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Epilogue
Sofia
Five years later…
Standingin the middle of the teal floor that my gymnasts will use in a matter of hours, I fight back the tears.
I did it.
I graduated with my 4.0, mostly thanks to Ryan. I don’t remember a night when we weren’t either on FaceTime or in my dorm and he wasn’t helping me with homework. It was hard, but I was going to get the grades I needed to get my bonus. What I didn’t realize was that when I got it, Ryan would be the one to give it to me.
Seeing him and Grace on the stage at graduation, handing me an envelope containing enough to make a down payment on my gym, is something I’ll never forget. The picture hangs above my desk in my office, but I don’t need to see it to remember everything about that moment. To see the pride shining in Ryan’s eyes or the tears streaming down Grace’s face. I can still hear the Adlers in the audience screaming my name and cheering me on. I remember my mom crying her eyes out and the way my heart was in my throat most of the day.
It was one of the best days of my life, joining the day I got to see Ryan behind the bench at the Assassins’ game, doing his thing.
I’ve never been prouder.
He does such a great job, and he is a natural. That’s what Shea said. Shea sat on the edge of his seat, and it blew me away. I wasn’t sure if he was watching the game or Ryan. Either way, he is so proud of his nephew. We all are. And Ryan loves it so much. God, he loves his job. He’s so incredibly happy, which makes me happy. While at first, the road trips sucked, I know he loves them now. I’m sure I drive him crazy with my gym stuff, so he has to enjoy being able to leave so he doesn’t have to pick out equipment or argue with me about how many foam pits to have. I still think we needed at least five, but he won with three. Two for the gymnasts and one for just the two of us.
Foam pits are special.
Since the moment ours was installed, it’s where we’ve spent most nights talking. Talking about our life, about how things can’t get better. Though, each day it does. Ryan is beyond words. He has a heart of gold. While he isn’t like his dad where he showers me with jewelry, which I don’t wear much of anyway, he showers me with love. He leaves me little notes, flowers, and always words of affirmation. There still hasn’t been a day where he doesn’t tell me how beautiful I am. Or how much he loves me. I’ve never felt so loved in my life.
I love him. God, I love him.
For the last year, he’s been my rock. It’s been tough recruiting gymnasts, but he was always there for me for late-night chats and watching videos. I’m pretty excited about the ten girls I have starting with me, and I know he is too. I’m new. It will take time for people to notice I’ve got something special going on here, but I know they’ll see it. Ryan knows too; he says no one can ignore me. He sure can’t, and I believe in this gym.
In us.
As I look around the gym, everything reminds me of him. We have a wall dedicated to the Assassins, which makes no sense to me, but it made him happy. And Shea and Elli, they loved it. There is a wall for the awards my girls will bring home and a different wall for when my girls graduate. There is also a wall full of all my trophies and medals, along with photos of me throughout my career. Everything is so perfect, and I can’t wait for it to open. I just wish Ryan was here.
“Bella.”
I look back at where my mom stands, without her walker, in the doorway of my office. She has been doing so well lately, and it does crazy things to my heart. Maybe, like me, she just had to get out of Nevada to be whole.
She’s holding paperwork, her brows furrowed as she shakes her head. “This paperwork is a mess. You’re awful at this.”
I scoff. “It’s your job to do all that. Make it better, office manager lady.”
She rolls her eyes as she heads back into my office, and I can’t wipe the grin off my face. I still can’t believe Ryan brought her out here two months ago. Our goal was when the gym was doing well, we’d bring her out. But he said he wanted her here now. He got her an apartment right next to the gym, and any time she needs him, he is there. She cooks for him all the time, and he’s already begging me to give it away, that she’s making him fat. She absolutely adores him.
As do I.
When the side door opens, I’m confused until I realize it’s Grace. In ass-kicking heels, she walks toward me with a grin on her face. Her hair is down, curled to perfection, and she wears a no-shit-taken kind of power suit. “Hey, honey.”
“Hey,” I call to her as she steps over a beam.
She holds out a file folder and winks. “Your paperwork for Justice Gymnastics.”
My heart swells in my chest as a grin covers my lips. I look up at her and shake my head. “I can’t believe this.”
“No one can stop you,” she says, and I exhale.
“I can’t wait for Ryan to see it.”
She grins. “When will he be home?”
“Tomorrow. They aren’t flying out till the morning. We’re bummed he’ll miss the first day.”
She waves me off. “He’d be bored anyway. He only cares when you are the one in the leo.”
My face warms as I laugh because she’s right. Ryan loves me in a leo, not that I’ve worn one in over a year. Before I can ask about Amelia and what she’s been up to since we haven’t talked in a while, my mom calls to Grace, and off she goes. Mom and Grace are the best of friends. It’s good for my mom, too. She needs a friend, someone to hang out with and to keep her out of my hair so Ryan and I have time together.
Speaking of Ryan, I take out my phone and dial his number, but when it goes straight to voice mail, I make a face.
I open his message thread and write a quick text.
Me: Jerk.
I laugh as I tuck my phone into my pocket. He’s probably out to lunch with the guys or bandaging someone up. While I know he loves his job, I still worry. For the first year, I was a mess, concerned he had made the wrong decision. But the more I watched him, I knew he had made the right one. I find myself still asking if he wishes he had gone to Ontario way back when, but every time, he promises he is where he needs to be. I happen to agree.
A small, contented grin comes over my face as I feel my heart fill with such love and pride. This is my gym, our gym. Ryan and I did this together, and I can’t wait for him to see the massive Justice Gymnastics sign outside and then how I had it painted along the wall. I waited for Ryan to go on this trip before I had it all done. I know I’m not a Justice, but it’s not for Ryan. It’s for James Justice. I wanted to honor him because, without him and Grace, I wouldn’t be where I am.
Completely and utterly happy with my dreams coming true and in love with their amazing son.
No, this gym is a tribute to them. To the amazing gifts they gave me.
An education and all my hopes and dreams.
Ryan is just one hell of a bonus.
