Page 126 of My Worst Pucking Enemy

He picks up what he just dropped, and the light hits it and reflects off of it. I gasp aloud.

“It’s a diamond ring . . . He’s going to ask my sister to marry him . . . Argh!”

Without thinking, I turn and bolt across the room. I hurry out of the room, make my way down the hallway, and duck into an alcove. I stand there trying to take deep calming breaths, but inside I just feel more panicked.

“Ruby!” Paxton jogs up to me. “Damn. Why did you leave? I was attacked by groupies when I tried to follow you. I barely survived.”

“Sorry,” I gulp. “I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”

“You don’t look fine. Sorry! You know what I meant. You’re finer than fine, looks-wise. Damn it. What’s wrong?”

“Oh, I’m just kind of freaking out about the fact that the third time that we had sex yesterday, the condom broke. And then Mason apparently proposed to my sister, and I thought, what if I get pregnant now and then Paxton feels like he has to propose and...”

Paxton grabs me and pulls me in for a hug. “Breathe,” he orders me, and this time I manage to actually suck in some calming breaths.

He takes a step back.

“Now. Yes, about feeling like I have to propose. Oh, no, how terrible that would be.” He makes a comically horrified face. “Ohhh, no, you’d have to live with me and we’d have to spend ninety percent of our free time together and have hot sex with each other every night. Wait, wait...” he taps his chin, frowning as if in thought. “That’s already happening.”

“I’m sorry. I freak out sometimes,” I tell him.

“As long as you talk to me about it, we’re good. You can tell me anything. Literally anything.”

“Okay. I don’t like the Godfather movie that much.” I look at him defiantly.

“Get. Out.” He mock glares at me. “Pack your bags, woman.”

“But seriously. Okay, I’m calming down, but still... the condom.”

Paxton shrugs. “Number one, you are on the pill. Number two, we have both gotten tested and we have nothing to worry about—we’re both clean. Numero Three-oh, I really doubt you’re pregnant, but if you are, my mother can babysit as much or as little as you want. If you want to have a baby before we get married, fine. After we get married, fine. I feel no pressure. Neither should you. The baby will learn to love the Godfather movie, though.”

I punch his shoulder lightly. “Only if it has questionable taste.”

I glance behind him. Ruby and Mason are walking down the hall hand in hand, talking. Ruby glances my way and says something to Mason, and they pause, but then they start walking again.

“I wonder if they think we’re arguing,” I say to Paxton. “Like we did back when we were fake-dating.”

“When we were the worst pucking enemies,” he grins at me.

“Actually, I think we were the best pucking enemies.” I give him a shaky smile back. I’m starting to calm down.

“We were that.”

I look at Mason and Ruby as they keep walking, watching them until they vanish from sight. I sigh. “They are such a perfect couple,” I say.

“They had their problems when they first started dating, and they worked things out, and now look at them.”

Paxton grabs my hand.

“Ruby,” he says, his expression serious.

“Yes?” My voice squeaks with nervousness.

“Will you do me the honor of not marrying me until you’re ready? Will you promise to love, honor, and disobey me for as long as we both shall live?”

I burst into laughter. “Yes, Paxton. How do you always know the exact perfect thing to say to me?’

“Because, Ruby, I’m not just the man who loves you, I’m your best pucking friend.”

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