Chapter 51 #2
Slowly, Indie pushes to her feet. She stands in front of Lola, who still appears ready to launch herself at Ryland.
I stand with her, prepared to do whatever is necessary to protect the woman I love.
How dare this prick pull something like this here?
There are at least a dozen phones pointed our way as people record while watching the drama with wide eyes.
“I don’t give a shit if you’re jealous, Ryland. And I’m sure as hell not trying to make a point. I’d have to care about you to want to do either of those things, and I don’t.”
Her ex opens his mouth to protest, but Indie makes a slashing movement with her free hand to shut him up.
“I never loved you,” she says loudly. Lifting her chin, she looks down her nose at Ryland.
“I dated you because you were there, my parents liked you, and because I was trying to deny what my heart has always known. I’m sorry for that, because I was using you to lie to myself. But you used me, too, didn’t you?”
My heart hammers in my chest. I suck in a careful breath before holding it when she opens her mouth to continue speaking.
“I was lying to myself because I’ve spent the last ten years trying to get over Sebastian.
But no matter what I did, or who I dated, I never could.
Every date, every kiss, hell, every argument, I wished they were with him.
Because I love him. I’ve always loved him, and I’ll never stop.
Never.” She’s breathing heavily, the words having poured out of her mouth like rapids.
The sound of her ragged breaths is loud in the stunned silence.
Time slows and everything fades around us as I turn and peer down at the woman I’ve loved since I was a scrawny, pimple-faced fifteen-year-old boy. “You love me?”
Her laughter is watery as her eyes fill with moisture. She looks up at me, the softest, most beautiful smile on her face, and I commit it to memory. “This isn’t exactly the way I imagined telling you, but yes. I love you. So much. Always have, always will.”
Turning, I cup her face with both of my hands. “Thank god. Because I love you, too, Rosebud. So fucking much that I’d resigned myself to dying alone. Because if I couldn’t have you, I didn’t want anyone.”
“Bash…”
Her eyes fill with tears, and I brush one away with my thumb before leaning in and claiming her mouth in a passionate kiss. She lets out a cry that I swallow up as our friends clap and cheer.
I only half hear them.
We’re both breathing hard when we break apart. Her lips are swollen, there are tear tracks on her cheeks, but her eyes are full of joy, and her smile is the most beautiful, radiant thing I’ve ever seen.
“Oh, come on,” Ryland says, his eyes taking on a cruel glint I don’t like. “You can’t honestly expect anyone to believe you’re really with this guy. I mean, look at him, then look at you.”
“Does this guy have a death wish?” Lexi asks loudly enough for everyone to hear.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I ask Indie’s ex, even though I don’t really want to hear the answer. I regret asking the moment he turns his attention to her.
“Oh, please. You may have famous parents, and you’re cute enough, I guess, but do you really expect everyone to believe that a successful pro athlete would choose to be with someone like you?
” Ryland’s cheeks are flushed an angry, splotchy red.
“He probably has models throwing themselves at him after every game.”
“Oh yeah, he wants to die,” Mira says, her hands clenched into fists.
Indie’s face flames scarlet. She sucks in a sharp breath, blinking rapidly. I ball my hands into fists as I watch a devastating array of emotions play across her face. I can’t believe this fucker said that. And in front of a crowd of people with their phones out and recording.
She appears humiliated.
“You need to shut up,” I growl, pushing my way out of the booth so I can plant myself between Ryland and Indie.
He doesn’t get to talk to her. To look at her.
“Right now.” I glance back at Indie, taking in the tightness around her mouth and the sheen of her eyes, and rage fills me. “Don’t listen to him, sweetheart.”
“Come on, you know I’m right.” Ryland tries to look around me at Indie. “He may want you now, but he’ll get bored, Indigo. Athletes always do. But I won’t. We were good together, and I promise I’ll never take you for granted again.”
I take a step forward, forcing Ryland back, and once again block his view of Indie. My skin feels tight as my muscles bunch and coil, ready for a fight.
“That’s enough. Don’t fucking talk to her,” I growl. “Don’t fucking look at her.”
Ryland blanches but straightens his shoulders and juts out his jaw. “Or what, asshole? You’ll hit me?” He scoffs. “Go ahead. Hit me. Throw your life away for a fat-ass, frigid bitch.”
My ears fill with static as my body fills with a white-hot rage. It starts in my chest but quickly radiates out until it’s consuming every cell. “What did you say?”
Indie’s ex scoffs. “You heard me. Do you really want to risk your career for someone that looks like her?”
When Indie lets out a little squeak of distress behind me, I see red. “I’d risk everything for her,” I growl.
Then I pull my arm back and let my fist fly.