Page 105 of I Stop Somewhere Waiting For You

“No, you don’t get to take fault for that—”

“I do, Mav. Yes, you did a shitty thing, but I cut my nose off to spite my face. You had a right to know. I’m sorry that I took that from you.” He tries to speak, but I keep going. “We lost time because of mistakes on both our parts. You don’t have to be the only one carrying the blame, because it’s not meant for your shoulders alone. Forgive yourself and let the past go, so we can move on with our lives.”

“I promise I’m gonna spend the rest of our lives making you so happy. I mean, don’t get me wrong—I’m still a fuck up—but my groveling game is on point, I assure you.”

“It is pretty solid.” The sounds of our laughter fill the space. “It’s definitely something I could live with forever.”

His head dips low as he presses his forehead to mine. “I can’t wait to put a ring on your finger.”

I pull back a couple inches, a wide smile plastered across my face as warmth blossoms in my chest. “Yeah?”

“Fuck, yeah. Big ass rock, right here for my Queen.” He raises my left hand to his mouth where he lightly kisses my ring finger.

“Please do not get me anything close to the monstrosity that Daphne has. Good God, it’s obnoxious. I don’t know how she functions carting that thing around. Jesus, even that bogus ring Amber was flaunting in my face was over the top. Nobody needs a diamond that big.” I snort.

Mav stills in my embrace, his face looking like he wants to say something, but he isn’t sure where to start. His apprehension puts me on edge.

“What’s the matter? What is it?”

“Amber’s ring…” he begins. “It wasn’t bogus.”

I freeze, the tension skyrocketing in my body as I start to slightly tremble. “Maverick. You told me you did not put a ring on her finger.”

“I did not put a ring on her finger,” he assures me.

His confirmation has an instant calming effect over me. I expel a deep breath, my heart rate slowly returning to normal. “So then where did she get a real diamond like that?”

“She stole it,” he replies, his expression serious.

“Jesus,” I mutter in disbelief, “she is a fucking psycho. From who?”

“From you.”

“Come again?” My brows arch high as I lean slightly forward thinking I misheard him.

Mav looks to me, taking a deep breath. “Amber snapped after you came back. She knew. She knew I was never gonna be able to stay away. She broke in here. I told you how she trashed your photos. What I didn’t tell you is the reason I lost my shit on her before I even knew what she did to the pictures, is because when I caught her in here, she was wearing your engagement ring.”

“My what?” I stare at him, rooted in place trying to process what he’s saying to me.

“Your engagement ring,” he repeats. “She went sneaking around and found it in my nightstand. Apparently, she decided to go torment you and Daphne with it before she came back here to ambush me. She’s lucky she was smart enough to take it off before I broke her fucking finger.”

“Mav,” my brows furrow in confusion, “why did you have an engagement ring if I’ve been gone four years?”

“I bought it the day I got my tattoo for you.”

All the air rushes from my lungs. “You were gonna propose?”

“Of course I was gonna propose. I told you, baby, forev—”

I jump up into his arms, wrapping around him like a koala bear as my mouth fuses to his. It was real to him. All of it. I know he’s been telling me as much, but hearing him say it is one thing. Knowing he bought a ring? That he truly intended to spend his life with me before my asshole brother fucked it all up? It just cracks me wide open. He winces slightly as my hand connects with the wound on his arm, but he tightens his grip in response, trying to pull me closer.

“I love you,” the words rush from my mouth as I pepper him with kisses. “I love you. I love you. I fucking love you.”

He chuckles, dragging his nose up the length of my jaw. “Does this mean you would have said yes?”

“Yes,” my response rushes out. “Absolutely, yes.”

“Even though the ring was over the top?” His brow arches as he uses my previous statements against me.

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