Page 195 of Come Break My Heart Again

“We can afford it.”

“Youcan afford it.” His tone is matter-of-fact, so similar to Nina’s that it makes my eyes burn.

“Does that mean you’ve changed your mind about getting married?” A question I’ve put off asking because I’m intimidated by the answer.

He hasn’t brought marriage up since Keira and Tucker’s wedding last fall, which seems like a bad sign. I know he’s committed to me, but if he no longer wants that … it’ll feel like losing momentum.

“No, I haven’t,” he tells me, sounding sure enough that I wish I’d asked sooner.

I could have saved myself some stress.

“But married or not, everyone will know where the money is coming from, Elle. That’s embarrassing for me. Don’t you get that?”

“Do you think Tuck should be embarrassed? Keira has more money than he does. Or would you care if I had no trust fund and you did?”

His head turns back toward the window, his thumb stroking the strip of skin exposed above my sleep shorts.

“I want to quit my job. Parts of working for Tuck are great, but I miss having him just be my best friend and not my boss too. I’ve been thinking about buying Hank’s old garage, reopening it.I was way better at working on cars than I am at construction.” He swallows. “Haven’t had much luck getting a loan. I don’t have much in the way of savings. I might have a shot now with the cut I’ll get from the house’s sale as part of the crew. But that …” He shakes his head. “Turns out, that’s your money too.”

“You earned that money, Ryder. You did a job, and you got paid for it. That’s how the world works.”

“They bought that place because they knew it was the only way you’d live in a house like that. That I’d never be able to afford it for you.”

I reach out and run my fingers along his temple. His eyes flutter shut for a few seconds.

“I grew up in a house like that, and I was miserable most of the time. I don’t need to own a mansion to be happy. My favorite thing about that house is that you made it look like the drawing I had shown you. Not how big it is or how much money it’s worth. That it reminds me ofus. But that can be anywhere we’re together. It doesn’t have to be here.”

Ryder exhales, his thumb still moving against my skin.

“I wanted it to be a perfect moment,” he says. “That’s the only reason I haven’t asked you. I wasn’t sure what I was doing for work, and everything with my mom … I wasn’t second-guessing us. I swear.”

I twist my head so that my cheek is pressed against his neck. His hold on me tightens even more.

“You asking meisthe perfect moment, Ry.”

We stand like that for a few minutes before his arms drop.

“I’ll be right back.”

I watch him leave with raised eyebrows, hearing the low murmur of his voice as he talks to Scout in the living room. And then he’s back, holding a small black box in one hand, solving the mystery of what he went to get.

I thought I was prepared for this moment. Lying awake at night, I wondered why it hadn’t happened yet. Worried the fairy tale was still going to fall apart. Planned out what I would say if he ever did ask.

Turns out, I wasn’t ready.

Salty tears slip down my cheeks as he walks toward me.

“Elle.” His voice is overwhelmingly tender as I continue to cry, the intimate tone settling around my shoulders like a warm blanket. “Lo, it’s okay.”

“I know,” I blubber.

This is the second time I’ve sobbed today, but these tears feel very different from the ones at the beach. These are relief, not sadness. For so long, I was so certain we’d never have this moment.

And I’m imagining Nina looking down at this, one of her rare smiles appearing.

“I’ve never seen you look so thrilled,” he jokes.

I choke out a watery laugh. “I’m happy.Sohappy. Just … overwhelmed. It took a while to get here, you know?”

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