Page 139 of Every Move You Make

Zay is such a sucker for kids. He acts rough and tough, but those soft spots of his are the gooiest. I may have four percent body fat, but I love being one of his soft spots, too.

Since Isaiah stepped down from his position as head coach for the USA Valor, he’s been sinking all his extra time and energy into With You Rugby, his consulting and training program with his buddy, Kermit. It's been growing like wildfire. It certainly helps that he’s dating the most famous rugby player in the country. I love seeing him get so passionate about his work—his craft, really. He still has a heavy hand in the rugby community while coaching. Oftenhe’ll talk through one of his team’s problems with Robyn, who is all too happy to figure it out with him, and then theteamis all too happy when Robyn stops by practice for a visit.

When the wedding ceremony ends, Robyn and I make our way to the incredible hacienda where the reception will be, and Isaiah finds us soon after we arrive.

“You don’t need to take pictures with the bridal party?” Robyn asks after he places a kiss on both of our cheeks. We’re sitting on the edge of a reflecting pool, the sparkling clear water behind us, and I’m already dying from the heat even after removing my tux coat.

“No, we got most of them out of the way before the wedding.” Zay smiles. He takes a seat with Robyn in the middle, stealing a sip from her spicy margarita. “You two have me the rest of the night.”

“I saw you shedding a tear up there during the wedding,” I say with a cocked eyebrow and a smirk. “It was sweet.”

Blush blooms over his cheeks and hides under his well-groomed beard before he shrugs. “My sister got married to one of my best friend’s,” he says. “I’m not made of stone.”

“I wish we could get married,” Robyn muses, her stare a million miles away. My heart skitters, and I’m pleased she’s bringing this up right now. I didn’t even have to lay my trap.

“We can,” I tell her with confidence born from a lot of time thinking this through. Isaiah and Robyn both look at me. “It doesn't have to be legal to be real, does it?”

The two of them turn to look at each other, their bodies tensing in realization. “I guess not,” she says. Zay blinks and draws his eyebrows together.

“What if we made that commitment to each other now?” I ask.

“Now?” Zay huffs.

I gesture toward the gorgeous hacienda filled withIsaiah’s friends and family mingling with cocktails and deep laughter. Palm trees, hibiscus, and agave planted everywhere create a serenely privacy.

“I’m not trying to piggyback on your sister’s wedding, but… we could keep it a secret,” I say, my voice low and smooth. We’re public about our relationship now, but there’s no denying how thrilling it was to sneak around and hide. Stolen kisses and secret sleepovers built tension, creating a naughty noise in our heads and lusty energy.

Robyn studies me, and a slow, faint smile creeps over her face. “You’re serious.”

With her hand in mine, I kiss it once again between, and it takes everything in me not to get down on one knee. But this is someone else’s wedding and my mama raised me better than that. “What do you say, darlin'? Will you marry me?”

“Of course I will!” she squeals. Before I can kiss her, she puts a hand to my chest and blocks it. “But not now.”

“Wh–why not?”

She throws an arm out wide to the whole party. “Because I want this. I want the white dress and the bridesmaids and the whole shebang!” She turns back to me and holds my hands. “I know I’m your princess, but I want everyone else to see me like that on my wedding day, too.”

God, I’m dumb sometimes. Of course she would want that, and Iwantto give her that. I want to give her anything she wants—anything that will make her happy.

I already know the answer, but I ask my beau anyway. “What do you think, Zay? Do you wanna marry our girl with me?”

“Of course I do,” he laughs nervously.

“I have one condition.” Both of them flick their shiny eyes to mine, but I look directly at him. “You have to marry me too.”

With that same smile he’s had the whole day, now biggerand brighter than ever, he stands up from the pool’s edge and crosses to me. When he’s between my legs, he caresses my face.

“Of course I’ll marry you,” he beams and lowers himself to kiss me. My entire body lights up like a Christmas tree—it’s warm and twinkling and there’s a choir of children singing.

Oh my god, I’m really going to not-marry marry these two.

A delicate, reassuring hand finds my thigh, and I sink deeper in love.

After a long, drugging kiss, Isaiah and I break apart. He stands straight up and looks around the venue before stepping in front of Robyn and kneeling. My heart jumps in my throat because he cannot be this dense to propose so publicly at his sister’s wedding. But he’s sly, this man.He bends over to adjust the strap of her heel as an excuse, and a radiant smile appears. “You’re the last piece, Robyn. Will you marry me, if I marry him?”

His question to her rings through me, and I can see his long, hard-won desire manifesting before our very eyes with his sunshine friend from college. The two of them making that commitment to each other after years of longing is finally here.

One perfect, happy tear falls from her hazel eye and drops to her dress. “Yes, Isaiah. Let’s finally get married.” Still holding her ankle, he tilts his head up as she leans down to meet his promising lips and my heart explodes.

---