48 MADDY #3
We both turn, completely confused, and there they are—Kiara, Noah, Mel, and Liam walking toward us from the path, clapping, shouting, looking way too proud of themselves.
Ryan blinks. “What are you guys doing here?”
Kiara scoffs. “Please. You really thought we wouldn’t follow you?”
“We didn’t want to miss this,” Liam adds with a grin.
Mel grabs his arm. “It was so cute.”
Noah just shakes his head, but he’s smiling. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
I look between all of them, completely lost. “Wait—do you all know something I don’t know?”
Ryan winces slightly. “Long story.”
“Very long,” Kiara confirms.
Bailey crosses her arms smugly. “I knew before all of you, just saying.”
“Of course you did,” Noah mutters.
Ryan glances at her. “Wait—you knew?”
“Also a long story,” I cut in quickly.
Bailey holds up her phone. “You also just talked about it over the phone.”
“You were listening?” Ryan says, a small smile forming after a second.
“Duh,” she responds, which makes everyone laugh.
Ryan lets out a quiet laugh, then looks back at me and the whole world kind of narrows again. “Mads, I just—”
“Wait.” I lift a hand between us. “Let me talk for a second.”
He stops immediately, mouth closing as he nods once.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt. “For pushing you away. I just… I think I am really scared of getting hurt again.”
The words start coming faster now, tumbling over each other. “But I realized something.” I swallow. “I don’t—I don’t actually care if I get hurt. Because what if something happens? What if I let this—” I gesture vaguely between us, “—pass me by just because I was scared?”
My chest rises sharply as I finally take a breath.
“I don’t want to miss this,” I finish quickly. “And it doesn’t matter if I get hurt or if something happens because you’re worth the risk.”
The words leave me all at once, and I let out a long, shaky exhale. Silence drops between us.
“You can, um…” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “You can talk now.”
Ryan only smiles. “Well then,” he says gently, “I guess I’m gonna have to get used to you getting all shy and red-cheeked around me.”
I let out a breathy laugh and lightly shove his chest. “Oh my God. Shut up.”
He just grins wider, both hands settling at my waist.
Softly, teasing, he says, “So… you wanna repeat that one sentence you said a couple minutes ago?”
I loop my arms around his neck and my eyes narrow. “Which one?”
“The important one.”
“Oh, you mean the part where I said I love teasing you?” I ask sweetly.
He deadpans. “Not that one.”
“Hmm. The part where I said I love annoying you?”
“Maddy.”
“The part where I said—”
He gives me a look. The one that melts my brain a little. “Come on,” he murmurs.
I sigh, and roll my eyes, pretending to be annoyed. “Fine,” I say. And then, quieter, “I love you.”
His smile softens into something warmer, steadier. “I love you too.”
I point a finger at his chest. “Don’t get used to it.”
He smirks immediately. “Too late.”
He kisses me again, and the group behind us erupts like we just won a championship.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Noah groans. “I gave permission, but this is still deeply uncomfortable.”
Kiara wipes a fake tear. “I love love.”
“Please never say that again,” Liam tells her. Mel just smiles at us, soft and happy, leaning her head against Liam’s shoulder.
Ryan laughs, shaking his head, and pulls me closer.
“Oh my God, I now officially have a sister,” Bailey gasps.
I laugh, shaking my head. “Oh yeah, you’re no getting rid of me.”
Ryan tilts his head towards her. “I am still not over the fact you knew this whole time.”
Bailey shrugs proudly. “Obviously.”
“You’re really surprised she found out?” I ask. “The Bailey Drayton.”
Ryan laughs at that. “Okay yeah, maybe I shouldn’t be that surprised.”
That cracks a laugh out of everyone.
“Alright,” Bailey suddenly announces, clapping her hands once. “Now if you’ll excuse me from this deeply cinematic moment—” she fixes her braid and smooths down her wetsuit like she’s about to walk a runway, “—I still have to go ask someone for his number.”
Kiara points at her immediately. “You go, girl.”
Mel grins while Liam gives Bailey a thumbs-up, and Noah just laughs under his breath, shaking his head.
Ryan narrows his eyes slightly. “If he’s weird, I’m intervening.”
Bailey rolls her eyes, already walking away. “Relax, bodyguard. I can handle a surfer boy.”
Ryan calls after her, “I’m watching you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she shoots back, already a few feet away.
Everyone’s still smiling, still laughing softly but Ryan’s gaze drifts back to me. And just like that, the noise fades again. He wraps his arms tighter against my waist, laughing quietly. “So,” he murmurs, “am I still just your fake boyfriend?”
“No,” I say, grinning. “We can now officially disappoint all the women in their forties that they will never have you as a son-in-law.”
He kisses me again, smiling bright, and pulls me closer. And standing here, with sand on my feet, salt in the air, his hand at my waist, and everyone we love right in front of us—nothing feels fake anymore.