Page 108 of Keep Me

My brother gives me a look, one I know from years of being his sister means not to say a word.

I link my arm through Ryker’s. “Let’s go.”

As we walk together, my mind races with how Quentin’s life could be changing, forever. If this girl—who is his enemy’s little sister and works for his team—is pregnant, I have no idea how that can all coexist without imploding.

But if there’s one person who does what he needs to do for his loved ones, it’s Q.

Jasmine leads us to the three-tier cake, topped with a plastic heart and baseball. “This is the best I could do on short notice, so in order to save time, I got the toppers from the dollar store. I hope that’s okay,” she admits, handing Ryker a large knife.

“More than okay. Thank you for this,” I tell her, smiling as Ryker pulls me in front of him.

With our hands interlocked, we cut the first slice of cake. While it may seem small, it feels significant. As if it’s the official start of us diving into our life together.

After handing out pieces to friends and family, Ryker and I make our way to the bench under the tree, sharing a piece of the vanilla sprinkle cake together under the slowly-setting sun.

My eyes light up at the decadent-looking piece on my lap. “This looks so good.”

Ryker drags a finger in the icing, then holds it up to me. “Try it.”

I quickly dart my eyes around, making sure everyone’s milling about and not focused on us. Once we’re in the clear, I quickly suck the icing off his finger.

A moan gets trapped in my throat. “Mmm, this is so good.”

“Jesus, this was bad idea,” Ryker grunts, shifting on the bench beside me. “Here I thought I’d try to be a cute, doting husband.”

I quirk a brow at that. “No, you didn’t. Don’t lie.”

Ryker only laughs, then takes a bite for himself, his eyes rolling as he swallows. “Fuck, that is good.”

We finish the piece in comfortable silence, watching as Cameron feeds Aurora a bite, who then goes to return the favor but squishes it on his nose. Elio has Jasmine’s feet in his lap, giving them a massage, while she eats and talks to Marcela next to her.

Then there’s Theo, standing on a chair. “All right, y’all,” Theo yells, cupping his hands around his mouth to enhance his already loud voice. “Shift your eyes to the dance floor. It’s time for Mr. and Mrs. Lewis to share their very first dance.”

I think Ryker’s about to protest, but when the slow, sweet melody of “Crazy Love” pours out of the speaker, his eyes dart to mine, a knowing smile on his lips. It’s the song that played when he tattooed me, one we both loved then, but now has an even bigger meaning.

“You asked me then if the song meant anything to me, and I said no,” he says as he stands and takes my hand in his own, lifting me up as well.

“And now?”

“It reminds me of you, of us.” He smiles, the wide and bright one he keeps just for me. It makes my entire body buzz from the sight of something so beautiful.

“I love you, Ryker.” My voice cracks with affection while my eyelashes fight for their life to hold back my tears. I’ve done far too much of that in the last week.

He smirks, referencing the song as he begins to pull us onto the dance floor. “And I love you, like crazy.”

We sway slowly on the makeshift dance floor while his arms band behind my back, hugging me close to him. My head rests on his shoulder, along with my hand, and he holds my other hand.

“Do you want kids?” I blurt out, unable to control the random question.

Ryker stills against me and I lift my head from his shoulder. “I’m not pregnant. Don’t worry,” I assure him. “We’ve never had that talk, so I’m curious.”

He breathes a visible sigh of relief, then gently guides my head back to his shoulder, and his hand stays there, playing with my hair as he speaks. “I always thought I didn’t because I never saw room for love in my life. But now, I want the extra rooms. I want as many rooms of love as possible.”

I laugh against his shoulder while we continue to sway. “Slow down there, Ryker the biker, I am not birthing a bunch of babies. I was thinking one or two.”

“Whatever you want, princess.” His voice is low and sweet in my ear.

“You know, your life is turning out like a Disney movie, oddly enough. You saved the princess from distress, married her, and are keeping her forever,” I point out.

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