Page 112 of Vegas Baby!

“I unfortunately feel the same about my own father. He would make time for all his business contacts, all his friends who are of the same echelon, but do you think he came to any of my school plays, track meets?”

“I’m gonna guess no.”

“Meetings and colleagues always seemed to need him more than I did.”

“I’m sorry he wasn’t the father you deserved. Let’s make a pact,” said Ava, extending her hand to me. “We’re gonna do better for our kids. Every single event: birthdays, recitals, doesn’t matter what. If it’s important to them, it’s important to us.”

I took her hand in mine and kissed her knuckles. “I would make that pact a thousand times over.”

The server fortuitously came over with Ava’s crème brûlée, a mountain of spun sugar sitting on top to disguise my surprise.

“It’s so pretty!” Ava set the spun sugar aside on the extra plate provided, her whole body freezing when she saw the gold ring with a glittering tanzanite sitting atop her dessert. Her gaze whipped between it and me several times. “Bryce…is that?”

“An engagement ring? Yep.”

“But we’re already bonded.”

“I want to do things right, Ava. I want you to know you’rechosen. And I want you to choose me, too.”

Tears slipped over her cheeks and she shakily held out her hand.

“I haven’t even properly asked yet.” I laughed quietly. “Ava Malone, I love you. Will you be my wife as well as my bondmate?”

“Y-yes!” It burst out of her like a firework, joy radiating through the bond. “Oh my god. I love you too.”

She was so beautiful, her smile bright and her scent sweet as I slipped the gold onto her finger.

“What’s the stone? Not a diamond?”

“I can get it changed,” I offered immediately.

“No, no, it’s beautiful. There’s so many shades of blue and purple.”

“It’s tanzanite. I know diamonds are more traditional, but we’re not exactly a traditional pack. I thought something with more color would suit you better, plus it’s actually rarer than diamond.”

“I love it.” She turned her hand in the dim light, the stone catching the light as she examined it.

“I got these too.” I slid the velvet box toward her that contained a set of gold bands, all our names engraved on the insides. “I wanted to have them on hand, for if the others asked you when they were ready, or if you wanted to ask them.”

“These are so cute.” She plucked one out. “Bryce, these are perfect. Can I put yours on you?”

“Of course you can.” I held out my left hand, adoring her little giggle when she slipped it onto my finger and kissed my knuckle just above it.

“Do the others know you were planning to ask me?”

“We had a conversation this morning while we made breakfast before you were awake.”

“And they’re all cool with it? Even Luke?”

I barked a laugh. “Micah and Jesse were totally fine with me asking. Luke wasn’t over the moon or anything, but he knowsI love you, and he wants you to have anything that makes you happy.”

“Sounds like Luke.” Ava laughed. “Could I have the rings? I think I’d like to ask them myself when it feels right.”

“You absolutely can. You’re ready for that with all of them?”

Ava fell silent for a moment, staring at her ring. “I never thought I would be able to love anyone else after Andrew ripped out my heart, but you’re all proving me wrong on that front. I think it would be difficultnotto fall for every one of you. I’m not brave enough myself to be popping the question to the others tonight, but I’m pretty sure I would say yes if they asked.” She curled her fingers around mine. “We’re building an amazing life together and I’m more than happy to commit to that even without the bond. I’ve soaked up more love since meeting you than I think I did my whole life before that. I’m just glad you feel it too, that I’ve given you enough hope that you wanted to ask me.”

She sniffled and took a moment to whack through the sugar topping of her crème brûlée as if to give herself time to think. That was completely abandoned when the first spoonful passed through her lips, her eyes widening.

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