Page 123 of Ivory's Ruin Romance

“For the record, I never did like that fella you dated in high school,” Mr. Monroe added.

“Really?” Ivory asked, looking up.

“Could tell he wasn’t all there. Didn’t take you seriously enough. Adrian, however”—Mr. Monroe nodded towards him— “stood up instead of caving. That’s not easy to do around your mother. And you seem to be a lot more comfortable around him. Already better in my book.”

“I appreciate that,” Adrian replied, returning the nod and looking at Ivory, who had begun to look more relieved. The knot in his stomach started to uncoil. “I meant every word—I’m here for Ivory in any way she needs.”

Her blush returned, and he reached over to squeeze her thigh.

“Oh, I’m not giving her over just yet.” Mr. Monroe crossed his arms, leaning back. “If you plan to steal her away, we need to negotiate my cookie deliveries, or it ain’t gonna work.” One side of his lips quirked up to reveal a hidden smile.

“So now my baking is all that matters?” Ivory scoffed, the frown on her face fighting to stay in place.

“Cookie deliveries…” Adrian mused. “How many batches for you to walk her down the aisle to me?”

Ivory’s blush turned bright red. “Um…that’s…”

Mr. Monroe laughed. “We’ll have to work out the details on that one.”

SIXTY-ONE

“Just one mor—” A yawn took over her last syllable, muffled by the pillow on Adrian’s lap. Credits and character drawings played over the screen as the ending song filled the living room.

Adrian tucked the blanket around her shoulders. “You’d have to keep your eyes open for that.”

His body heat radiated through their clothes, and she snuggled further into his embrace. “I can tell what’s happening by the sound effects. You just have to tell me who’s winning the fight.”

“Or, we continue tomorrow.” He hooked an arm under her knees and lifted her off the couch before she could protest.

After watching a few episodes on their first night, the rest of spring break turned into an anime marathon. Brey joined them every now and then, and between making baked goods and replenishing their supplies of popcorn and pizza, they’d camped out in the living room almost all day and night. Her mom hadn’t voiced any further disapproval, but her interactions were lukewarm at best.

They needed to have a more in-depth conversation at some point, but for now, Ivory didn’t mind giving the issue space as her dad suggested. For the first time, she felt confident in where she stood, even if it meant going against the grain.

Not once had Adrian put her down or made her feel less than good enough, and she’d started to believe in herself the same way. Her well-being came before living up to anyone else’s expectations and staying true to what she wanted filled a hole she didn’t know she had.

“All right,” she relented, leaning into Adrian as he climbed the stairs. “I guess we have one more day to finish the season.” His hard chest felt more comfortable than the softest pillow, and cradled in his arms like a princess, she couldn’t help but feel like a little girl again.

They had one more day before her black knight was called to duty—before the fight with Jace and Jun—and right now, she could almost pretend their domestic hiatus would last forever. Every minute of it had to be cherished.

Adrian reached her room and gingerly dumped her on the bed, then locked the door and closed the curtains. The plastic stars she’d stuck on the ceiling lit up with a faint glow, and the darkness in the room receded under streaks of pale moonlight seeping through the edge of the windows. It looked like a magic fantasy world and reminded her of something she’d been meaning to bring up when they were alone.

She blinked over at him, no longer as tired without his body next to hers. When he returned to her side, she caught his hand and wove their fingers together, the smooth metal of his rings pressing into her skin. “Were you serious about what you said?” she whispered. “About what you told my dad the other night?”

He sat next to her, a silhouette of shadow and glittering gold eyes. Bringing her hand to his lips, he held it there and watched her quietly, then left a lingering kiss on her ring finger. “I’m more serious than I’ve ever been. I’ll do whatever it takes to pledge my devotion to you. Even if it means giving up everything I have, I'd do it in a heartbeat to take your hand in marriage. To make you my wife.”

Time slowed to a standstill. She stared at their entwined fingers, unable to form a coherent sentence. Could this be her reality? Could he be her reality—for the rest of her life?

“Have I ever told you what my rings mean?” he asked.

She shook her head.

Extending both hands, he curled down each finger with a ring as he spoke, three on his right and one on his left. “Mum, Dad, Riri, and me.” His left thumb rubbed over the empty space on his left ring finger. “I’ve wanted to get one for you for a while now, but when I thought about it, there’s only one kind of ring I’d want from you.” His eyes lifted to hers. “And that’s a wedding ring.”

Her breath caught, chest threatening to burst. Such a permanent thing seemed impossible when they didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. But her heart knew what it wanted the moment he said it.

“I’d want that, too.” She looked up from his hands, mesmerized with every contour of his face, with the sweep of hair that had fallen out of its bun and the strong column of his neck. With his firm jaw and soft inviting lips, a mixture of benevolence and fortitude that personified the man she’d swear her soul to over and over again. “I want to marry you more than anything.”

A dream-like smile broke out on her face because this had to be a dream. It was too good not to be.

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