Page 102 of Save Me

Chuckling, Ryker shook his head. “Are you ready for the next one?”

“Please!”

Flipping the page, he revealed an orange butterfly. “The orange butterfly stands for passion, lust, and intentional emotion.”

“Interesting…”

And then he flipped to the final page, revealing a pink butterfly.

“I don’t know if pink is really…”

But he didn’t let her finish. “The pink butterfly symbolizes a strong desire to be loved and to give love in return.”

O-kay…

“So? What did you think?”

She thought this was all a little bizarre, but definitely didn’t want to hurt his feelings by saying that out loud.

“They were all beautiful and I loved learning what each of the colors symbolized. It’s kind of cool how you know all that.”

“There’s actually one final tattoo that I designed, but…I wasn’t sure if I should show it to you.”

“What? Seriously?” She was practically bouncing in her seat. “Now you have to show me!”

Turning the sketch pad back toward himself, he seemed to need a minute.

“Ryker?”

“I’m not someone who always says the right thing or even the kind of guy who knows what to say at all. I express myself through my art and that’s always been enough. But with you, I want to say all the right things and not use anything as a crutch.” He let out a long breath. “But tonight, I desperately needed it and I hope you don’t think less of me for it.”

“Ryker, come on. I would never do that. And I love all the things you say! The art is just a perk.”

“Just…remember that you said that.”

Turning the sketchpad over, he revealed one final butterfly. It was white with a very intricate design on it that the others didn’t have. Leaning in a bit, she tried to make out what it all was.

Is that…? Are those…?

Looking up, she met his somber gaze and whispered his name.

The wings of the butterfly were adorned with two rings on each side.

Wedding rings interlocked together.

“The white butterfly symbolizes change, rebirth, and hope.” Swallowing hard, he added, “All the things to come into our future if you marry me.” Placing the sketchpad down, Ryker got on one knee and held a ring out to her. “Ryleigh Donovan, I love you. Sometimes, there are no words to describe just how much. All the colors represented in the sketches told the story of how I look at you—at us. There isn’t anything I want more than to marry you and spend every day of our lives together.”

“Oh my goodness…Ryker, I…yes! Yes!”

He jumped up and hauled her into his arms and kissed her before sliding the ring onto her finger.

“I love you so much,” she told him. “Even though now I’m really mad at you.”

His eyes went comically wide. “Mad? Why?”

“Because now I want all the damn butterflies on me! If I could barely get through the thought of one without hyperventilating, how the hell am I supposed to get through five?”

Laughing, he pulled her in close and kissed her again. “I’ll tell you what—let’s wait until we get home and we’ll go to the shop after hours and do them one at a time. I’ll design something that incorporates all of them and then we’ll find the perfect spot on your body for them.” Then he grinned. “Although that’s going to be hard to decide because every inch of you is so damn spectacular.”

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