But my attention is on Dallas as he makes his way up the stairs, looking skittish and terrified as hell. “Uh . . . Coach Leighton. Hi.”
His voice is quiet, and I feel so damn bad for the kid. “You can’t be here. You know you can’t be here.” I keep an expansive distance between us as he nods his head, not coming any closer.
“I know. I’m sorry. I just . . .” The kid looks so damn broken. I feel terrible. But I finally have everything I could have ever wanted. I have Noah and a great job. A real chance at state this next year. Two dogs and several cats. A house. But mostly, Noah.
I can’t lose it.
“I just want to make sure I didn’t ruin your life.” His eyes are downcast, and he won’t look at me. His voice is unsure and so damn sad.
“You didn’t.” He doesn’t look up. “Dallas.” Finally, he looks up, but his eyes are still uncertain. “You didn’t. I’m happy. Totally happy, and you will be too. You’re gonna be okay.”
He doesn’t look like he believes me at all. “Okay. Well, I just needed to tell you how sorry I am. I didn’t . . .” He looks around and then finally back at me. “I didn’t mean for any of that to happen. You were pretty much my only friend.”
I nod, hating how lonely he was and how lonely he likely is now. But I can’t afford another scandal. It’s selfish, and I hate it, but I can’t lose this life. “I’m so sorry, Dallas. I don’t blame you at all. It wasn’t your fault, and you need to know things will get better.”
He nods, looking a little more sure but still so lost. “Yeah.” He smiles slightly, looking behind me. I turn to see Noah standing near the window, watching us closely. I can’t help but laugh as I shake my head and look back at Dallas. “A Panther?”
I laugh. “The heart wants what the heart wants,” I tease.
His smile is a little brighter now. “Thank you for everything.”
I didn’t do anything, but I also can’t just let him leave like this. “If you need anything, someone to talk to, you can reach out. I don’t want you to think that you’re alone in this world. You aren’t.”
He nods, offering a small smile before he walks to his car. He drives away, and Noah comes out on the porch with me, his hands on my shoulders.
“You okay?”
I smile, turning around so I’m facing him and wrap my arms around his neck. “Yes. I am. I have everything I ever wanted, right here with you.”
He narrows his eyes at me, probably trying to decide whether I really mean it. He must come to the correct conclusion, and he kisses me on the lips before guiding me to the porch swing and wrapping his arm around my shoulder, holding me close.
“LeAnn called.”
“Is she okay? Is it the baby?”
He grins and kisses my nose. “They’re all fine. She’s tired of being pregnant. She just wanted to give us an update that the baby is still not here, and she’s pissed about that.”
I chuckle. His daughter is a spitfire, and there’s no doubt his granddaughter will be the same when she finally makes her grand appearance.
“Sounds like LeAnn.”
He smiles as he kisses my temple, and we both watch the sun set in the sky. A kitten comes up from the barn and climbs onto my lap, purring away.
There’s no way life gets any better than this.
EPILOGUE
CHANCE
I was wrong. Life can and did get so much better. LeAnn had a little girl, and let me tell you, the kid is going to be spoiled. Not only by her Grandpa Noah—but also by her Grandpa Chance.
Because no way in hell am I ever going to tell that sweet little thing no. It’s not happening.
Summer is almost over, and we’ve already been to see them several times. Bringing as many gifts as we can every single time. Yeah. She might be spoiled.
We don’t care.
I can’t wait until she asks for a puppy. The kid is so getting a puppy.
But now my boyfriend has a surprise for me, and I can’t help but feel excited as I make my way down to the barn. He sent me a text, asking me to meet him here, so that’s what I’m doing.
As I approach, I can see his truck backed up near the barn and what looks like a screen projection on the side of the barn wall. When I get closer, I see a couple of blankets spread out in the back of the truck, along with Noah, who’s sitting there waiting for me in his jeans and t-shirt.
“Noah? What’s going on?”
He nods toward the screen as I approach him. There, in very simple black and white, the words Marry Me? are spelled out.
Tears fill my eyes as I look back at him. “Really?”
He nods. “Really. If you want. I mean, I know you’re young.”
I hop up in the truck bed and kiss him hard on the mouth. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
He smiles, and I kiss him again, unwilling to give up his mouth for even a second. “Wait, I have more.”
“What?” I kiss down his neck, not worried about anything else but getting him naked out here under the country night sky.
“Chance . . .” he gasps in that sexy-as-hell way I fucking love when he’s turned-on, but I pull back enough for him to go to the laptop he’s using. He clicks a few buttons, and then all of a sudden, Scream starts playing on the side of the barn.
I can’t help but laugh into a kiss as his body moves under mine. “I fucking love you, Coach Noah Asher.”
“I fucking love you too, Assistant Coach Chance Leighton.”
“You just had to put the assistant part on there, didn’t you?” I laugh, and he kisses me again.
“Yup.”
“Stubborn fucker.”
He grins, and then we get lost in each other under the Kensley sky in the back of his truck with Scream playing in the background.
It’s. Perfect.
The End
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
I hope you all enjoyed this story. I love Kensley. It owns a big part of my heart. I also want things to get better for everyone. I want the world to change and can’t wait to live in a world where no one has to hide.
Thank you so much to Lark, Willow, and Cora for being a constant support system! I love you three so damn much. Thank you to Ari for your support, for covers, for teasers, and for just plain being my friend.
Thank you so much, Dena, for putting up with my crazy schedule. I’m so sorry I still don’t have it together, after all these years. I can’t recommend an editor any higher than I recommend Dena.
There’s one more book left in this series, you all! I can’t believe it. But I’m excited for it all the same! Don’t forget to preorder Protector: https://tinyurl.com/5dayeffj
And some of you may wonder why I needed hardcovers for this series that are different from the e-covers and the paperbacks. I’ll tell you. I love covers. So so much. They’re so pretty, and Ariadna is just incredible, but also, this series is just really special to me.
I grew up in a small town. I returned to small-town life after living in the city for too long. I love the simplicity small towns have, and while they have their faults, I have to believe they can change the worst parts of themselves and be better. And man, do I love a gravel road when the sun is setting in the fall. There’s nothing like it. Love you all!