Page 207 of Almost Ours
Connor froze like a deer in headlights, his eyes darting up to mine. I could practically see the gears turning in his head, and for a moment, panic surged through me. Please don’t say anything, please don’t–
“Nothing,” I said quickly, maybe a little too quickly.
Harper’s eyebrows shot up, clearly unconvinced. “Uh-huh,” she said slowly, giving us another look that was equal parts curious and suspicious.
Connor, to his credit, gave her his best innocent smile, though it was about as convincing as a poker player with a terrible hand. I grabbed a bottle of water from the counter, trying to look casual as I took a long sip, buying myself a moment.
“You guys are terrible at keeping secrets,” she said, smirking as she snatched the bottle out of my hand.
“What secrets?” I asked, feigning offence, though it came off more like a bad poker face of my own.
She rolled her eyes but didn’t push any further. “I’m gonna go shower,” she said, giving us one last suspicious look before heading upstairs.
The moment her footsteps faded, Connor let out a breath like he’d been holding it the entire time. I clapped him on the shoulder. “Close call, buddy.”
He grinned up at me, his excitement practically radiating off of him. “We’re gonna pull it off, though, right?”
“Absolutely,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips. “Now let’s make a plan.”
The cityof Stockholm was a dream in December, its streets adorned with twinkling lights and dusted with a light layer of snow. The cold air carried the smell of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine from the Christmas markets, and everything around us felt like it was straight out of a storybook.
Harper walked beside me, her cheeks rosy from the chill, her gloved hand tucked into mine. We’d spent the evening wandering through Gamla Stan, the historic old town, marveling at the cobblestone streets and colourful buildings glowing in the soft light of lanterns. She’d been especially enchanted by the market stalls, lingering over handmade ornaments and tasting samples of gingerbread and glogg, her laughter filling the air every time she tried something new.
I’d arranged for us to have dinner at a cozy restaurant overlooking the water, the kind with candlelit tables and windows that framed the city skyline. Harper had smiled at me from across the table, her eyes sparkling as she sipped her wine, completely unaware of the ring burning a hole in my jacket pocket.
Now, as we walked along a quiet, snow-dusted pathway near the Royal Palace, my heart was racing. The city felt like it was holding its breath with us, the night still and perfect in its quiet beauty. Connor and I had planned this moment down to the last detail, but now that it was here, my nerves were in full swing. My hand brushed over the ring box in my pocket for the hundredth time, making sure it was still there, feeling its weight like it was both a promise and a dare.
“Ryan,” Harper’s voice pulled me back to the moment. She stopped walking and turned to face me, her brows knitting together with concern. “Are you okay? You seem… off.”
I forced a laugh, scratching the back of my neck, trying to shake off the jittery feeling swirling in my stomach. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking.”
She tilted her head, studying me with that familiar knowing look–the one that always seemed to read me like an open book. “About what?”
I glanced around, taking in the scene: the glowing street lamps, the distant hum of the city behind us, the quiet beauty of the snow-clad buildings. This was it. The moment I’d been dreaming of, planning, and waiting for. I could feel my pulse quicken, my voice suddenly steadier than I expected.
“About you,” I said, taking both of her hands in mine. The leather of her gloves felt cool against my skin, grounding me. “About how much you mean to me. How much I want this–us–to be everything we’ve dreamed of.”
Harper frowned slightly, her brow furrowing in confusion. “Me?”
I nodded, my gaze softening as I looked at her, my chest tight with emotion “Yeah. You. When I think about my life–what it was before I met you, and what it’s been since–I don’t even recognize the guy I used to be. You’ve changed everything for me, Harper. You’ve made me want to be better, to do better. Not just for you, but for Connor, too. The two of you… you’re my whole world.”
Her eyes softened, her lips parting slightly as she listened, her breath visible in the cold air, mingling with the stillness of the snow around us. The weight of everything I was saying hung between us, and I could see how much it meant to her, how much it meant to me.
I took a deep breath, my heart hammering in my chest. “I’ve had a lot of amazing moments in my life–winning championships, playing at the highest level–but nothing compares to the feeling I get when I’m with you and Connor. Coming home to you, being part of your lives… it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Her eyes were shimmered now, and I could see the emotion welling up in them, the quiet storm she always tried to hide.
“I love you, Harper,” I continued, my voice thick with emotion, every word heavy with meaning. “And I love Connor like he’s my own son. I want to spend the rest of my life making you both happy, being there for you, building a life together.”
I let go of her hands and reached into my jacket pocket, my fingers brushing against the smooth box, and pulled it out, holding it between us. The soft glow of the lanterns caught on the polished surface, making it seem even more surreal. Her breath hitched, her wide eyes locked on the box, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.
Then, I dropped to one knee in the snow, the cold biting into my skin, but I barely felt it. Everything in me was focused on her.
“Harper,” I said, my voice thick, the words tumbling out with everything I had inside me. “You’re everything I never knew I needed. And I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
I opened the box, revealing the ring inside. The diamond caught the glow of the city lights, scattering shards of brilliance across the snow. It wasn’t flashy or overdone–just simple, elegant, timeless. A slender band of white gold, set with a single round diamond framed by two smaller stones, delicate and luminous, like it had been designed with her in mind. Something strong, yet graceful. Something her.
“Harper,” I said again, my heart in my throat now, my voice a whisper. “Will you marry me?”
