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I kissed her forehead. “I’m serious. We’re getting married.”
She rubbed her eyes and shot me an annoyed look. “Did you hit your head? We are married. Legally and everything.”
That didn’t count. We needed to make this commitment again. Circumstances had changed. I wanted another crack at the vows and thetill death do us partbit. “Don’t care. Let’s get married again. That’s how serious I am.”
She burrowed into me. “Let’s go to bed.”
“Nope. I gotta get this off my chest now.”
“Okay.” She sat up, pulling the comforter around her. “I’m ready.”
“I’ll go anywhere. I’ll do anything for you,” I said. “All I want are a few trees to climb and my girl. I promise I won’t ever get in your way. You’re brilliant. You’re going to change the world, and I’m the guy who gets to wake up next to you. If you’ll have me.”
She smiled and kissed me. “Of course I will.”
“So you’ll marry me.”
“Again. I’ll marry you again.”
I crushed her in a hug. “I mean it. You’re stuck with me. And probably a cat and a dog and a couple of rescue alpacas, and when you’re ready, a whole bunch of kids.”
“Remy, I’m already stuck with you. We already saidI do.”
“But that’s the thing, babe. That wasn’t good enough. Now I wantI do forever.”
Epilogue
Remy
“You’re so freaking beautiful. But in this getup?” I waggled my brows. “Damn.”
Propped against a railing, I took in Hazel’s competition gear. Tiny spandex shorts, a sports bra, and a plaid shirt with the sleeves cut off and tied at the waist. I wore a matching shirt, sans sleeves as well. My mother had stitched customTeam Gagnonlabels to the back of each one.
“You’re one to talk. I’m about ready to take out all these lumberskanks who keep eyeing your arms. I should have known better than to let you show that shit off in public,” she said, hopping from one foot to the other.
Hazel was buzzing with excitement. For the calm half of this marriage, she was damn near bouncing off the walls. “We’re going to win,” she whispered in my ear. “And then I’m taking you back to our hotel room and having my way with you.”
“I have the first full day of events tomorrow,” I reminded her.
“It’s fine. You can lie back, and I’ll do all the work.” She pinched my ass and giggled. “I’ll make sure not to tire you out too much.”
More than three months into our marriage, Hazel continued to surprise and delight me. Not only had she insisted on continuing our training, but after recovering from our ordeal in the forest, we had stepped it up a notch. After our escape from the woods, a little obstacle course seemed silly.
Her ankle had mostly healed. She had it taped up today, just in case, but I could tell she was feeling good. Granted, the hot hotel sex we’d had the night beforeandthat morning may have helped our nerves.
Nationals was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. Professional athletes—including some of my heroes—walking around and chatting. TV cameras, press, and tons of corporate sponsors. We would be competing in an honest-to-God stadium, something I couldn’t even fathom. It was surreal. I had made it.
More importantly, I was finally beginning to feel like I deserved to be here. And it was all thanks to the gorgeous woman standing next to me. I had trained harder than I ever had in my life, pushing my body past what I thought were my limits. And Hazel had been my strategist—planning with me, taking videos, studying my technique, and using her genius brain to help me gain every possible advantage.
I had coasted through most of my life, never giving anything my all. But that changed when I married Hazel. She hustled harder than anyone I had ever met. And watching her made me realize how much I had been holding back. How many excuses I’d made throughout my life. All the years that I could have been chasing my dreams instead of self-sabotaging. But things were different now. I was focused and ready.
The first events began tomorrow. It didn’t matter whether I came in first place or last, because I had done everything I could in service of this dream. And now it was time to enjoy it.
So I got to stand in this stadium with the love of my life, surrounded by professional and semi-professional athletes, corporate sponsors, and thousands of cheering fans. And this alone was worth all the sacrifice and hard work. To share this with her.
It was time to line up with the other couples, including Cedric and Crystal, who I couldn’t even be bothered to look at. I just didn’t care. Hazel was sizing everyone up, and I swore I could see mathematical equations dancing above her head as she took in each person’s size and how the couples interacted. For someone who claimed not to be sporty, she had a hell of a competitive streak, and I was reveling in it.
I was here with my girl. My wife. And we had been through hell to get here. I was living my dream by competing at nationals, and that was more than enough for me.
