Page 70 of All Because I Found You

“Thanks. Nolan said he’d carry it over, but I sent him back to the house to grab the present I forgot to bring.” She started taking the centerpieces out and placing them on the tables. “Do you think Raelyn has any idea?

“I don’t think so.” The surprise party had been a nightmare to keep from her, especially since he was so used to telling her everything. He kept having to bite his tongue, and he thought the entire surprise was blown when Raelyn had seen a text from her mom on his phone. Luckily, he’d been able to pass it off and as far as he knew, Raelyn believed that it was nothing more than a check up on her.

“Good. She’s going to freak out.”

“I hope so.”

The front door opened, and Ryder’s heart stopped, thinking it was Raelyn. But she wouldn’t be here yet. Cindy was keeping her occupied for at least another forty minutes. Ryder relaxed when he spotted Olivia and her boyfriend, Shane, walking in. “We’re here to help,” Olivia said. “Put us to work.”

Ryder had met all of Raelyn’s friends. After almost losing her, he realized that he never wanted to come face to face with that option ever again. He started going to therapy to cope with the loss of his family, the guilt and regret. He ventured out of his house little by little, starting out slow on advice from his therapist. Going to the supermarket during the day, going out to dinner with Raelyn, then eventually adding a friend, then another to the mix.

Some days were easier than others, but he'd forgotten how nice it was to have people to hang out with, to talk to, to call in a favor, as he did with every single one of Raelyn’s friends and now his own friends. He knew if he was going to pull off this surprise, it would take her entire village.

And though the guilt over his parents and sister was still a part of him, and probably always would be, he was finally realizing that the life he’d been living, they wouldn’t have wanted that for him. They’d want him to live, and by not living, he was dishonoring their memory. He just wished they could have been here to meet Raelyn and to meet their baby. But just because they weren’t didn’t mean that their baby wouldn’t know all about his parents and sister, and the legacy that started the ever-expanding family business.

Fifteen minutes later, the rest of her village showed up. Her mom, dad, Sergio, her aunts, uncles, including the one who threatened him, and her cousins. This was more than a baby shower, and Ryder wanted everyone here.

“She’s coming,” Olivia announced and waved her hands to quiet down the crowd. They all took their places, and Ryder stood in the front.

The lights were dimmed just enough so Raelyn couldn’t see in.

“Are you sure she’s even here? It’s kind of dark.” Raelyn’s voice floated in when Cindy pulled the door open. “Here or not, I got to pee.”

The lights flicked on. “Surprise!” Everyone screamed, and Raelyn’s mouth dropped open. Her hand immediately covered it, her beautiful brown eyes filling with shock as they locked right on his.

“What is this?” she asked, moving toward him.

“Your baby shower,” he said, taking her in his arms and then resting a hand on her rounded stomach.

“You did all this?” Her smile brightened the room as she scanned all the decorations. “The balloon arch, the floral centerpieces, the wishing well?”

“I ordered all of it, but the wishing well I made. I figured after this we can put it in the yard.”

Tears filled her eyes. It happened a lot lately, and she tossed her arms around him, bringing her lips to his. “I love you,” she said against his mouth.

“I love you too, which is why I have something to ask you.” He dropped to his knee, and there was a collective gasp throughout the studio.

“Did you know?” he heard Sergio’s voice rise above the rest.

“Shut up,” Adalina said. “My baby is getting proposed to.”

Ryder took Raelyn’s hand. “Raelyn Shaw, you found me when I didn’t want to be found. You showed up for me over and over again even when I turned the sprinklers on you.” She laughed, and he continued. “You loved me when I didn’t think I was loveable. You gave me purpose and a will to stop being and start living. I love you with every ounce of my soul. Will you marry me?”

Her eyes sparkled with tears, her lips curving upward in the sweetest smile. She cupped his cheek, her finger running along the scars that he no longer thought about. “You bet your ass I will.”

He slid the ring onto her finger and jumped up, taking her in his arms and holding her exactly where she belonged. With him. Forever and always.

She blinked at him, her brown eyes sparkling, a smile on her beautiful face. “Can I pee now?”

God, he loved her.

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