Page 116 of 1 Last Shot

I hear Isabella giggle and turn to look at my own girlfriend, raising an eyebrow in question.

"What? He's funny," she says defensively. When I only give her a disbelieving look, she shakes her head, smiling, and says, "Just go shower before Aiden tricks you back onto the mat."

I grab my bag to do just that, but before I disappear into the locker rooms, I wrap an arm around Isabella's waist and pull her against my body, not caring about the sweat because I know she doesn't.

“Just wait until I trick you into my bed, princess,” I murmur in her ear, loving that I can feel her heartrate pick up against my chest.

And yet, her voice is steady when she replies. “Kane, I’ve been infatuated with you since the first moment I saw you. You don’t have totrickme anywhere.”

ISABELLA’S EPILOGUE

Kane takes the scenic route home without me having to ask for it. Taking bike rides together has become a peaceful escape for both of us—until I start getting turned on by the vibration between my legs and the feel of Kane beneath my hands. As soon as my touch starts to stray over his abs and under his waistband, Kane always immediately makes the next turn to take us back home.

I expect him to pull me into the bedroom as soon as he opens his front door, but I'm not even a little bit surprised when he becomes distracted by Oscar.

"Hey, boss," Kane greets him, squatting down to the dog's level so he can give him a proper head rub. "How was your nap?"

I take in the sight with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my chest, forever amazed by these two. In a way, they saved each other, and the gratitude that they both show makes their love that much more beautiful.

It makesmelove them even more.

Sometimes I think about my life a year ago, or even six months ago. When my days were full of first dance, and then a lack of dance; when I was alone with my own thoughts, with no one really filling them or giving me anything else to love or live for. I was lonely.

Or I was, compared to this.

Now, my days are filled with love and happiness and awe. I've watched Kane grow into the person he's always wanted to be, the same way I feel like I've grown into the person I've always been at my core, that I finally have the freedom to embrace.

My face aches with my smile. By the time Kane finally pulls himself away from Oscar and takes a seat on the couch, I think my heart's going to explode with happiness.

Kane notices, of course, and pulls me sideways onto his lap with a small smile of his own. He shows them off more freely nowadays, yet every one of them hits me just as hard as the first one ever did.

"Hey, princess," he murmurs, pressing his lips to my neck.

"Hi," I whisper back. "How was your day?"

"Better now," he murmurs distractedly, his kiss drifting over my skin. It takes him a few seconds to pull away, but when he does, he asks, “Are your parents still coming down this weekend?”

I nod. “If you’re still off work.”

“I told the club I can’t come in this weekend, so we’re good. I think my boss is actuallygladthat I have something to do that isn’t punching patrons and other MMA fighters.”

As he’s talking, one hand moves to my waist so he can absentmindedly rub circles on my hip. His other hand drops to Oscar’s head and pets him in the same unwitting motion.

An excited grin springs to my face. “I’m excited to actually show them around the city. I think they’ll enjoy the personality of Philly.”

“I think so, too. Your mom was already asking me about restaurants.” Kane gives me a worried look. “Is she expecting something fancy? I could ask the guys for recommendations, but I haven’t been to the nicer spots.”

I’m smiling as I shake my head. “She doesn’t need fancy. She just needs good.”

I watch his body deflate in relief as he nods.

We haven’t spent a lot of time with my parents, but it’s been nice watching them welcome Kane. And seeing him relax around them. Kane’s experience with parental figures has obviously been horrendous, and I would never ever want mine to try to replace his, but I think it’s softened something in Kane to see what good, normal parents look like.

To see what parental loveshould look like.

We haven’t heard from his mom since she showed up on our doorstep, though neither of us are delusional enough to think we’ve seen the last of her. Kane thinks he saw her outside of the strip club not long ago, but by the time he went outside, she was gone. And whether she was readying herself to carry out her threat, or lurking for an entirely different reason, we fully expect her to show up again.

But when that happens, I know Kane will be strong enough to set the boundaries with her that he needs to set. I know he believes in himself enough to know hedeservesto set those boundaries.

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