“That was bad,” I laugh. “You need to up your flirting game.”
“So, I do.” He takes my hands. His palms are warm. His thumbs caress my skin. “Eli… baby… there’s something I need to say.”
Oh god.
He’s breaking up with me. This is a breakup circle. A ceremonial dumping pit. I’m going to throw myself into the candles.
“Stop panicking,” he says instantly, reading my mind. “I can literally feel you vibrating.”
“My bad.”
He takes a deep breath. Then another. And then…He kneels.
Skip. The giant, terrifying biker. On one knee before me.
My breath catches so hard I make a tiny squeak sound.
It’s embarrassing, but he smiles anyway.
He pulls a small velvet box from his pocket.
“I love you,” he says, voice steady. “I’ve loved you since the day you admitted you were jealous when people flirted with me.”
I choke on a laugh-sob. “That is not what I said.”
“Hush.” He squeezes my hands. “Eli, before you, I didn’t even think I deserved happiness. I didn’t think someone as good as you would even look at me. But you did. And somehow…you stayed.”
My vision is officially blurry.
“I want you for the rest of my life,” Skip says, opening the box.
Inside is a simple ring…silver, smooth, understated except for the small etched shadow emblem on the inside of the band.
My breath leaves me in a rush.
“Marry me, pretty boy,” he whispers. “Be my husband. My forever. My home.”
I try to answer. I swear I do.
But my whole soul launches out of my body, and I start crying. Full ugly cry. The kind where your shoulders shake, your face turns red, and snot drips down your nose.
Oh, no! Please don’t let me be dripping snot!
“Baby…hey…shit…are those good tears?” Skip panics. “Please be good tears. Because if you say no, I’m gonna pass out in this candle circle and you’re gonna have to hose me down.”
“Yes,” I sob, grabbing his face with trembling hands. “Yes, Skip. Of course I’ll marry you.”
His relief is so explosive he laughs, then stands, lifts me like I weigh nothing, and kisses me hard enough my knees forget how to function.
And that’s when the bushes explode.
I jump so hard I almost topple both of us to the ground.
“FINALLY!” Riley screams.
“About damn time!” Bones bellows, jogging toward his house. “I have to piss.”
Max whistles. Tank scowls like someone stole his beer. Abby cries immediately. Maverick grins like he’s known for weeks. Which, he probably has.
