“We can’t do it tomorrow, Beck, we’re headed to the X Games.”
Beck looks confused for a second before he gives me a little smile. “I’d rather have a real wedding anyway, with everyone we love there to party with us.”
I put my hand out. “Yes, Beck, I’ll marry you, and I can’t guarantee I’ll keep amazing you every day, but can you promise to keep making my dreams come true?”
He slips the ring on my finger and closes his eyes as he does, like he’s savoring the moment.
When he opens them, I recall how striking it was to see those blues for the first time in person. “No, Jordan. You make your own dreams come true.”
Then he lifts me up, carrying me just like I remember from our first encounter. “Looks like we’re making your dreams come true today,” I point out when we reach the camper and head straight for the bed. Beck takes my chin in his hand but before he can kiss me I admit on a whisper, “But it’s okay, all of this is my dream too.”
He smiles. “We make it easy, sharing the same dreams.”
Epilogue 2
Lots of years later
Beck
“Mom’s crazy,” Everett, our six-year-old, says as we watch her rip up and down the Riptide half pipe.
“Just because you’re too scared to even go all the way up the steps and stand at the top doesn’t mean she’s crazy,” Ruby, his older sister by two years, sasses.
I ignore their sibling banter as I watch my wife. Our general parenting approach is to let the two bicker on their own unless it crosses some line of disrespect or noise level we can’t handle. Or if Everett punches Ruby, even if she sometimes might kind of deserve it. No idea where the level of sass in that girl came from, but boy can she dish it when she’s in the mood.
Jordan finishes her run, grabs her board, and walks toward us.
“Are you going to pick her up and kiss her again?” Ruby asks.
“Thinking about it. But you did pretend to gag when I did it last year.”
Ruby shrugs and crosses her arms. “Whatever, I guess it’s cool.”
Everett just laughs. “But then can we get going? I want to start driving!”
Each summer we drive cross-country and stop at skateparks and campgrounds along the way. Our final destination is Connecticut, where we visit with Jordan’s parents and her friends who still live in her hometown. It’s become a tradition of sorts to hit up Riptide Skatepark before we begin the first leg of our journey.
Jordan’s little smile when our eyes lock tells me she knows I won’t be able to help myself with the other part of our tradition. In two long strides I close the space and scoop her up in my arms.
“You still amaze me every day,” I tell her, meaning it.
“My dreams are still coming true every day,” she responds with what I can only describe as a dopey smile. I know she gets a little giddy every time she shreds Riptide but I like to tell myself part of her dazed expression right now isn’t from the adrenaline rush on the half pipe, but from this moment with me.
“Even when Everett pees his bed in the camper tonight?” He never does it at home anymore but ever since he was out of diapers, the first night on the road each trip he does it without fail.
“Even then.”
“What about when Ruby climbs into bed with us right when I’m trying to get you naked later?” I whisper, glancing over at the kids, who have started skating back to the van and the camper attached behind it. Ruby glances over her shoulder, her signature dash of defiance replaced with a softer look. She understands our love for each other and our family, how deep and special it is.
“She’ll fall asleep eventually and after you move her back to her bunk I’ll still be there waiting for you to make my dreams come true.” She waggles her eyebrows.
Ruby acts tough, but she also takes a couple nights of adjustment to the camper before she settles in.
I go in for a long kiss before putting her down. We hop on our skateboards, share one more look at the place where we met all those years ago, and grab hands before taking off after our kids. The challenges in our lives change minute to minute, day to day, year by year. There’s no one else I’d rather face them with than this woman beside me.
Sneak Peek
Defiance Falls Chapter 1
Dad walked by right as I was checking out how my ass looked in the mirror.
He had a beer halfway to his mouth but he paused and narrowed his eyes. Then he looked at his watch.
“Are you going somewhere, Hazel?” Dad didn’t hide his confusion. It was nine PM on a Monday night.
I took a deep breath and turned to face him. I had gone back and forth on this but decided I wouldn’t lie. I’d spent years building up trust with Dad.
“I’m going to a birthday party.”
Dad’s frown deepened. He took a sip of beer. I waited, my heart racing.
He continued studying me as he swallowed. “Whose birthday?”
Shit. I was hoping he wouldn’t ask that. “Cruz Donovan. He’s turning eighteen.”
Dad rubbed a hand over his face. His eyes met mine and I smiled, knowing it always made him soften. I looked into green eyes that matched my own, the color so deep it sucked me in, even if it was the same shade I saw in the mirror every day.
“Fine. Your cousins will be there then. They know you’re coming?”
I shifted, biting my lip. “Not yet. I’ll text them.”
Dad nodded. “I’ll text them too.”
Then he lowered his chin and put his hands on his hips, his signature dad-mode pose. His eyes skimmed over me. “You can’t wear that.”
“Dad!”
“Don’t ‘Dad’ me. You go to this party and these are my rules. One, change into something that’s…” Dad’s voice drifted off as he struggled to find the right words. He blew out a puff of air. “Can you wear your soccer clothes or something?”
I stared at him.
He sighed again, then walked down the hall and grabbed a flannel shirt from the clean laundry bin waiting by his bedroom door. “Just, wear this, okay? I know you’re going to take it off as soon as you get there but it will make me feel better. I can’t let you leave the house in that.”
I rolled my eyes but put on the flannel. It dropped to my knees. My outfit wasn’t that revealing. I mean, it kind of was, but whatever.
“Two, no drinking and driving. If you drink and need a ride, call me. Don’t get a ride with anyone who’s been drinking either.”
I nodded, trying not to grin.
“Third,” he said and then stopped. His shoulders sagged. “Never mind. You’re smart. Just, be smart, sweetie.”
My grin broke loose then. This was hard for him.
He shook his head at me and opened his arms. I went into them, resting my head on his chest. “Sorry, Dad. I was going to spare you the worry and lie about where I was headed. Or sneak out.”
I felt his chest rumble with silent laughter.
He patted my back before letting me loose. “Is this going to become a regular thing?” He crossed his arms, trying for a stern expression.