on?” I ask Ryker, turning back to face him in confusion. That’s when I see an emotion I never thought I’d see in him. Fear. “Hey,” I murmur quietly, only for Ryker to hear. “What’s wrong? No bullshit.”
“I fell in love with a girl I told myself I couldn’t have more with, for reasons that don’t matter anymore. And now, I would give it all up, because I would still have everything I need with her.” His stormy blue eyes soften as he gently caresses my cheek. “I love you, Camille.”
His deep voice mixed with those sweet words has my entire body melting into a puddle of overwhelming joy. My hand reaches up to stroke his beard, and Ryker leans into the touch, covering my hand with his own as his eyes never once leave mine.
This man who I never thought would even look my way, loves me.
I’d kick my feet and giggle if it were possible, but for now, I’ll settle with pressing my lips softly against his. When I pull back with both of my hands on his face, I smile and repeat the words back to him. “I love you, Ryker.” My lips curve into a smile, but it fades when I remember why we’re all here in the first place. “But I’m getting married tomorrow.”
“You can’t get married if you already are.”
Everything around us fades as I say, “Ryker…” My throat bobs, clogged with emotions. “You can’t. My father, he’ll ruin your life and I won’t let that happen, not to mention the fate of my country relies on me showing up tomorrow even though every fiber of my being is loathing each second I get closer to having to do it.”
He shakes his head as he tucks a hair behind my ear before stepping back and pulling up his black shirt. “You didn’t hear me, Cami.”
My heart rate picks up at the sight of his chiseled abs and tattoos, despite being unsure what he’s doing—wait.
Atop of the baseball he has tattooed near his heart lies a crown.
“Why is there a crown there?” My voice trembles from all the differing emotions coursing through me.
“I got this a few days ago with the intention of showing it to you to prove that you are my number one in life. Then I was going to ask you to be my official girlfriend,” he explains while my fingers gently trail along the outside of the tattoo, careful not to touch it.
For once, I’m at a loss for words. Ryker pulls his shirt back down, then speaks up again, “I’d never play a game of baseball again if I knew I’d get to have you by my side for the rest of my life. I love baseball, and it would suck if I lost it, but I’d find other things to fill that void. Losing you, though? There’s nothing that could replace the spot in my heart that was made just for you.”
I suck in a breath while, shocker, more tears cascade down my cheeks.
“As for the country part, your brother and Idris are working on proving that your father is lying. And if it’s true, your dad can figure it out. It’s not your responsibility to bear, but I know you love the people here, so I’ll work with you to figure out a solution. Anything except you walking down that fucking aisle tomorrow toward a man who’s not me.” Ryker’s eyes darken, a hint of danger radiating off him at the bite in his words.
He has a point. What if this is all a ploy to get me back here and I marry Jacques for nothing? If it’s not a ploy, I’m sure there is something else we can do to help Lorsica. I’ve been consumed with so many emotions in the last day that I haven’t even considered the countless other solutions that could solve this that wouldn’t involve me walking down the aisle.
“Ryker, what are you saying?” I whisper as butterflies erupt in my stomach at the idea he’s hinting at.
Slowly, he lowers to one knee in front of me. My hand flies to my mouth, while he holds the other.
“Camille, there’s not a day that I don’t think about meeting you at the gala and how much it pissed me off.”
“This is not how you start a proposal,” Theo interjects from behind me.
Jasmine shushes him.
Ryker shakes his head, but continues. “It pissed me off because I wanted you, but knew you were too good for me to keep. I thought I’d shake it off, but you planted yourself in my soul with no plans on leaving.”
I marvel at hearing it. Even though he’s said something about this in passing, I’ve never heard all of the details.
“I tried to keep my distance, especially once you started working with the team, but you want to know when I realized how fucked I was? The day I taught you how to throw a baseball, and you danced around in a circle with the biggest smile on your face.”
“Why?” I somehow manage to ask through my tears.
“Because it was then that I realized how badly I wanted to wake up to that exact smile each and every day, how much I wanted to bask in the bliss you radiate each time you light up like that.”
“Is that why you stormed away all grumpy-y?” I hiccup as I wipe under my eyes.
“Shh, this is my proposal.” He grins, leaning down to press a kiss to the hand he’s holding, while reaching in his pocket for…a lace from a baseball glove?
“Camille, I love you so fucking much. Will you please do me the honor of being my wife?” Ryker’s eyes shine with love as he holds up the black leather to me. “I know this isn’t the ring you deserve, but it’s all I could do on short notice.” He blushes, which makes my heart squeeze in my chest.
