Page 77 of Fixer for the Billionaire

I swallow hard, suddenly unable to meet their gazes.

They're right, of course. I've always been a runner when it comes to conflict or difficult emotions. But this time, it's different. This time, I want to stand and fight for the woman I love.

"I know," I say softly. "I messed up with Carmina before. After the company retreat, what happened between us, what we shared...I wasn't ready to handle it. And I regret that every single day."

"No offense, bruh," Alton's former perpetual frown makes a reappearance. "But I've talked to you since you came back from San Fran. You've been nervous about taking in a cat. A pet."

"Pork Chop." I nod, already knowing where this is going.

"Listen, I'm not trying to discourage you; I just want you to take a step back and really think about this. Are you ready for the sacrifices and responsibilities that come with loving someone? Especially in Carmina's case? Being responsible for two kids. Seriously. You've seen it with Shelby and Lena," he continues, his voice soft yet firm. "Being a father, being committed to someone completely—it's not just about the good times. It's about sticking it out through every tantrum, every fever, every moment of self-doubt. It's a twenty-four-hour job with no time off. And each day, you wake up and decide to love them deeply all over again."

Derek steps forward. "And now you're looking at jumping into the deep end of being a partner to a parental guardian. This kind of commitment requires you to be a better listener, a better communicator, a better man. To put someone else’s needs before your own."

"I may not know much about love," Killian adds, his amber eyes meeting mine with empathy. "But from what I've seen from these two," he points, "and Ryder? Loving someone isn’t just about feeling. It's about readiness. Are you ready for this?"

I pause, taking in their words.

They all make valid points, and I can't deny that I've been hesitant about fully committing to Carmina and Pork Chop. But then again, love has never been easy for me. It's always been a struggle, a constant battle between my head and my heart.

But this battle was already won. The war was over the moment I saw Carmina at the company retreat.

I was just too stupid to realize it for three years.

I lift my chin, scanning the faces of my family. "Guys...I'm ready. I'm ready to commit to Carmina, to her family, to a life with her." I stop, snorting softly. "I'm in love with her. I've been in love with her. And I'm ready to do whatever it takes to make this work."

"Whoa." Alton's voice deepens. "You don't throw that word around lightly. Or ever. Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure about anything in my life," I reply without hesitation.

My heart races admitting it out loud.

There's a collective sigh of relief, followed by smiles and nods of approval.

"Welcome to the club, buddy," Derek claps me on the back. "We'll have to initiate you at some point."

"Yeah, especially when Pork Chop starts teething," Killian chuckles.

I laugh, feeling a weight lifting off my shoulders. I may not know everything there is to know about love and commitment, but I do know one thing: I'm ready to take the leap and give my whole heart to Carmina.

And with my fam in my corner, I already feel ready for any challenges that might come my way.

"So," I glance at the small crowd of men in front of me, "what's the next step? Am I going to be put through some sort of boyfriend-slash-husband boot camp?"

Everyone laughs, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like everything is falling into place.

"No boot camp necessary," Alton grins. "But we do have one last initiation step to uphold."

My eyebrows shoot up. "What is it?"

As soon as the words are out of my mouth, the door behind them opens, and in walks none other than Carmina herself.

Her nearly-black hair falls in curls to her collarbone, and she's wearing a simple white silk dress that accentuates her slender curves.

My heart thumps faster at the sight of her.

She looks breathtakingly beautiful, as always, and the urge to sweep her into my arms and never let go is nearly overwhelming.

"Is this part of the initiation too?" I ask, half-jokingly.

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