Only When It's Us (Bergman Brothers #1)(103)
“Open it.”
Ryder’s eyes dance up to mine before they drop to the envelope once more.
“Go on,” I tell him.
His hands grasp the twine and quickly unspool it. Carefully, he reaches inside and pulls out a hunk of papers, still warm from the printer. A noise catches in his throat when he sees the insignia on the top.
Reign FC.
“Willa,” he whispers. A loud laugh of joy jumps out of him as he sweeps me up and holds me in his arms. “You got signed, Sunshine!”
I nod, smiling ridiculously wide. His kiss is long and passionate, his hug the lung-squeezing, bone-crushing intensity I live for.
“Oh my God, Willa, I’m so proud of you. I’m so happy for you.”
I slide my fingers through his hair and steal one more kiss before I wiggle, my cue for him to put me down. Our eyes hold as I steeple my fingers over the envelope. “Where’s Reign based out of, Lumberjack?”
Ryder frowns in confusion. “Washington. Tacoma, Washington.”
I tip my head and smile. “Huh. Tacoma, Washington, you say? Right on the water? Halfway between Olympia and Seattle? That Tacoma?”
Ryder’s brow furrows deeper but a small smile peeks out, too. “Yes, Willa.”
“Hm.” I tap my fingers on the envelope. “Well, I don’t know my way around there. I was hoping I wouldn’t be entirely on my own when I move up there next month.”
Ryder’s body stills.
My voice wobbles, but I catch it. “Would you mind checking that envelope further, seeing if there’s anything that might give me some reassurance that I’ll get settled how I hope to?”
Ryder gives me a cautious look as he reaches again for the envelope, slowly pressing his hand inside. His fingers search, he ducks his head. Then a deadly calm washes over him.
“Willa,” he whispers.
“Yes, Ryder.” My voice is thick with tears as I lose the battle. My rare show of makeup is ruined, mascara running, blush smudged.
“Th-there’s a key in there.”
I nod. “I know.”
Ryder’s head snaps up. “What is this?”
I take one step closer to him, clasping his face inside my hands. “I was wondering, Ryder Bergman, lumberjack love of my life, if you wouldn’t mind moving to Washington State with me. I found a bungalow for rent right near the water and a bunch of hiking grounds nearby. It’s the perfect spot for a mountain man like you to hunker down and start his own outdoorsman business, don’t you think?”
Ryder drops his head to my shoulder, and his hug is fierce. His lips press softly against my neck, my cheeks, my lips.
“Is that a yes?”
Ryder pulls away, his smile a thousand times more brilliant than the sunset behind it. “It’s a hell yes, Willa. It’s the best yes of my life.”
Our kisses are unhurried, passionately tender, as the sun drifts below the horizon behind us. I cry and laugh and feel every single feeling I can. Because I want to remember this moment, even when our love is blissfully old and splendidly weathered. I want to close my eyes and feel the memory of the moment only when it’s us became only us, forever.
THE END