Page 141 of Keeper
“Seriously? You will?” I couldn’t stop my smile from spreading. “I don’t wanna rush you, babe. I don’t wanna make you do something you’re not ready for—”
“No.” She vehemently shook her head. “I’m not rushed at all. I’m ready. And by summertime, I’ll bebeyondready. Because you’reexactly what I’ve been waiting for, too.”
With Ainsley in my arms, our lips moved together—one last deep and passionate kiss to get us through the next three weeks.
“We’re going to make it, Ainz,” I said confidently.
“We’resogoing to make it,” she giggled. She rested her forehead against mine. “Ugh. Now Ireallydon’t want to leave you. But I need to get going …”
I checked my watch. “Yeah. I’ve gotta get going, too, or I’ll be late for our flight.”
She slid out of my arms and I set her back on her feet. I opened her car door for her again.
“Thank you, love,” she said as she climbed in.
I gently closed the door. “Bye, babe,” I said.
“Bye, handsome.”
I knelt down and, through the open window, we shared one last quick kiss and traded I-love-you’s.
“Hey, what time do you think you’ll be at your hotel tonight?” she asked as she buckled up.
“Curfew is at ten, so I’ll definitely be back by then. But I’ll probably turn in around nine.”
“Perfect,” she purred. “If I were you, I’d keep your phone nearby.”
“Why’s that?” I asked with a quickly spreading smirk.
“No reason.” Playing coy, she bit her lip. “I just have a funny feeling that you’ll get a sexy phone call to tuck you in.”
I growled.
“Can’t wait.”
###
Epilogue
Ainsley
Two Years Later
Tanner pulled me near, his big hand held tight against the small of my back. Trying to look natural, we stood against a backdrop of brilliantly popping tulips and stared into each other’s eyes. Spring was once again in full bloom at the Dallas Arboretum, the venue where we’d decided to take our engagement announcement photos. Because whereelsewould we take those pictures but the place where fate had brought us back together?
“Hey,” Tanner began, “how’s it feel being on this side of the camera for once?”
“It’s a little strange,” I admitted.
Chik chik chikwent the photographer’s camera. And not justanyphotographer. Kelly was the first non-WAG friend I’d made after transferring to school in Dallas last year. After Kelly and I both graduated with a BA in Photography last May, we went into business together. We shot portraits and events like weddings, parties, and more. Business was good—we werekillingit, actually, and having so much fun at the same time.
I was really doing it—living my dream. And I couldn’t have done it without Tanner at my side, supporting me the whole way. He’s the one who encouraged me to jump right into business after graduating.
Ever since I moved in, things have been a dream between Tanner and me. He says having me at home really helped refine his routine and take his game to the next level. With me around, he doesn’t have to worry about cooking or shopping or cleaning or taking care of Cujo. Not to say he doesn’t chip in—he helps out plenty around the house—but having an extra pair of hands really frees him up to focus on hockey. And the results show on the ice. When we met, Tanner’s play heated up—and it’sstayedhot for two straight years. I’m so in awe of him.
So, yeah, I’d like to think we make a pretty good team! That’s why, when he dropped to one knee and pulled the ring out on me a couple weeks ago, there wasnodoubt in my mind that he was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
As for Marta? Well, she’s not on social media these days, so her life has gone a little more under-the-radar. I did receive a handwritten letter from her a few months back, though. She’d written to give me an update of sorts on her life: she’d moved back in with her parents in Kansas and enrolled in school to study business. She was also in therapy now, which was one of the reasons she was writing—she’d wanted to apologize for everything that went down between us. It was a surprisingly heartfelt letter, actually. She concluded saying that she understood if I needed to keep my distance, but wanted me to know the door was always open if I ever changed my mind or just wanted to say hi.
