“Take me home, you big asshole.”
My grin widened. “Gladly.”
I kissed her again, our mouths lingering for a moment, exploring each other. Finally, I pulled away and began to drive back home.
I looked across the car at her, and she smiled back.
Neither of us bothered with the rearview mirror. Neither one of us wanted to stay rooted in the past.
It was forward and away.
It was living and moving on.
Together.
Epilogue
After a half hour up there he was just a speck in the distance, a tiny dot toward the top of the cliff.
It was his third competition back, and, if the time on my watch was right, he was in the lead by a huge margin. Not quite record-breaking, but he was still getting back into the swing of things. The records would come soon enough if he kept up his current training.
A huge wave of pride surged up through my chest as I watched him move. I could barely make out what he was doing, but I knew Reid saw the cliff’s rivers of handholds better than anyone else. He was moving methodically and slowly, conserving energy for the final push.
After the shootout, we drove straight home, barely talking. He put me to bed and I slept for something like twelve hours. When I woke up, he was napping in a chair right next to me, still wearing the exact same outfit he wore the day before.
We never heard from the mob again. Reid said Thom had tried to get him involved, but Reid’s mind was already on other things. He was already thinking about the future.
“I’d rather climb than smuggle drugs,” he said to me a few days later. “The money isn’t as good, though.”
A cheer went up through the crowd as Reid pulled himself up over the edge, cresting the cliff and making it to the top. I stopped my watch and smiled at the time. He was going to win by a pretty damn good margin.
It was his first first-place finish since he’d started climbing seriously again. He had placed second in the two competitions prior, and I knew he really needed a win.
I really needed a win, too. Because in two weeks I was headed out to Texas to start my graduate program.
Things between us only got better once the mob was gone. Reid was less sullen, less closed off than he was before, like a huge weight had been lifted from his chest. He laughed a little more often and smiled more freely.
Cora noticed the change, too. She had no clue that a big part of that was because he snuck into my room every night and fucked me until we both fell asleep panting and sweating in each other’s arms.
I watched him standing up there, his arms up above his head in triumph. He must have known his time was good enough to win.
That was the Reid I knew, standing on top of a cliff and grinning down at the world below him.
That was the Reid I fell in love with.
“So, what did you think?” he asked me, leaning casually against the hood of his truck.
“You were amazing today,” I said honestly. “Although watching people climb isn’t the most exciting thing.”
He laughed. “Sorry I bore you.”
I moved close to him, putting my hands on his chest. I could feel his heart beating and the slight, sweaty damp.
“That’s okay. You keep it exciting in other ways.”
“Dirty girl.” He grinned and kissed me. “Can’t get enough, can you?”
“Just trying to fit it all in before I go.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m going to Texas. You know that.”
He looked at me like I was crazy. “So what?”
“I mean, I’m going to be pretty far away from you. We aren’t exactly going to get to see each other every night anymore.”
He laughed loudly. “Are you kidding? I just got you. Do you really think I’m letting you out of my sight?”
I cocked my head. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m moving to Texas with you.”
I didn’t know what to say. Joy and shock pulsed through me, stealing any words.
“That is, if you want me to,” he added.
“Yes!” I said quickly. “Yes, please. Move to Texas!”
He laughed and kissed me again. “Down girl. Don’t get too excited.”
“But there aren’t any mountains in Texas.”
“I know.” He leaned back and stretched. “I figured I’ll travel while you’re busy with class, climb where I can, and make sure I’m home all summer long.”
“But what about my dad and your mom?”
“I guess we’ll have to tell them eventually.”
“Do we really have to?”
“If they’re going to come to the wedding they’ll have to find out sooner or later.”
I felt a huge jolt run through me. “Wedding?”
“What, you think I’d let you move to Texas and live as a dishonest woman?” He grinned his cocky, soul-melting grin and pulled a small black box from his back pocket.