Page 272 of By His Play

“I thought my dream had come true the first day I ran out onto this field with your birth date stamped on my front and back.”

I squeeze my eyes closed for a second, fighting the tears.

Kieran Callahan chose number eleven for his jersey because it’s my birthday.

A sob erupts, and I rip my eyes open, staring down at him as he opens the box.

But I don’t see the jewelry; all I see is him.

“But it didn't. It turns out my dream has always been you.

“Effie Campbell, my lucky charm, will you be my wife?”

An emotional laugh falls from my lips.

This is crazy.

We made up last night. It’s ridiculously fast.

But then, I think about what he just said, and he’s right.

We’ve been building toward this for over a decade now.

I nod, unable to speak through the lump in my throat.

Kieran’s brows lift, silently demanding that I use my words.

“Yes, Kieran. Yes.”

He’s off the ground in a heartbeat, his arms around me and his lips on mine.

Wrapping my arms around his shoulder, I stretch up on my toes and kiss him back.

Time stands still, and we lose ourselves in the moment.

“I love you, Luck. I love you so much.” His voice is barely a whisper and cracked with emotion. When I pull back and look into his eyes, I find that they’re flooded with unshed tears. The sight completely undoes me.

“Shit,” he suddenly gasps. “The ring.”

I laugh when he releases me to pick it up off the ground.

“Oh my god, Kieran,” I breathe when I finally see the size of it.

“This is the kind of engagement ring you deserve, Effie. I can’t believe Grams thought I’d ever buy you that tiny diamond.”

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper as he slides the huge platinum brilliant-cut diamond onto my ring finger.

“No, you’re beautiful,” he breathes before claiming my lips again. “There’s one other thing,” he says when he pulls back and rests his brow against mine.

“Oh?” I pant, barely able to catch my breath.

“I’ve moved into your apartment.”

I laugh, although I’m not really surprised.

When Kieran Callahan wants something, he does everything he can to get it.

Including me.

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