Page 80 of Ripped

I meet Donnie’s gaze through the crowd and we exchange a smile. My heart expands with so much happiness that it’s a little difficult to breathe. I want to jump up and down. I want to race to the rooftop, throw my arms wide and just laugh. I want to drag Donnie to our bedroom and lock the door. The guests can take care of themselves.

DONNIE

“I love you,” I say, cornering Connor in the living room, away from the party. I love the way the words roll off my tongue. I love the way Connor’s eyes light up and his cheeks turn pink and his lips curl into a shy smile. I’m never going to tire of saying it to him, I just know it.

“I love you too.” Connor kisses me sweetly. “Happy birthday.”

I should’ve known Connor was planning something with the whole “take the extra day off work” and the “Rick’s making me come in on a Sunday.” I definitely should’ve clued in when Phyllis called to invite me to lunch, like she knew I was going to be free.

“I can’t believe you managed to track down all these people.”

“It took a good amount of snooping,” Connor admits, with a self-satisfied smile that he entirely deserves. “Want your birthday present now?”

“Birthday present? This isn’t enough?”

Connor tugs me toward the stairs and up to our bedroom. He sits me down on the armchair and disappears into the walk-in closet. He comes out holding a thick envelope.

“This is for you,” he says, kneeling down in front of me.

I open the envelope and pull out a cute homemade booklet. The Complete History of Cycling Filmography. Inside is page after page of movies about cycling, some documentaries, some silly comedies. I’ve heard of a few of them and even recognize some of the athletes. But most of the films are completely foreign to me.

“What’s this?” I ask.

“It’s what we’re going to watch for the next few weeks. Or months… I didn’t realize how many cycling movies there are.” Connor looks sheepish. “Is it too corny? We don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“Are you kidding?” I pull him in between my knees and kiss him until we’re both breathless. “It’s fabulous. And so much more fun than watching horror movies.”

Connor grins against my mouth. “I figured if I was going to make you watch films all the time, the least I could do was find ones you’d be interested in.”

“I love it,” I say between kisses. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Connor sighs. “We might have to send Miles and Wyatt a thank you note.”

“Why the hell would we have to do that?”

“If it wasn’t for them, I would’ve never been at Mars that night.”

“And I would never have brought you home.”

“So, in a way, I guess we owe them?”

I scoff. “I don’t know if I’d go that far.”

“Hmm, I guess you’re right. I would’ve worked up the nerve to talk to Donnie, The Spin Instructor, at some point.”

“And I would have noticed the guy in the back corner who smiles like the sun.”

Connor shows me that smile again and I melt into his arms.

“I love you, darling.”

“I love you too.”

EPILOGUE

CONNOR

“I still can’t believe you have a full-on theater in your house,” Sebastian says as I flick the lights back on. “I’m never reviewing footage on a laptop screen ever again.”

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