I scoff. “No, you?”
He grins as he nibbles at my lip. “But you have the tendency to make me feel better.”
“Damn right, because that’s my job.”
His eyes search mine once more, his gaze burning with such love. “We do this well.”
“We do, and just think, we’re only getting started.”
He chuckles as his lips move along mine. “I don’t know how someone didn’t scoop you up before, but I’m pretty damn glad they didn’t because you’re absolutely the most amazing person I’ve ever met.”
My heart aches in my chest because I feel that way about him. I’m lost in his eyes, feeling all the love pouring out of his gorgeous body. “Your mom said your dad sent me to you.”
His eyes widen for a split second before they fill with bewilderment, his brows drawing in. “Well, that’s nice, but what brought that up?”
Shit. Why’d I say that? I bite my lip. I won’t lie to him. So after a long sigh, I say, “You know my sponsorship?”
He nods, completely oblivious.
“It’s from your dad.”
He scrunches his brows in confusion. “No, it’s not. That program stopped when he passed.”
I shake my head. “No, your mom still does it. She chose me. The only reason she told me was because she felt so awful about me not being allowed to go home. But she didn’t make the rules. Your dad did, so she kept apologizing—”
I’m cut off by his laughter, though his eyes are full of tears. “My mom chose you for my dad’s sponsorship?”
I nod. “Yeah?”
He laughs a little more, and when the tears roll down his cheeks, my heart kicks up in my chest as I cling to him. “Ryan, what’s wrong?”
He covers his face, falling onto his back. I straddle him, entirely bewildered. “Shit, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
My stomach drops. Is this going to be weird for him? Shit. I shouldn’t have told him! “What? Why?”
He drops his hands, reaching out for me before wrapping his hand around the back of my neck and bringing me down to him. “I always knew there was something about you. I thought it was your initiative that rattled me and made me want you so desperately, but now I know my dad sent you to me. From the moment he passed, I begged and prayed for some sign that I could make it through life without him. Even having Shea in my corner, I never felt whole. But then I met you—” His voice breaks, and I don’t know what to do. My eyes are wide, and my heart is beating wildly as I stare down at him. “He knew I needed someone who would be behind me one hundred percent. Someone who would pull me out of a funk when I dwell on shit and just love me. Love me unconditionally. Sofia, that’s you. I love you so much. I don’t know how I can show you or even tell—”
“You already do,” I insist, pressing my nose to his, my heart still beating out of control. “Ryan, I love you. We’re great, and we’ll continue to be great. No matter what. I love you.”
His lips move to mine, whispering his love for me. He gazes into my eyes. “You’re everything I need.”
I nod slowly, my own tears gathering in my eyes with the overwhelming love I feel for this man.
“Ditto.”
As his lips curve, I grin at him before he gathers me in a heated embrace.
He could leave tomorrow, and I know we’d be okay.
Because no words are needed. We’re in this for life.