Page 146 of Endgame

My feet have reached the air before I can think to act as Callaway grabs me by my hips and twirls us around in circles.

“Anything you want is yours!” He shouts at the top of his lungs, his voice filled with pure joy echoes inside the empty house as we circle through the dining room. It feels good to see him so happy, knowingImake him so happy.

“Oh, one last thing.” What else could he have planned?

He’s full of surprises.

Callaway leads me by the hand into the central kitchen, and my eyes catch the tripod neatly set up on the large island.

He wants to take a picture.

I’m melting all over again.

The familiarity of this exact spot sends another wave of emotions over me.

“Callaway, this is the spot.” He knows what I’m trying to say. It’s the exact spot where my parents stood years ago when I snuck a photo of them.

An uncontrollable sob breaks free from within me; the gravity of his thoughtful gesture causes so much love to bloom in my chest.

The best thing I’ve ever done is love him.

I stand back, trying to tame my tears as Callaway sets up the camera on the tripod and adjusts the angle to match the spot perfectly.

He studied it.

He guides us into position. “Come here, baby, lay your head on my chest, and let me hold you.”

He’s holding me exactly like my dad held my mom. My head is pillowed on his chest as his arms wrap tightly aroundmy back. His swaying brings back the sweetest memories of catching them privately.

I can call myself lucky enough to have found the same love I know they had, which is worth all the pain it took to get here.

Cal’s whispers in my ear stir up contentment like I’ve never known.

“I love you, Dakota. So much that I’m beginning to lose sight of myself when you aren’t around. I hope you know that. I won’t risk anything for your happiness. I know I can’t replace them, and I’d never want to, but I promise to love you enough for myself and the both of them.”

I thought the tears had run dry by now, but another rush hits my emotions, wreaking havoc. We are silently photographed as I enjoy this intimate moment with him.

My happiness isn’t found in anything other than him—everything else is a blip in our short life.

Give me Callaway, and I’ll want for nothing.

Photo secured, Cal packs up the tripod in a black travel bag and settles his back against the cabinet closest to the pantry wall. Turning on the camera, he selects the photo of us, a soft smile lighting up his face.

“I can’t wait to hang this in here.”

In our home. The home we will own together.

I can’t hide the giddiness that washes over me.

“Where should we put it?” I’m searching in wonder, and the home feels brand new with Callaway here as we try to find the perfect spot. His movement behind me causes me to turn in his direction, wondering if he found a spot.

“I was thinking right here, next to them.”

Right there, where I stood all those years ago, is the gold framed photo of my parents hanging on the staircase wall.

He did this for me.

I can’t put into words how special this is.

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