I shot down into fifth and then up into sixth, seeing his lights ahead.
This was it. One of us was going between the barriers, and the other would be forced to take the lane to the outside, and he was fucking with my head right now, and I just wanted him to race.
“Tate . . . ,” he said in a hesitant voice.
“Jared, just go,” I pressed. “It’s you. It’s only you. You’re the only one who challenges me, so challenge me! Don’t hold back. I trust you.”
I squeezed the wheel, my eyebrows pinching together as I pressed myself back into the seat.
Go, go, go . . .
Shooting for the starting line, I pushed the gas to the floor, seeing him charge ahead, both of us in the path marked by the barriers.
“Tate!” he barked.
“Go!” I yelled.
Jax had lines marked on the track, giving drivers notice for their last chance to exit, but judging my space, I knew I was going to make it.
I was going to make it, and I didn’t want Jared to ease up. Give me everything!
I held the wheel, my arm like a steel bar, and sucked in breaths as my heart beat like a jackhammer.
“Fuck!” Jared cursed, barreling straight for me. “Tate, stop!”
His car, my car, one lane, right for each other, the barriers in three . . . two . . . one . . . and . . .
No!
I screamed, twisting the wheel right, every muscle in my body in a nightmare of pain as I swerved out of his way and passed the barriers, nearly whimpering out of fear as I winced.
Oh, God!
I let breath after breath pour out of me as I took quick glances behind me several times to see that he was on the other side of the barriers, too.
He’d tapped out. Just like me.
Shit. I dropped my head back, terrified by what had almost happened, as I slowed to halt.
Shaking my head, horrified and relieved at the same time, I realized the irony.
He’d put me first. Just like he’d promised.
The crowd descended, and I climbed out of my car, feeling shaky and weak.
“You’re absolutely crazy!” I heard him yell as he made his way through the crowd. “Does Stanford know how reckless you are?” he attacked.
I straightened but averted my eyes, feeling a little contrite. He had every right to be pissed. I’d messed with his head, telling him to give me his very best, which would also put both of us in danger. Which choice had I expected him to make? But before I had a chance to apologize, he threw a small box at me. “Here.”
I shot up my hands to catch it.
“Open that,” he ordered.
I studied the cylindrical black leather box and immediately knew what it was.
He stayed a few feet back, but the crowd surrounded us, and I saw our friends push to the front of the audience.
I did as he said and opened it, revealing the platinum band, the princess-cut diamond that had been meant for me. Gasps exploded in the crowd and even some squeals, probably from the high school girls who thought his rudeness was cute.
I twisted my lips to the side, taking in his angry arched eyebrow.
“So this is how you propose?” I asked sternly. “Because I kind of have a problem with a ring being thrown in my face and you not kneeling like my father would expect.”
I looked at Jax and a laughing Madoc and continued, “Not that I expected Jared to kneel—I know he’s not the type—but I damn well expect a gesture, and—”
I looked down, seeing Jared in front of me on one knee.
“Oh,” I whispered, shutting up.
Snorts could be heard in the crowd, and I let him take my hand as he smiled up at me.
My heart pounded, and butterflies swarmed in my stomach.
“Tate.” He spoke slowly, looking into my eyes in a way that was still so much like the boy I grew up with but more like the man I’d grown to love.
“You’re written all over my body,” he spoke low, just for us. “The tattoos can never be erased. You hold my heart, and you can never be replaced.”
I pressed my lips together, trying to stay composed.
He continued, “I only live when I’m with you, and I’m asking for your heart, your love, and your future.” He smiled. “Will you please be my wife?”
My chin trembled, and my chest shook, and I couldn’t help it. I covered my smile with my hand and let the tears fall.
The crowd around us started cheering, and I caressed his face as he stood up and lifted me up off the ground.
“Now, that’s how you propose,” I joked through my shakes.
“You going to answer me, then?”
I laughed. “Yes.” I nodded frantically. “Yes, I would love to marry you.”
***
After the Loop, we escaped.
Just the two of us to Mario’s for a late dinner and then home. I couldn’t stop the flutter in my chest.
I think it was the happiest day I’d ever had.
Jared had slipped the ring on my finger and held me close, tucked under his chin as we called my father on Skype with his phone.
Apparently, he’d asked my dad a year and a half ago, and true to fashion, my father didn’t share business that wasn’t his to share or interfere in situations he knew needed to play out. We also found out that was why he’d never accepted other offers on the house. He knew Jared would come home eventually.
I looked up at Jared, resting my head on his arm behind me. “I’m sorry about the tree,” I said, feeling bad as we sat in the middle of it, me between his legs and lying back against his chest.
“I know.” His voice was gentle. “It’ll heal. Everything does with time.”
Looking down, I studied the ring, feeling its happy weight on my finger. There were still lots of things to work out—living arrangements while I went to school, his career—but it was small potatoes considering what we’d survived to be together. Two assurances I had come to realize about life: Almost nothing turns out exactly the way you plan, but I’d be happy only if he was by my side. There was no choice.
“If you don’t like it, we can exchange it,” he spoke up, seeing me admire the ring.