Page 167 of Restricted List

“Thank you,” is all I can say. We’re lucky to be surrounded by such great friends.

I look over at Rory. Since we got to the room, she’s been sitting at the head of her bed, legs against her chest and arms wrapped around them. She’s staring out into space and hardly seems to be present for this conversation. But her eyes have been glassy since we were in the clubhouse, so I know she’s just as affected by this as I am.

“We should probably give them some space,” Ari says. “It’s been a rough night.”

“I can stay with Ella tonight,” Josh says, “so Harlow can stay with Knox. That’ll give Cole and Rory some privacy.”

“Thanks, guys.”

They all say their goodbyes before they exit the room, Harlow grabbing what she needs to stay with Knox before she goes.

Once the room is clear of all our friends, I move to sit right by Rory, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and holding her close to me.

“Please talk to me, Rory. You’re never this quiet, and it’s concerning me.”

She lets out a deep breath. “I just don’t know what to say. You got benched because ofme. I’m not sure why you want to see me at all right now.”

“Rory,” I say, tilting her chin so she’s looking right at me. “I don’t blame you for this at all. Nothing that happened tonight is your fault.”

“But it is!” Her voice breaks as the tears finally fall. “If you weren’t with me, this wouldn’t be happening.”

I place my hand on her cheek and look into her eyes. “Being with you is mychoice, but loving you isn’t. Loving you is as easy as breathing. It’s involuntary. It justis. Tonight went poorly, but I wouldn’t change a single fucking second with you. I’d put myself through hell again and again for even adaywith you. You are wortheverythingto me, and I’d give up my career right now if it meant keeping you.”

“Cole…”

I silence her with a kiss, gentle and pleading. Pleading with her to understand that none of this matters to me as long as she’s here.

With my hand still on her cheek, I press our foreheads together, capturing her eyes once again. “Rory, I love you. So fucking much. And it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

I wipe the tears from her cheeks. “I love you, too, Cole. That’s why this hurts so much. You’re so incredible. I love my dad regardless of what happened tonight, and all I want to do is share my happiness with him. I want to shareyouwith him. I want him to see how amazing you are and how perfect you are for me.”

“One day, he will,” I assert. “Because I’m not going anywhere. He’s going to be my father-in-law someday, so we’re going to see a lot of each other. He’ll come around at some point.”

Rory stares at me, eyes still glassy but tears no longer falling. “Your… father-in-law?”

I smile at her. “That’s exactly what he’ll be when I make you my wife someday, Rory. You’re my forever.” As soon as the words are out, she’s crying again. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. I just love you, and you told me you want to marry me someday. It makes me happy, and that makes me cry.”

I shoot her a soft smile as I rid her face of tears again. “Well, someday can be whenever you want it to be.”

Her lips part in surprise. “What do you mean?”

“I told you I’m going to marry you someday, and someday is whenever you decide.”

“Like two years from now?”

I place my hand on her knee and squeeze. “If that’s what you want.”

“Sooner?”

“Anytime you want, Rory.”

“What about… now?”

I gaze at her with determined eyes. “Do you want to get married now?”

“I-I’m just saying. Just naming different time periods and-”

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