“Absolutely.”
I smile, even though there should be steams of anger flying out of my ears.
“I have a kit in here for Evan, too; but there’s no number on it. That way, he can write on his own.”
“What…?”
“You think I can let that kid stroll around all day with nothing better to do? Don’t even think about it.”
Tears are almost choking me.
“It’s okay, he’s agreed.”
“How did I guess.”
“And he’s also agreed to me living here,” he says, pulling a set of keys from his pocket. “You see? He gave them to me.”
I nod, incredulous.
“Oh and…season tickets, for both of you, for the Championship Final, and for whole of next season,” he says, waving them in my face. “Because this is going to last, Christine. Tomorrow, next year…forever.”
“But you told me you didn’t want any of that. That you wanted them once, but you’ve realised that you don’t want them anymore. That we have too much baggage, Ryan, and you don’t even want a family…”
“You’re right. I don’t want those things anymore, because I’m not that person anymore and you…fuck, you’re different. You’re you, and I want something different, something new. And I want it with you.”
“N-new?” I babble, confused.
“I’m ready. I’ve never been so ready in my life, but I’m ready now, for us. I need you to be ready, too. Ready to risk everything: and I’m warning you, it’s a huge risk.”
I nod, shocked.
“I need you to really believe in us, without holding back. I need you to believe in this…in me.”
I take a deep breath, as Ryan O’Connor comes out: all his insecurities, his fears, but also his kindness and his heart.
“So I’m asking you now, Christine: can you take a chance on me?”
