Page 97 of Keep Me

What does he want me to say yes to? To marrying Jacques tomorrow?

He should know by now that once I set my mind to do something, I do it. No matter how much it’s going to kill me.

Minutes later, we veer off the path onto the grass and park behind the large olive tree where we used to park our bikes. It seems like it was just a few years ago when we did this as kids, but in reality, it’s been close to almost a decade.

“I wish I had changed because walking around nature in slippers isn’t super ideal,” I complain as I slam the door shut.

“And yet it’s probably the only clothes you have that suit you,” Mathéo comments as he leads us down the stony path toward the entrance to a lush forest that contains our secret waterfall.

It’s quiet and dark here, the perfect escape I needed. The moonlight shines above us, casting a silvery glow on the stones as we let them guide the way.

We catch up on the twenty-minute walk to our spot, filling each other in on our lives that we missed over the past four years. He recently returned home at the beginning of this year but is already planning his next humanitarian trip.

“What about you, Cami?” Mathéo asks, holding a branch back as he lets me walk ahead of him on the path.

A mixture of happiness and pain fills my chest as images of the life I was building comes to mind. “You know how when you’re a kid and you make up this dream life? Well, I was finally living mine.” My voice catches in my throat. “I fell in love, I had a great group of friends, and the job I’ve always wanted. I got to live life the way I deemed fit. I learned how to live on my own, figured out how to cook for myself, and what I liked or didn’t like to do. I know that sounds so simple, but growing up the way we did, those are things I never would’ve had the chance to experience had I stayed.”

“Let’s backpedal a little bit. Tell me about this falling in love thing you speak of?” Mathéo grins.

We’re a minute away from the small clearing, and I use that time to gather my thoughts.

“His name is Ryker, and he’s a baseball player.”

“Of course he is.” He laughs.

I chuckle and continue. “He’s entirely my opposite, but in the best way possible. I’ve never felt that way with someone, ever. Ryker can come off as an asshole, and he can be, but with me, he’s different. He’s my Ryker the biker.” A sad smile attempts to lift my lips but fails because talking about him is making my heart want to jump out of my chest and never return to the pain it’s feeling.

Mathéo turns and steps in front of me, blocking my view of the waterfall I know is a few feet behind him now. I can hear the waves crashing softly in the distance, but all I can focus on is the excited grin on Mathéo’s face.

What is going on?

“He sounds great. Think you can introduce him to me?”

I’m about to tell him it’s not possible, when he steps to the side and my eyes instantly zero in on the tall, tattooed man with long hair standing in front of the pond that the waterfall goes into.

Ryker.

He’s here. I don’t think. I only run, and I don’t stop until I’m in the safety of his arms.

My body shakes against his, my tears soaking his neck as I grip him tight while he holds me just as tightly. “I’m s-s-orry,” I mumble through my tears.

“Shh,” he whispers, his hand cradling the back of my head as he holds me close.

“You asked me to never leave without telling you and I did. I—”

Ryker silences me with his lips crashing against mine in the most passionate kiss I’ve ever felt in my life. My tears are probably staining his face, but he doesn’t seem to mind as his hand grips my jaw and deepens the kiss.

Feeling his lips against mine after fearing I might never again makes me shiver and I pour everything I have into the kiss. All the love, longing, and appreciation I have for him, for what we share together.

Mathéo coughs somewhere behind us, reminding me that he’s indeed still here and watching this, most likely uncomfortably. We both pull apart, breathless, and stare into one another’s eyes, shock painted in his irises as if he can’t believe I’m really here. I could say the same about him.

“How are you here?” I ask as he sets me down, but keeps an arm around me.

“I knew something was wrong when I couldn’t see you anywhere.” His voice is tortured as he relives the memory, which only makes me cry more. “So I went to the stands to ask Jasmine and Theo, who told me everything. And from there, we decided to come and get our girl back.”

“We?” I repeat, unsure what he means until I hear, “Millie Moo!”

I whip around to see Theo, Jasmine, and Elio emerging from the trees.

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