Page 117 of False Start

He shook his head, kissing my knuckles.

“But I don’t want you to shoulder that weight alone, anymore. I want to bear it with you. I want your mornings, and your afternoons, and every single night. I want to wake up to your morning breath and fall asleep to the sound of your snores.”

I laughed, swatting at his hand.

“I brought you here because I saw the way you lit up when we toured this house, and I’d be willing to bet my life that it was because you saw what I saw.” He swallowed. “You saw us. You saw our things in this home, saw us playing with Sebastian here, saw us growing old together. I felt it just as much as you did — and it’s what I want.Youare what I want.”

He pulled his hands away, reaching into the lapels of his suit jacket to pull out a black velvet box. When he cracked it open, I covered my mouth, sobbing into my hands.

It was the most dainty, beautiful ring — a white gold band with one brilliant cut diamond.

“I meant what I said this morning,” Kyle proclaimed, his shoulders back, eyes on mine. “Marry me, Madelyn. Move in with me. Start a new life with me. I know I come with a lot of fanfare. I can’t promise you won’t want to throttle the paparazzi sometimes, that the media won’t want a piece of you and, yes, a piece of Sebastian, too. But I promise I will protect you from them and only allow as much attention as you want. If you want to watch me play, I’ll have seats for you and Sebastian both. If you never want to step foot in a stadium, then I’ll rush home to you after each and every game.

“And I don’t know what happens next with Marshall, but I know whatever it is, we can face it together. And I can promise you that I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that Sebastian is never taken from you.

“More than anything, I promise to love you. With everything that I am. With every breath I have left. Forever. Becausehonestly, even if you say no, that’s the only choice for me.Youare my only choice.”

Kyle wet his lips, holding his chin high.

“Marry me, Mads.”

I was already nodding. I was already dropping to my knees and wrapping my arms around him so hard I nearly took us both into the pool. I was already claiming his mouth with mine and clutching him to me, so desperate to hold onto this moment forever.

Somewhere in the background, I was aware of his friends cheering, and I knew without him telling me that this was a show of his love, too. He’d never introduced them to another woman, never welcomed another woman into their family. But this was his public declaration not just to me, but to them.

And it wastheirdeclaration that I was already a part of their group, that they had our backs, that we would never fight any battles alone.

Kyle stood and swept me up with him, forcing me to break our kiss long enough for him to slide the ring on my finger. But as soon as it was on, my arms were around his neck again, and I climbed into his arms as the cheers around us turned into full-blown hoots and howls.

“I love you, too,” I breathed against his lips. “I have never stopped.”

“It’s me and you now,” he said between kisses. “Me. And you.”

“Me and you,” I echoed.

And somehow, even with Marshall’s threat hanging over our heads, I knew I was safe in Kyle’s arms. I knewwewould figure it out. I just knew.

Fireworks went off in my heart, sparking me to life in a way I hadn’t felt in a decade.

All the pain was worth it.

And for the first time I believed myself when I said everything would be okay.

Kyle

“I just don’t think he’s going to react well to this,” Madelyn said as I shut the door to her house behind us, immediately pinning her against it and continuing my assault of kisses along her neck.

“Well, that’s too bad for him.” I nipped at her bottom lip, and she moaned when I slid my thigh between hers.

“He’s more powerful than you give him credit for.”

“He’s an ass cactus.”

That made her laugh, and I breathed the sound in as I pulled her into my arms and carried us toward the kitchen.

I froze when I saw the babysitter on the couch, a book splayed in her lap and an amused smile on her lips.

“Oh shit,” Madelyn cursed, slipping out of my arms and fixing her dress and hair as much as she could. “Sorry, Anna.”