Page 91 of Dirty Pucking Tease

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Two months later...

"Are you sure about this?"Trystan asked, staring at the tiny black box with the two-carat princess-cut diamond engagement ring inside.

I nodded, a smile pulling at the corners of my lips. I was sure, and I knew this was the absolute perfect time. Camryn, Trystan, Owen, Kaia, Syn, Harlow, and I were all at the beach house for a long weekend. Kaia had just hit the three-month mark, and she was ready to tell everyone we were having a baby, and I was going to propose in front of everyone. Once my mom and her dad got back in town, we would share the good news with them, along with the news we were moving out because we bought a house in North Carolina, where I was drafted to play pro for the Carolina Predators.

"So when are you doing it?" Trystan pulled open the top drawer of his nightstand and shoved the black box inside before pushing it shut.

"Tonight at the bonfire." I leaned over the second-floor terrace as I searched the beach for Kaia. Trystan stepped up beside me, mocking my movement.

"You think she'll say yes?"

"I hope so."

He sucked in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. My gaze shifted following his line of sight to Cam and Owen sitting on the pool's edge with their feet in the water, talking and laughing.

"You going to tell me what happened?"

Trystan shook his head. "Nothing." My brows furrowed. "She's better off with him anyway."

"Okay," I said, dragging the word out. "Owen is my best friend, and you're my brother, so I don't want to get in the middle of this, but I'm pretty sure you don't actually believe that." He shrugged like he was shrugging me off. I huffed out a laugh. "The man of so much wisdom doesn't know how to take his own advice." I shook my head.

"All I seem to do is hurt her."

"Then get your shit together."

His lips curled into a smirk. "I'm working on it."

"Are you two going to be able to get along for the weekend?"

He flicked a glance down to Cam and Owen. "She hasn't said a word to me since I got here, so I think we'll be fine, but I'll probably leave tomorrow morning." I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off. "Are they official?" I raised my brows. "Is she his girlfriend?"

I shook my head. "No. She's in love with you."

"Trust me," he sighed, "she's not. I fucked up."

I raised my shoulders. "Then fix it before Owen does become her boyfriend, and your chance is gone forever." I dropped my shoulders.

"Your girl's alone on the beach," Trystan said, nodding towards the beach. My gaze shifted to where Kaia stood at the water's edge.

She was breathtaking. "Give me the ring." I threw my plans out the window.

I was proposing now.

"You doing it now?" Trystan asked, moving to the nightstand. I nodded. He grabbed the ring. "Good luck, bro." He handed me the box, and I shoved it in my pocket.

"Thanks." I smiled before I strolled out to the beach.

My heart pounded wildly as I approached her. I knew Kaia loved me and was excited about our future together, but I also knew she didn't want to get married just because of the baby. But I knew without a doubt that I wanted to be her husband. I wanted to slide this ring on her finger and claim her as mine forever. I just hoped she knew that because if for one second she thought I was only proposing because of the baby, she'd say no.

"Hey." She smiled, wrapping her cardigan tightly around her when a gust of cool air blew past us. "I thought you were chatting with Trystan."

"I was."

"Did you figure out what happened between him and Cam?"

I shook my head. "No. Whatever happened, neither of them wants to talk about it."

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