“I didn’t,” I insist quickly, crossing my arms and avoiding his eyes at all costs. “I didn’t say anything.”
Bailey gasps like she just witnessed a live TV proposal. “OH. MY. GOD.” She slaps a hand over her mouth. “She said she loves you!”
“Bailey,” I hiss, my face burning.
Ryan doesn’t even glance at her. He’s still looking straight at me. “Do you actually mean it?”
My heart is pounding everywhere at once, echoing through my chest, my throat, my ears, probably my goddamn kneecaps.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, half in shock, half in embarrassment. “I think I do.”
His shoulders drop first, like something heavy just slipped off them. Relief settles across his face, and then a smile spreads as he steps closer. Both of his hands come up to my face, and before I can even think, he pulls me in and kisses me.
The kiss is brief, but it still manages to steal the air from my lungs and replace it with something lighter.
When he pulls back, his hands stay on my face, his thumbs resting just beneath my cheekbones, our foreheads still pressed together. And he’s smiling. So wide I’m honestly a little worried his face might cramp. And I feel my own smile before I even realize it’s there.
“OH. MY. GOD.” Bailey’s voice explodes across the beach. “You guys are so adorable.”
Ryan and I both pull back slightly, still close, and turn toward her at the same time. And then behind us I suddenly hear cheering. Actual cheering.
We both turn, completely confused, and there they are—Kiara, Noah, Mel, and Liam walking toward us from the path, clapping, shouting, looking way too proud of themselves.
Ryan blinks. “What are you guys doing here?”
Kiara scoffs. “Please. You really thought we wouldn’t follow you?”
“We didn’t want to miss this,” Liam adds with a grin.
Mel grabs his arm. “It was so cute.”
Noah just shakes his head, but he’s smiling. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
I look between all of them, completely lost. “Wait—do you all know something I don’t know?”
Ryan winces slightly. “Long story.”
“Very long,” Kiara confirms.
Bailey crosses her arms smugly. “I knew before all of you, just saying.”
“Of course you did,” Noah mutters.
Ryan glances at her. “Wait—you knew?”
“Also a long story,” I cut in quickly.
Bailey holds up her phone. “You also just talked about it over the phone.”
“You were listening?” Ryan says, a small smile forming after a second.
“Duh,” she responds, which makes everyone laugh.
Ryan lets out a quiet laugh, then looks back at me and the whole world kind of narrows again. “Mads, I just—”
“Wait.” I lift a hand between us. “Let me talk for a second.”
He stops immediately, mouth closing as he nods once.
