Shaking his head, he stops me with a quick kiss to my lips. “Let me finish.”
Ari’s arms move further up my back, allowing me to lean back, giving me a better view of his handsome face.
“That day at the canyon, you told me you didn’t know what your future looked like in terms of children. Everything I said that day still stands true, but I would be a fool to not see the circumstances have changed drastically. Rayne coming back into my life was not something I could have ever predicted, and neither could you. As always, you are in control here and I feel it is only right to give you a choice. You didn’t enter into this wild ride with me having a daughter. And as much as it pains me to say this, if this is not the path in life you wish to go down, I completely understand. But Rayne and I are a packaged deal. Much like there is no me without you, there is no Ari without Rayne. As much as I love you, Rayne has to come first. So—”
Placing a hand against his chest, I stop him. “I’m going to stop you there Ace.” My voice is short and I take a deep breath.
“My first instinct is to rip you a new one for thinking for a second that you would have to give me an out now that Raynie is back.” Ari’s gaze casts downward and I tap his chin. I wait for his dark eyes to return to mine and continue, “I know you, Aries Clark. You always want the best for everyone, even if it means you are sacrificing your own happiness. But what you don’t see is the moment I opened my eyes and saw that the person I had only dreamed of was right next to me the entire time; I found peace. We have both been through hell and somehow found our way to move forward.
“Even as I thought I was going to die, there was one thing that will stand the test of time. Life is unpredictable. It can change in an instant, but I know one thing will always remain the same. If my fate changed tomorrow and took me away from this world, I know I would find you in the next lifetime. Today, the only thing that has changed is that I would not only look for you, I would look for the little girl who shares the same determination and strength of the man I love most in any lifetime.”
Ari’s head falls to my chest. “Is it possible to love you more than I already do?”
A laugh escapes me and I thread my fingers into his long, wet hair, angling it back up. “I have no idea, but are you ready to see if you can?”
A smile that I have only seen on this man twice; once the day I finally stopped fighting him and the second when he watched Raynie eat ice cream in the back of his truck, spreads across his face.
Pressing a gentle kiss to my lips, he lifts my hand to his heart and covers it with his. “Until my last dying breath and into the next lifetime?”
“Until the next lifetime and far beyond.”
I stare down at the man that used to be a thorn in my side, who is now the best thing that ever happened to me with excitement, knowing that this is just the beginning of what I know will be one damn good life.
Chapter Forty
Taylor
“Taylor,familymeetinginthe common room!”
My head snaps up from my computer, and I see Reagan peeking her head into The Heart.
Glancing at the time, I rise and shut my laptop. “Sorry. Andi needed my assistance with a mission and I lost track of time.”
When I reach Reagan, she loops her arm through mine and together we head towards the common room.
“How's the shoulder?”
“Not as bad as yesterday, but not as good as I wish it were.”
Reagan stops in her tracks to give me a knowing look. “I’m sorry. But hey, you got a cute girl to keep you occupied while you take a few weeks off.”
I chuckle. “A break? Me? You should know better.”
The humor fades from Reagan’s face, and in its place is a tinge of sadness. “I’m thrilled for you, Tay. If you would have asked me three years ago if this is where we would be, I would have thought you were crazy. You are truly an inspiration for all of us survivors, and I hope you know you deserve every ounce of happiness that comes your way.”
“Reagan! We aren’t supposed to make ourselves cry,” I say, pulling her into my arms. “We are supposed to be the ones making others cry!”
“I know. I just had to tell you. We are bad about giving ourselves grace and allowing ourselves a chance at happiness, so I wanted to remind you.”
“Thank you for being the constant I needed. And just so you know—” I pull back so I can look her straight in the face as I say my next words, “Your time will come. It may not be where you’re looking, but I can promise you, the best love is always found in places where you never think to search.”
Her brows furrow as she tries to find the hidden meaning behind my words.
Sorry Rae, that is for you to find out all on your own.
I spin her around and point her toward the common room.
The second we step inside, I freeze.