Page 173 of No Good Fight

His eyes close briefly.

Then he starts laughing.

Not much. Just a low, disbelieving sound while he reaches into the front pocket of his jeans.

“I had a whole thing planned.”

My pulse changes before I even understand why.

Ryder looks at me, and the nervousness in his face makes mine disappear.

“I was going to wait until she left.” He glances briefly toward Mrs. Vance. “No offense.”

“None taken.”

His attention comes back to me as his fingers close around something inside his pocket. “There’s dinner outside. I hung lights. Your favorite flowers are currently hiding in the garage because I knew you’d find them if I brought them inside.”

My breath catches.

Ryder pulls out a small black box.

The entire room seems to disappear except for him.

“I’ve had this in my pocket since breakfast,” he admits. “I had a speech. I practiced it in the garage like an idiot because I wanted to get it right.”

“Ryder.”

“I don’t remember any of it now.”

His voice breaks just enough to hurt while he looks down at my stomach once more before meeting my eyes.

“I just found out we’re having a baby, and I can’t wait another minute to put my ring on your finger.”

Then he lowers onto one knee.

Mrs. Vance makes a quiet sound behind me, but I don’t look away from him.

Ryder takes my left hand. His thumb brushes over my knuckles, and I can feel the slightest tremor in his fingers.

“I’ve loved you for years,” he says. “I spent too many of them thinking wanting you meant I should stay away, and then I spent the last few months learning how to love you without holding too tight.”

My eyes burn harder.

He opens the box.

The ring inside is beautiful, but I barely see it.

“I want every version of this with you, Alex. The house. Your work all over the kitchen table. Your shoes where I’m going to trip over them even though you swear you put them away. Your family showing up whenever they feel like it.” His gaze drops briefly toward my stomach, and when it comes back to mine, his eyes are shining. “Our baby. Whatever comes after.”

He takes a breath.

“Marry me.”

I don’t make him wait.

“Yes.”

The word comes out with a laugh tangled through it.