Page 111 of #Moonstruck

The resemblance had been enough that I hadn’t questioned her and put all the blame on Ryan.

For something he hadn’t even been guilty of.

“I’m so sorry,” I told him again. It felt like I couldn’t say it enough. “I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. I should have stayed and worked things out with you, just like you asked me to. I promise I won’t ever run from you like that again.”

Ryan squeezed me tightly against him, making it impossible to breathe. I didn’t care. “There’s nothing to forgive. I love you.”

“I love you. I never stopped.”

He smelled the same. Felt the same. This was where I belonged. With him. He really was my home.

“I fired my dad.”

I lifted my head. “You did?”

“I’m going to help take care of my baby brother, but I’m tired of bailing out my dad. It’s not my responsibility to pay for his life so he can do nothing but make bad choices. He had a job before I became famous. He can get another one. I hired Dean Bruno to be my manager. He thinks the first single for my next album should be ‘Maisy.’” Dean Bruno was one of the top managers in the music industry.

Who was already employed, last I’d heard. “But wasn’t he working for ...”

“Yes. I lured him away from Skyler Smith.”

My heart was back in my throat again. “Wouldn’t that upset your girlfriend?” Even though he’d just said he loved me, I needed to clarify where things stood.

His hand rested against the back of my neck, cradling my head. “Skyler and I didn’t date. That was all publicity. You’re the only one for me.”

“You know that makes me love you more, right?” I asked, wanting to collapse into a puddle of relief.

He kissed my forehead, and it felt like all was right in the world again. “I got you a present.” Ryan reached into his back pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He handed it to me.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“It’s the deed to your house. I bought it from the people who bought it from you. I know how much it meant to you. I wanted your mom to have a place to come home to, in case she gets better.”

“Are you serious with this right now?” Ryan De Luna was too good to be true.

“Don’t cry, sweetheart.”

“How can I not cry? You’re amazing, and I suck.”

“You’re amazing, too. I wouldn’t love a sucky person.”

That made me laugh, and Ryan tenderly wiped away my tears.

“I sold my house in Gstaad to buy yours. That couple you sold to were quite the negotiators.”

He sold one of his many houses for me? “Aw. That is so ... stupid that you had a house in a place with a name like Gstaad.”

Now it was Ryan’s turn to laugh.

“But seriously? Thank you. This means everything to me.”

“You’re welcome. And I have another present for you.” Had I imagined it, or had his voice just wobbled?

He let go of me and this time reached into his front pocket.

He pulled out a tiny box that could hold only one possible thing.

I covered my mouth with my hands. “I don’t understand what’s happening right now.”

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