That Secret Crush (Getting Lucky #3)(105)

“Ahh fuck,” he groans.

Harper and Ren stand motionless, confetti poppers in their hands, scared for their lives as Brig’s face turns bright red.

“Those were supposed to be for after she accepts his love again. If you read my detailed email, you would know that.” He pushes both hands through his hair and then throws them up in the air before walking over to his car and leaning against it, completely distraught.

We all stand there, unsure of what to do, while Griffin calms the horse and Reid tries to scramble up from the ground. But the heavy armor keeps getting in the way, and he thrashes around like a turtle turned over until his dad and Rogan lend a hand, righting him so he’s facing me. Taking the helmet off his head, he steps toward me and runs his hand through his sweaty hair, an embarrassed smile stretching across his face.

“Uh . . . I’m supposed to be your knight in shining armor. The horse was supposed to be white, but we couldn’t find one on such short notice.” He takes another step forward until he’s only a foot away, his metallic shuffling making each movement almost painfully awkward.

Behind me, Eric is chuckling, and I can’t help but laugh as well.

Oh, Reid.

Beautiful, loyal Reid.

“Eve, I had these grand plans of making this enormous gesture to you this morning, and I enlisted Brig’s help, knowing he would go above and beyond. I wanted to show you that no matter what’s thrown my way again, nothing could ever stop me from being with you.” His armor squeaks as he tries to adjust it. “Hitting on you was the smartest decision I ever made.”

“Eloquent,” Rogan says from the viewing party.

“So romantic.” Jen chuckles.

“Swoon worthy,” Griffin adds.

Brig is still pouting by his car.

Ignoring his family, Reid continues, “I’ve harbored a secret crush on you for so long that even when we were together, I thought it was too good to be true, that it would all disappear. And rather than live in the moment, I let my fears and doubts hang over me until I let them take over, and I made the worst decision of my life: letting you go. But I need you to know this: even though I pushed you away, you were always there, buried in my heart.” He takes a deep breath. “I love you, Eve. I love you so goddamn much, and even if you don’t want to be with me, I am going to spend every free moment of every day making it up to you, convincing you that you’re what matters to me, you are what I want, what I need to be happy. Nothing else.”

“Beautiful, son,” Mr. Knightly says.

“Well said,” his mom chimes in.

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Brig practically cheers.

Sighing, Reid whispers, “Kind of wish they weren’t all here right now.”

“But where’s the fun in that?” I smile, letting the moment wash over me. All the doubt, the fear, it disappears as I stare into Reid’s eyes. Eric’s right—he’s loyal to a fault. But I would rather have a loyal man than one I couldn’t trust, and the love he has for me, the love brimming in his eyes, makes every moment of heartache worth it. Despite our ups and downs, I know that no matter what, Reid will always be by my side, and I would risk anything to have him there.

Getting our relationship back to where it used to be won’t be easy, but then again, like my parents always taught me, love is never easy. Love is a foundation of challenges that stem from two souls colliding as one. There will be miscommunications and moments where we hurt each other, because we are human after all, but what truly matters is the realization that the person standing in front of you is the one person who makes you the best version of yourself.

And I can honestly say Reid is that person.

He challenges me more than anyone, keeps me guessing—never letting me settle but always pushing me instead. He helps me feel, helps me explore a gauntlet of emotions, and holds my hand on this roller coaster of life; even before we were together, he was there by my side. The intimacy I crave he gives me in spades; the hole I have for caring for someone he fills so easily by letting me take him into my arms. And most importantly, he puts me first.

It took me a bit to realize that, given the fact that I thought he was choosing the restaurant and Eric over me, but he wasn’t. He was choosing my happiness, helping me obtain and reach my goals. He’s always had me at the forefront of his mind. I come first, and for that, I will always love him.

“I love you, Eve. Please tell me we can work this out, that we can have the restaurant and the relationship.”

“Well, that depends,” I say, eyeing his getup. “Are you returning this armor to wherever you got it?”

“Do you want me to?”

“Desperately.” I nod.

“Consider it returned,” he says, a giant smile pulling at his lips.

I step toward him and stand on my toes as I loop my arms around his neck and let him pull me into a kiss, right in front of my brother, the Knightlys, and anyone in Port Snow who cares to witness the crazy show playing out in my apartment parking lot.

“I love you, Reid,” I whisper, pressing my forehead against his.

“I love you, babe. Forever.”

And as Brig cheers and takes pictures, his family clapping and hooting, I realize that not only am I holding the man of my dreams and listening to him pledge his love for me, but I’m also being accepted into a family, one that I’ve been missing for so long.