INDY
Daily update—your brother almost split me in half last night when I got home from the airport. Holy hell, that man.
STEVIE
Indy, put me out of my misery. I thought these would end now that you’re together.
No, babe. Not a chance.
And here I was planning to ask you to be in my wedding when I see you tonight.
WAIT!! Please ask me! I’ll be the best bridesmaid ever. I’ll throw you the most epic bachelorette party, and I’ll even hold your dress while you pee. Please!
You drive a hard bargain.
Do I get to walk with your brother?
Depends. Will you promise not to jump his bones halfway down the aisle?
No guarantees.
Wait. I’m seeing you tonight?
Is Ryan home?
Not yet…
It’s been a few weeks since Maggie’s wedding, and Ryan’s and my life hasn’t changed too much from how it was before.
Only now, we openly tell each other how we feel, nothing is pretend, and we share his bed every night. My room has turned into one giant walk-in closet which works out real well for my extensive wardrobe.
We continue to have breakfast each morning that we’re home together, but now, more often than not, we’re nearly naked and I’m sitting in his lap while we eat.
And if all four of us are in town, we have dinner almost every night with Zanders and Stevie either at their place or at ours. It’s the closest thing we have to dates outside of the apartment.
Determined to knock off his bucket list, which may as well be void seeing as he gives my fictional boyfriends a run for their money as is, Ryan had planned a dinner date for us. One in public. We were quickly bombarded with fans and media, and the stress it caused him to instantly be “on” took away a lot of the joy from our night.
It’s not easy for Ryan to leave the apartment, but that’s okay. I love our little life inside these four walls.
“Ind!” he calls as soon as he comes through the front door from his morning shootaround.
“In here!”
He ambles into his bedroom where I’m tucked under the covers, not yet ready to start my day. I didn’t get home from my road trip until two this morning. Ryan was waiting up for me and let’s just say, we were both still awake with the sun.
A soft smile slides across his lips as he leans against the doorframe, a fresh bouquet of flowers in his hand. “Well, don’t you look cozy?”
“Are those for me?”
He pops his shoulder before placing them on the nightstand. “Maybe.”
“Ryan, the romantic.” Words I never thought I’d say. “I love peonies. Thank you.”
Opening my arms, Ryan crawls onto the bed and nuzzles up to me. “And I love coming home to you.”
Scratching his scalp, I place a couple of kisses on his cheek. “That’s good because I’m not going anywhere.”
“No?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve got a free ride here. I get flowers hand delivered every week and I’m getting laid on the regular. I’m living the dream.”
His chest heaves against mine.
“And then there’s the whole thing about me being in love with you.”
“That little detail.”
His smiling mouth meets mine.
“Are you coming to the game tonight?” he asks.
“Of course.” I have yet to miss one if I’m in town. “I’m going to sit with Annie and the girls in their family box tonight.”
“Okay, well I guess you wouldn’t want the Morgans’ courtside tickets then.”
I pull away to get a better look at him, trying not to get too excited. “They gave you their tickets?”
“Yeah, they thought maybe you, Zanders, and my sister would want some good seats seeing as I’m back in the lineup tonight.”
“Ryan!” I smack his chest. “Are you serious?”
He laughs at my reaction. “I got cleared this morning.”
“Ryan Shay! This is huge! Are you excited? I’m so excited!” I slip out from underneath him, rushing to my old room across the hall. “I need to figure out what I’m going to wear!”
I can hear his easy laughter as he stays in his bed.
Turning around, I make my way back to the doorway of his room. “Are you happy, Ry?”
Hands folded under his head, he crosses his legs at the ankles, a soft smile on his lips. “I’ve got everything I could ever ask for. I’ve never been happier in my life, Blue. Now, I just got to get us to the playoffs.”
