Page 61 of I Did Before I Do

“But are you happy?”

I had to pause and think for a second. Finally, I nodded. “Yeah. I am. I’m really happy. I wouldn’t have guessed this is where I’d end up, but it’s good.”

“Really?” Sydney leaned back, looking at me. I turned my head to take her in. She was in a little sundress for the warm day, her hair in a ponytail. She had a little bit of a pin-up vibe going on, and it was a great look on her.

I nodded. “Yeah. I mean, if you’d asked me five, six years ago where I’d end up, it wouldn’t have been here. I wouldn’t have chosen this, but it worked out.”

She put her head on my shoulder again. The sun was starting to set, lights coming on across the river. Everything had a golden glow about it.

“As long as you’re happy, right?” she asked. “That’s what matters.”

“I am.” I put my arm around her. “I’ve got a great job, right? Co-owner of a successful tattoo shop. Successful enough that we can expand without taking a huge risk. And…” I tickled her side. She laughed. “I’ve got a gorgeous, smart, fun, incredibly sexy girlfriend.”

“Really? Man, any girl who gets to take you home a few nights a week is lucky.”

“Oh, hush.” I leaned to kiss her neck. “You’re amazing and you know it.”

“I never get tired of hearing it.”

“Ooh, modest. Even more appealing.”

She leaned back, grinning at me. “Who, me?”

“Mm-hmm, yeah, you.”

I sighed, reaching up and touching her cheek. She leaned into my hand. Her green eyes caught the light beautifully, and my heart skipped.

“You are unlike any girl I’ve ever been with. You keep me balanced, Syd. And you support me. You know that?”

She smiled. “You’re not like any guy I’ve ever been with. You’re not secretly into men.”

I laughed, shaking my head. Her wit caught me off-guard sometimes, and I loved it. “Man. You’re gonna be really disappointed in a minute.”

Sydney let out an exaggerated groan, rolling her eyes melodramatically. She threw her hands up. “God, now I have to move to another new city, find another new boyfriend. Great. Just great. Thanks, Ryker.”

“Don’t mention it.” I pulled her close again, giving her another kiss on the neck. Slowly, I worked my way up, kissing her jaw, then finally her lips.

She wrapped both arms around my neck and pulled me closer. She started to lean back, tugging me down until we were stretched out on the blanket.

She eased back from the kiss. For a moment, she just looked at me. “I love you, Ryker.”

It came out a whisper, almost shy. She held eye contact for a moment, then looked away.

What an amazing woman.

I kissed her again, gently, then once more.

“Sydney Lawson. I love you, too.”

I leaned over her and kissed her again.

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