“If by latest conquest, you mean the woman I dated for almost six years in high school and college, then yes, but I didn’t pick her up in the way that you’re implying. Some jerk spiked her drink. I was merely being the gentleman that I am and escorted her out before said jerk could hurt her any more than he already had. Indirectly, that was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.”
“Can you explain that?”
With a quick glance over to me, Bo continued. “That jerk brought the greatest person in my world back to me and made me realize that I don’t want to spend one more second of another day without her.”
Before I could react to what was going on, Bo was walking over to me. Then he was kneeling in front of me and I couldn’t breathe again. His grandmother’s canary ring was clutched in his fingers, the one she told me at graduation would be mine someday. Bo had saved it, not even giving it to Zara, for me.
“I know this is crazy. And I know that three days ago we were living completely separate lives, but here I am in front of the love of my life and I will spend the rest of time trying to make up for those years we spent apart. Peyton West, will you do me the honor of being my wife? We can take the rest of this slow, I promise. I just cannot bear the thought of you not being completely mine for one more minute.”
With tears in both of our eyes, we stayed there in silence for what felt like forever, but it was only a few seconds. Finally, I broke out of my love-soaked daze and wrapped my arms around Bo’s neck. “I have been waiting to hear those words come out of your mouth since I was fifteen! Of course I will marry you.”
With flashes of cameras and the bright lights surrounding us, Bo slipped the ring on my finger and crushed his lips to mine.
Reporter after reporter tried to ask more questions, but Bo just waved them off. “I think that was the big finale for today folks and I hope all the suspicion has been laid to rest.”
He led me back to where their PR person, the manager, and the coaches were gathering.
Travis walked up to shake Bo’s hand. “Well played kid. Congratulations are in order.”
The sound of champagne bottles popping and the buzz of people rushing over to Bo and I to talk to us about the crazy turn of events made my head spin.
“I think I need some air,” I whispered in Bo’s ear, and he pointed to the fire exit.
“Want me to go with you?”
I grabbed his hand. “Can we just get out of here?”
It was overwhelming and the reality started to crash around me. Cold feet was the understatement of the freaking year.
What the fuck am I doing?
Bo and I said our goodbyes and made our way back to his car to head toward his apartment.
“Everything ok?”
My stomach knotted. “I think so.”
His hand slid onto my knee as the light turned green. “Look, I know this is probably overwhelming, but this is what I truly want.”
“Bo, two days ago your ex-fiancée was busting in on us and calling me a slut, and now you’re engaged to me. It’s all just so fast. I need to take a breath and let it sink in, that’s all.”
“Do you regret it?” The pain in his voice filled the car and my heart sank.
“Apparently I am not explaining myself well.”
We pulled into the parking garage under Bo’s building and into his spot. “Then let’s head upstairs and you can tell me whatever you want with a glass of wine in hand on the couch, just like old times.”
Even though apprehension was swimming inside me, it all felt oddly right. As I walked into his apartment, staring down at his grandmother’s gorgeous ring that had been in Bo’s family for six generations, I knew that this was exactly where I was supposed to be.
“So what’s on your mind, babe?” Bo handed me a glass of wine and slid onto the couch next to me.
“Do you think we’re crazy?”
He laughed softly, pulling me into him. “Yes.”
Leaning against him, I breathed in the slightest hint of my favorite cologne that he had worn in high school. “Does that scare you?”
“Not at all. I want to be with you, Peyton, with or without that ring on your finger. It was going to happen sooner or later, so I figured it was just better to give it to you sooner, that’s all.”