Chapter 18 #3
She took in the news. She didn’t like the idea of being joyous about someone not being pregnant. That night, Ainsley had looked hopeful standing in the house. “Do you love her?”
He reached out for her hands, but she pulled them away. “I’m in love with you.”
She shook her head. “We only just met.”
“I know.” His eyes stayed on hers.
She studied the different blues in his eyes, wishing she could believe them. “I’ve been broken so many times, for so long. I’ll literally fall apart if you?—”
“I’m all in, Thea.” He pulled out a document from his back pocket.
She read the title of the page: Property Deed. “What’s this?”
He pointed to the address printed in the first paragraph—22 Lobster Cove Lane, Isabel Island, Maine.
“What is this?” she asked again. Was he saying what she thought this paper meant?
“I reached out to Mrs. Rosedale’s children,” he said. A grin lifted up the left side of his mouth, making him look so handsome. “Well, grandchildren now. We came to an agreement.”
“You bought the Rosedale’s house? Does this mean you’re staying on the island?” she asked, her heart skipping a beat. Stop it, she said to herself. She didn’t need to get her hopes up.
“Cece and I are staying on the island,” he said.
“Oh?” she looked at him. “Cece’s staying?”
“Yeah, I also just became a landlord.” He laughed as he held on to his knees. “And a business owner.”
She looked at him, questioning what he meant. “What?”
“Cece and I are going into the inn business,” he said.
“What?” She grabbed his hands. “You bought the inn?”
“Cece bought the inn,” he corrected her. “I bought this cute little gift shop with the most beautiful shop owner.”
She looked down at the next set of papers.
“You did a lot of purchasing,” she said, laughing out loud.
“I’m in love with you, Thea.” He leaned closer to her, but she didn’t move from her spot on the floor. The familiar scent of sandalwood comforting her suddenly.
Then, he handed over an envelope with her name written across it.
“That mother gave me my letter back.” He waited as she opened it.
Thea,
There is nothing I can say or do that will change how things occurred, but nothing has changed the way I feel about you.
I know deep down in my soul that you and I are meant to be together.
Things may seem too complicated and messy right now, but this relationship is worth fighting for.
We are worth fighting for. And I will do whatever it takes to prove that to you.
Nothing will change my heart. Not Miss Wisconsin, not a baby, not anything.
You have it. It’s all yours.
Love, Ryan
The letter shook in her hands.
“Talk to me, Thea.” He took hold of her hands and squeezed them. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
She was thinking that maybe she wasn’t falling apart. Maybe her heart was rupturing—bursting open for something new to grow inside, like a hard outer shell of a seed breaking apart.
“This is all very fast.” It wasn’t that it was bad. It wasn’t. She needed fast at this point in her life. “We haven’t even really dated.”
She didn’t want to state the obvious, but this wasn’t a Nora Roberts’ novel. She didn’t get happily ever afters, just like that, especially not with a professional football player.
“Will there be other women showing up?” She had heard the rumors and read the articles about NFL players, where the wives were left at home and groupies hung out with their husbands.
He let out a long exhale. That obviously hit.
“What if I just want to find someone who’s looking for the same things in life as me?” he said.
Could she start a relationship on a solid foundation with honesty? “What are those things?”
“Love, marriage, family,” he said. “I want someone to understand what it’s like to own a business and take care of their parents together.” He laughed. “I want to finally learn to surf.”
She let him pull her to him, and putting her hands on his face, she kissed him. She wanted nothing more than to believe him, to believe in this moment, to believe he wanted a life like that, because that was her fairy tale. That was her happily ever after.
“What about those reporters outside?” she asked. “What about Ainsley?”
He kissed her again, but it was a short, sweet kiss. “Ainsley is fine. She’s already talking with another guy from the Boston Red Sox.”
She laughed. “Really?”
He nodded. He kissed her again. “You dress like this every Saturday? Because you look amazing.”
She smiled at the compliment and looked down at her dress, suddenly realizing that she had just enough time to get to the wedding. She did have a plus-one. “How do you really feel about weddings?”
“You can’t pull me from the dance floor when the ‘Electric Slide’ comes on,” he said.
She burst out laughing, tangling her fingers in his. She turned serious and said, “Can you be ready to go in a few minutes?”
He looked down at his attire. He wore a pair of khakis and a polo. He could actually pull off the beach wedding.
“If I get to be with you, then I’ll go anywhere.” He stood up, pulling her up to her feet, too. He placed his hand under her chin, in full view of the windows, and kissed her long and passionately.
The world would now know Ryan Mathers was in love with Thea Manus.