Kennedy I ’m in a complete daze leaving Reese’s office. My vision is fuzzy and zoned out, focused on nothing in particular when I close the door behind me. What the hell just happened? How did that all happen? Well, I guess I know the answer to that, so the real question I’m asking myself is how did I get so lucky? “Kenny.” The voice snaps me back to reality, my focus zeroing in on a frantic Isaiah as he jogs towards me. Speaking of lucky. How lucky am I that I get to call him mine? Isaiah is wearing his baseball pants—only his baseball pants. His perfectly disheveled hair looking like his hands haven’t stopped running through it all morning. He’s got that manila envelope, holding it up when he stops in front of me, heaving chest and desperate, pleading eyes. “Look,” he begins. “I know I gave you a choice. I wanted you to make your own decision, but I’ve got to be honest here, I don’t totally love this one.” My face softens into a smile. How was there ever a day that I wasn’t completely and utterly gone for this guy? There are a lot of things I learned in our time together, but the biggest lesson my husband taught me is what it feels like to be loved for the first time in my life. I’ll never be able to thank him enough for being unwavering in his feelings for me, but I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure he feels as safe and secure with me as he’s made me feel with him. “Maybe let’s hold off on this part,” he continues. “I don’t know that we necessarily need to file these right this second—” “Isaiah,” I cut him off with amusement. “Did you not look at them?” There’s a heavy pause as his throat works a swallow. “I couldn’t do it, Ken.” My sweet, sensitive husband. Words I never thought I’d use to describe him, but Isaiah’s soft edges are one of my favorite things about him. He only allows certain people
to see that side of him, and I’m not only one of those lucky people he chose to trust, but I’m also the one he chose to love. Staff members busy the halls, getting from one place to another while the two of us stay locked in a standstill in front of Reese’s office. We’re on full display for anyone to see us, and Isaiah is holding our divorce papers in his hand. “Come with me,” I tell him, taking his hand and pulling him behind. Outside of the clubhouse, we slip into the same restroom where we first met. “Open them,” I urge. He shakes his head. “Don’t make me do that here of all places.” “Isaiah,” I chuckle. “Trust me. Open the envelope.” Confusion is clear as day on his handsome face, looking at me like I’m attempting to torture the man in the place where we’ve had so many of our big moments. We met in here. We exchanged rings in here. We’ve argued and made up in here. I get to tell him I love him in here. Leaning back on the sink, he carefully lifts the metal prongs, opens the flap, and pulls out the stack of papers. His eyes trail down the first page before flipping to the second, looking for whatever it is I’m so adamant about him seeing. I don’t rush him. I allow him the time he needs to take it all in. But soon enough, the obvious defeat takes over as he reads the papers he had drafted for us. That is, until he flips to the final page, where our signatures should be. Isaiah didn’t sign them when he dropped them off at my apartment, as if he couldn’t bring himself to do it unless he had to—unless I signed them first. His eyes go soft as they bounce over the words, following the path of the pen I used to ink each letter on the signature line. “Kennedy.” “I do.” I chuckle a bit at those two words that got us here in the first place. “Really?” “So much, Isaiah.” He finally takes his eyes off the page to look at me. “I love you,” I tell him, using the same words he found written on the signature line of our divorce papers. “It may have taken me a bit longer to allow myself to open my eyes and see it, but there’s no doubt in my mind that I love you. Every part of you. The parts you show everyone and the parts you show only me.” His eyes trail over my face, his lips parted without words to say. So clearly stuck in a state of disbelief.
So I r epeat myself. “I love you, Isaiah.” That mischievous smile is back. “One more time for me, Kenny. Don’t think I quite caught that.” Taking the papers from his hand, I set them on the sink behind him, getting them out of the way so I can move to stand between his legs, hands slipping around his neck, needing to touch him. “I love you.” He bends his arm back behind his neck to cover my hand with his own. Then he circles the ring I’ve never once taken off since he gave it to me. “God, after all this time, that feels unreal to hear you say.” His words come out like a breath of relief, as if he can finally tell me how he feels, knowing I’ll say it right back. His forehead falls to mine. “I love you, Kenny.” Do what feels good. This right here, this feels good. It feels right. All this time, I wanted to practice, plan, and schedule how it’d happen. I wanted to be perfectly ready for love when the time came. But falling in love with Isaiah wasn’t a big, planned event. It was buying toothbrushes and providing food when I was too busy to eat. It was his mother’s ring and eating dinner together in a booth at Chili’s. It was his patience and unwavering commitment to show me my importance in his life. How lucky am I that I get to love and be loved so effortlessly? My thumbs dust over his cheekbones as I begin the other speech I rehearsed this weekend. “I have spent my entire life looking for validation, seeking attention, hoping for just a bit of acknowledgment that I exist, and you...” I shake my head. “You waltzed into my life and never left me alone.” He huffs a dry laugh. “Thank you.” His fingers draw languid circles on my lower back, urging me to continue. “I never had to beg for your attention, and I’m not sure you’ll ever fully understand how safe that became for me, knowing you were giving it to me willingly. I never had to ask you to see me, to understand me, and I’m sorry that I haven’t allowed you to be able to say the same. But I promise you, Isaiah, now that my eyes have been opened, I can’t ke ep them off you.” His smile blooms, this devastating grin that lights up the whole room. That’s him, though. He’s all good. Contagiously bright.
Bright enough to shine light on my untouched, undiscovered corners. The parts of me that no one else took the time to look for. He gave me the confidence and the security to come alive with him, to never once have to question his sincerity. It’s not lost on me how rare he is. “I um...” I clear my throat. “I feel like I don’t deserve to be as happy as you make me.” He exhales a sympathetic breath of a laugh. “Oh, Kennedy.” “I just feel really lucky.” “It’s not luck, baby. The good things in your life are there because of you. You are good and smart and capable and so fucking deserving, Kenny. Yes, I’ve known all that for years, but I think for the first time ever, you’re finally seeing it for yourself.” He leans in and kisses me, softly pressing his lips to mine. So unhurried, so patient, as if we have all the time in the world. And we do. Only he doesn’t know that yet. “When do you leave?” he whispers against my lips. “How much time do we have?” I run my hands down his torso. “I’m not.” “Kennedy—” “You said I had a choice. And I choose to stay. I choose you, and I will continue to choose you every day after this one. There. Done. I made a choice, and it was the easiest decision I’ve ever made.” Hands cupping my cheeks, he holds me as if I could slip away. He looks at me as if I were his everything. “Kenny, you can’t.” “Dr. Fredrick was fired this morning.” Isaiah rears back at that. “The entire team filed complaints this weekend on my behalf.” He drops his head back, Adam’s apple exposed as he looks towards the ceiling. “I fucking love those guys.” “And Reese just offered me his position.” “Shut up.” I quickly shake my head in disbelief, a beaming grin spreading on my lips. “Shut the fuck up, Kennedy.” “I didn’t say anything,” I laugh. “Well, you better have said yes.” “Of course I said yes. I went in there with this whole plan. I was going to quit, apply to some local colleges, and wait for one of the other pro teams in the city to have an opening. But now... now I don’t have to.” He exhales in disbelief and I get to watch as every realization dawns on him.
“You’re staying here.” “I am.” “We get to work together. Travel together.” “We do.” “And you love me.” “So much.” That grin grows. “But I swear, Isaiah, if you ever bring me divorce papers again, I’ll be real tempted to sign them with something other than an I love you.” We both know that’s far from the truth. Even though this marriage was supposed to be temporary and I wanted to s eparate as soon as we woke up that morning in Vegas, I couldn’t imagine that idea now. His smile turns she epish. “Is staying married really what you want though? We can start from the beginning, rewrite our story. We can still be together without being married. I can call you my girlfriend if you’re not ready to be my wife.” “Can’t I be both?” “What?” he asks with a laugh. “I don’t want to rewrite anything. I want to date you while already loving you. I want to learn about you while already knowing you’re the one. I know we skipped a few relationship milestones, but there are no rules that say we can’t be married while we go back and check them off.” “Yeah. I like that idea.” He drapes his arms over my shoulders. “There’s been a certain milestone on my mind lately. We’re married and you still don’t live with me.” “That is a big one.” His eyes go soft with a smile. “What do you say, wifey? Will you move in with me?” There’s no question regarding where we should live between his place and mine. His has felt like home since the moment I first walked through the front door. “Yes,” I agree. “I’d live, laugh, love to.” Chuckling, he brings me flush to his chest, lips dusting my forehead when he speaks. “Thanks for marrying me, baby.” “It was the best mistake I ever made.” The bathroom door swings open, instantly shifting our attention. Reese walks in, eyes cast down on her phone, heading straight for a stall. We look at each other, wondering what the hell to do, before Isaiah clears his throat to get her attention. Apparently, it only took the man three years to learn to make his presence known when he’s busy hiding in the women’s restroom.
“Oh,” she startles, her attention bouncing between Isaiah and me. “I’m sorry. I’m clearly interrupting something.” “We’ll go,” I suggest, pulling out of Isaiah’s hold, both of us headed for the door. She’s halfway into a stall before she stops and turns, looking right back at us. “Sorry, but this is so strange, seeing someone else in here. I usually come down to this bathroom by the clubhouse for privacy. All these months of it being empty, I started considering it mine.” Isaiah and I share a knowing look, stupidly mischievous smiles on our lips. “By the way, Kennedy,” Reese continues. “I was going to come find you. I requested a name change on your new office door. It should say Dr. Rhodes by the end of the week.” “Dr. Kay,” Isaiah corrects. “It should say Dr. Kay. She did that all on her own, long before me or my last name came around.” I squeeze his hand in mine. “Actually, Dr. Rhodes is perfect.” Reese offers me a sweet smile, slipping into a stall. We leave the bathroom before Isaiah asks, “Are you sure?” “Positive.” I hold his attention. “Like you said, I don’t care what my name used to be. I only care what it is now.”
Epilogue Isaiah Two Years Later I t’s the worst day of the year. At least, it used to be. I used to connect this date to loss, but now I can’t help but think of everything I gained on this day over the years. My n ephew was born four years ago on this date. I met my wife five years ago, and today, I get the privilege of remarrying her on our two-year anniversary. Yes, I lost my mom on this date, but she spent the last twenty years sending her sons the greatest gifts in her absence, and it’s become impossible to think of this day with anything other than overwhelming gratitude and love. “How are you feeling?” my brother asks from behind me as he helps me slip on my suit jacket. “Excited. I’m looking forward to remembering everything this time around. Her walking down the aisle. Listening to her say ‘I do.’ Coherently, might I add.” He laughs to himself. Kennedy didn’t want to deviate too much from the details of our first wedding, but the biggest difference with this one, other than the lack of tequila in our systems, is the intention behind it. We’re getting married because we love each other, trust each other, are each other’s closest friend. We spent the last two years learning each other, dating each other, and supporting each other. And even though I’m stoked to create some memories this time around, I can’t help but be grateful for that drunken night in this same city two years ago. I don’t know if we’d be having this wedding without that one. It gave us the opportunity to see the other for who they really are, and we haven’t been able to take our eyes off each other since. Kai smiles to himself through the reflection in the mirror as he smooths the fabric of my jacket over my shoulders. “Who would’ve thought, huh? We were just a couple of kids trying to get by on our own and look at us now. Who would’ve thought we’d be as blessed as we are?” “Crazy to think we spent all those years just the two of us, and now look how many Rhodeses there are.” “Well, there could be seven Rhodeses if you and Ken ever decided to give Max and Emmy a cousin.”
I burst a laugh. “I swear, you and Miller have tried to slip that into every fucking conversation we’ve had since Emmy was born.” “And I have no plans on stopping.” The truth is, Kennedy and I haven’t thought too much about having our own. We love being Aunt and Uncle to my brother’s kids, but we’re also having a blast just the two of us, working together, traveling together. One day, when I retire from professional baseball, maybe we will or maybe we won’t. Life is real fucking good either way. There’s a knock on the door of the bedroom we’re getting ready in. “It’s us,” Miller calls out from the other side. “Come in.” The door is only open a crack before my n ephew comes barreling in wearing his best suit. “There’s the birthday boy!” I hoist him into my arms, holding him at eye level. “How old are you today? I can’t seem to remember.” He very carefully holds four fingers up. “What? There’s no way. I thought you were still a little baby.” “No. I’m four.” He giggles, pointing over my shoulder. “Emmy is a baby.” I turn to find my sle eping niece in Miller’s arms, the little girl with her mom’s green eyes and her parents’ shared dark hair. Named after Miller’s dad and our mom, Emmy Mae Rhodes was born shortly after my brother retired, and any doubt or hesitation I had about him leaving the game for good was dispelled the moment I saw how centered he was at home with the three of them. It’s been a full season without playing next to him, the second starting just next week, but the combination of having Kennedy with me and knowing Kai’s favorite job is away from the field has made the transition easier. But that’s not to say that he hasn’t missed being around the sport. We were hardly past spring training last year before Monty hired Kai as one of his pitching coaches. He’s not there every practice or game, by any means, but he’s still around and it’s been a fucking blast. “Thanks for sharing your big day with me and Auntie Ken, Bug,” I say to my n ephew. “We’re going to have a big birthday cake tonight, huh?” “Auntie Ken looks pretty.” “Did you get to see her?” His blue eyes go big, his smile just as massive as he nods his head. “Lucky guy. I can’t wait to see her. Tell me everything. How is she wearing her hair? What does her dress look like?”
“Hey!” Miller cuts in. “Don’t try to use my son to get information. You’ll see her soon enough.” “I don’t want to wait any longer. This is torture.” “Jesus, Isaiah,” Kai laughs. “It’s only been a few hours since you’ve seen her.” “You don’t get to say anything,” I argue back. “You were far worse on your wedding day.” “It was different. Miller was pregnant. I needed to check in on her before the ceremony.” Miller bursts a laugh. “I was perfectly fine, and you knew it.” Kai smiles to himself before leaning over to kiss her, following that with a press of his lips to his daughter’s head. “My girls.” He turns to me and his son, taking Max from me. “And my guys. You’ve got a big job today, Max. You ready?” He nods enthusiastically. “I’m gonna carry Auntie Ken’s ring.” “Heck yeah, you are,” I encourage. “Do you know whose ring that was before Kennedy’s?” His smile goes wide. “Grandma Mae.” The room goes silent. We’ve been teaching Max about our mom for a couple of years now, so it’s not shocking to hear him say her name, but today, on the day she passed, on the day he was born, on the day I get to marry the love of my life, it feels important to say her name out loud. “Yeah,” I exhale. “She would’ve loved to be here.” Kai puts a hand on my shoulder. “She is here.” My brother and I look at each other for a moment, silently saying all the things. “Well,” Miller pipes up. “I’d offer you a wedding day shot, but we all know how that turned out last time.” The room shifts to laughter, Miller’s specialty. “Thanks for that, Mills.” “Come here,” she says, opening her free arm for a hug, and I wrap mine around her and Emmy. “Is she doing okay?” I quietly ask. “She’s doing great. Excited to see you.” “Thanks for being such a good friend to her.” “Well, thanks for marrying her. How lucky am I to get to grow old with one of my best friends?” She rubs a hand down my back as we s eparate. “I’m gonna run to the bathroom before we leave.” I throw a thumb over my shoulder towards the door. “Be right back.”
In my wedding suit, I close that bedroom door behind me, st epping into the living room of the massive house rental we’re staying in for the weekend. It’s outside of the Vegas strip and big enough to house all our friends and their kids. The past few days have been a blast, all of us hanging out here. Days at the pool and nights making dinner together, playing board games, and staying up to hang out after all the kids are asle ep, only to wake up to do it all over again. “There he is!” Cody calls out from the couch, dressed for the ceremony, beer in his hand. The room cheers so I give them a spin, showing off my wedding suit. Zanders and Stevie, Ryan and Indy, Rio, Cody, and Travis all boost my ego as I cross the living room to one of the guest bathrooms. Only when I get to the door, my attention is immediately pulled to the room Kennedy and I have been sle eping in. The room she’s in right now, getting ready for our wedding. Looking over my shoulder to make sure no one is watching, I quietly make my way to the door, softly tapping it with my knuckles. “Who is it?” she asks, and just hearing her voice has my shoulders settling, has a smile sliding across my lips. “It’s me, Kenny.” “Isaiah? You can’t see me.” “Please,” I beg. “Fuck, I miss you.” She giggles this sweet laugh that has my forehead falling to the door at the sound. “It’s only been a few hours,” she reminds me. “We weren’t supposed to even sle ep in the same bed last night and we did. We weren’t supposed to see each other this morning and you still made us breakfast to eat together.” “Well, if I don’t make sure you eat, who’s going to?” Her laughter is soft. “Please, baby. I miss you. Let me just see you.” She cracks the door open slightly, only enough to allow her freckled hand to slip through the crack—her left hand with her bare ring finger because for the first time in two years, she took her wedding ring off so I could put it back on later today. I offered to get her something new, something that was strictly hers, something we could add to signify us doing this the right way today, but she only wanted my mom’s ring. And this time when I slip it on her finger, it won’t be as a ploy to save her job, it’ll be as a promise to love her for the rest of my life. “Hold my hand,” she says from behind the wooden barrier. I intertwine my fingers with hers, palm to palm, instantly feeling centered with her. “You’re not supposed to see the bride before the wedding.” “But—”
“C’mon, baby. Play along.” I huff a laugh. “You can’t ke ep saying that to me.” “And why’s that? It’s been working for me for years.” “Exactly. That’s the fucking problem, Ken. I’ve never been able to say no. Not before you took my last name and sure as shit not now. It’s something I need to work on.” “That’s okay. Let’s ke ep it going that way.” I squeeze her hand in mine. “I can’t wait to marry you... again.” She squeezes right back. “I love you.” “I love you. I’ll see you there?” “I’ll be the one in white.” “Wow. Okay, maybe throw out a spoiler alert next time.” She chuckles. “There won’t be a next time. This one is forever.” Pulling up to the little chapel we tied the knot the first time feels fucking surreal. I don’t have many clear memories from that night, and I’m looking forward to changing that this time, but the exterior is so sharp in my mind. Maybe it’s from that picture that was blasted in the Chicago Tribune or maybe it’s a true memory from the night my life changed forever, I’m not sure. The entire group spills out of rideshares, getting dropped off right out front. My whole team is here, some staying at our house rental, some staying at their own. This preseason bonding trip looks a little different than our typical ones, but I’m thankful to have them all here for our wedding redo. Kai carries Emmy in her car seat, and Max slips his hand in mine as we make our way inside. The door handles are two halves of a heart that connect when the door is closed, the entryway has a partially burnt-out neon sign flashing the name of the chapel, and a goddamn Elvis impersonator greets us at the front desk. It’s perfect. Monty is already waiting for us inside, going over some notes of things he’s planning to say while he officiates the ceremony as the rest of my teammates and friends find seats, piling into the tiny wooden pews that flank either side of the aisle. I can’t help but laugh to myself knowing that we chose to get married here, not only once, but twice. But it just feels right. I’m sure growing up, Kennedy assumed she’d have some massive ceremony hosted somewhere like the Plaza in New York City, with her engagement publicly announced in the Times. Instead, we’re doing it here. In this little run-down chapel with plastic flowers hot-glued to the pulpit for décor. The lighting is fucking awful and the red carpet runner spanning the aisle is tacky as hell.
But I wouldn’t change a thing, especially now that our closest family and friends are here to witness this time. Speaking of family, Dean is the last to arrive, walking through the front doors minutes before Kennedy is due to appear. The entire room of my teammates turn in their seats to look at him. “My bad. Flight got delayed.” He nods towards me. “Hey, man.” Hand in his, I throw my arm around him, smacking his back a couple of times. “Glad you made it, asshole.” “Thanks for the invite, dick. Sorry I’m late.” “Perfect timing. Kenny is on her way. Any word from your family?” He shakes his head, careless expression on his face. “Nah. They’re too busy trying to find Mallory a husband to celebrate Kennedy being happy. You know how they are.” I do know how they are, though neither my wife nor I have had to deal with their bullshit for almost two years. Her mother rarely attempts to contact her, and Kennedy has not once reached out since the night I met them. Which seems to be for the best. The only thing those people ever did is make Kennedy question her worth, and over the past two years, I’ve done my best to make sure she’ll never question it again. Ironic, really, that the only reason Kennedy and I got married in the first place is that she was feeling petty and hurt over her ex-fiancé marrying her st epsister. But time would show everyone’s true colors. Connor and Mallory never even made it down the aisle because, according to Dean, they constantly fought about their lack of trust in one another. I guess that’s what you get when you get together by cheating. You’re always going to be worried about it happening to you. “See you after,” Dean says, taking the front-row seat on the side closest to where Kennedy will sit. “They’re here,” Kai says, holding his still-sle eping daughter against his chest. Monty stands front and center, facing the crowd, and I take the spot just to his left with my brother behind me. Monty places a hand on my shoulder. “You ready?” I’m bouncing on my toes with excitement. “Y ep.” “Max,” he says to my n ephew standing at my side, hand slipped into mine. “Are you ready? You remember what to do when your mom gets here?” Blue eyes sparkling up at his grandpa, he nods enthusiastically. Elvis gives Monty a thumbs-up from the back of the room, and the doors are opening. Miller is first, bouquet in her hands. She lines up at the end of the aisle, smiling at her dad, her son, her husband, then lastly me.
Max runs to her, high-fiving my teammates along the way, before Miller hands him our rings and directs him back down the aisle to us. The boys cheer for him, and I’m fucking dying over how flushed his cheeks are, how wide his grin is. These guys are good at a lot of things, but they are excellent at making sure Max knows how important he is. When he makes it back, he hands the rings off to his dad and Miller starts her walk. It wasn’t all that long ago that the roles were reversed. I was Kai’s best man, and Kennedy was Miller’s maid of honor. Monty officiated that ceremony too and Max hung out up front with us the entire time, the same way he will today. Miller’s got her attention locked on my brother the whole time and shoots him a wink when she stands opposite him. “Fucking obsessed with that girl,” he whispers for only Monty and me to hear. “We know,” we say at the same time. Speaking of obsessed... The door opens one more time, and the first thing I see is that color that caught my attention the first time we met—Kennedy Rhodes Auburn. The air from the door closing blows her hair, allowing it to drape around her face, and I swear to God she looks like a real-life angel when it settles. A bouquet of flowers held in her hands. Yellow, I believe. Chosen because it’s my favorite color, after all. Creamy white dress, constructed for her body. Unlike her last one, this one skims the floor, fabric molding to every dip and curve. Simple and understated, allowing her to be the star of the show. As classic and elegant as she is. And that smile. That goddamn, earth-shattering smile she shoots me. It steals my breath with how grounded, how content it is. Like she knows, just as I do, that this is where we belong. Hi, she mouths from down the aisle, red carpet runner ahead of her. Hi, I return. I shake my head in disbelief because in what fucking world did I get it so right that I get to have the privilege of being the one she’s walking down the aisle to? If I thought de eper into it, I could probably give a few hundred reasons as to why I’m not good enough to have this moment, but I’m a selfish man. So instead, I just hold eye contact with her and count my blessings. The music shifts, not to the original song she walked down the aisle to, but something a little more classic. The crowd stands, and that’s when she takes the first st ep towards me. She’s stunning and confident, no question or hesitation in her movements, and I know for a fact it’s an image that this time I won’t be able to forget. Especially when she takes a st ep towards me and the toe of her shoe peeks out from the hem of her dress. There are no heels on her feet, just a pair of black sneakers I bought her when I was desperate for her to be comfortable enough that she might be willing to spend a bit of time with me.
I can’t help but laugh to myself, and when my eyes make it back to that beautiful, freckled face, she’s laughing with me, her st eps never faltering. Fuck, I love her. I can’t wait to marry her again. The backyard of the rental house is packed with our family and friends. Food, dessert, and drinks cover every table. There’s a makeshift dance floor in the middle of the yard, and string lights illuminating the Nevada night sky. Our wedding rec eption is in full swing, and it’s been a fucking blast. We’ve mingled, we’ve eaten, and Kennedy has changed into her rec eption outfit, which was a surprise specifically for me. That white mini dress, platform Vans, and denim jacket from our first wedding. Only this time, she had Indy embroider the back of it. Mrs. Rhodes is stitched in white thread and that’s where my eyes are glued, watching her dancing with Max on the dance floor. He’s got his hands in hers, his feet resting on top of her shoes, smiling at her like she’s the prettiest girl he’s ever seen. He’s not wrong there. I fucking love my family. “Man of the hour.” Travis stands behind my chair, hands on my shoulders, before he and Cody take a seat on either side of me, all three of us looking out to the dance floor. “You did the impossible. You got that girl to fall in love with you,” Cody says, connecting his beer bottle to mine. “How’s it feel?” I take a long swig. “Fucking fantastic.” “Wish me luck to do the same,” Travis adds. Cody and I burst a laugh. “Not a chance in hell,” Cody says. “Natalie would never.” I shrug. “You never know. She might.” Natalie is the new athletic trainer that Kennedy hired as her r eplacement last season. Trav’s had a crush since her first day. I can’t say I envy the guy getting that constant rejection, but I can relate. “Last time I saw her, she told me my glutes felt tight. You know what that means.” Cody shoots him a deadpanned glare. “Not what you think it means. It only means that you’re a catcher and your entire lower body is fucked.” “It means she was looking at my ass.” “Dear God, you sound like Rhodes.” I tilt my beer bottle to the dance floor. “And look where that got me.” Natalie is still new in the sports medicine field, which is part of the reason Kennedy hired her. She wanted to help guide her and give her a positive experience right out of the gate. She’s loved having another woman on staff, and just as they did with Kennedy, the
guys don’t treat Natalie any differently than the male medical staffers. Well, other than when Travis tries his best to flirt with her. There’s been a shift since Reese has taken over as team owner and Kennedy has become the Head of Health and Wellness. So much of what Kennedy wanted to accomplish was to simply prove there was space in sports for women, and she’s done just that. Reese has hired quite a few women in other d epartments and Kennedy has split the medical staff equally. Two guys. Two girls. It’s been a nice change, and I’m proud of her for being the beginning of that shift. The song she’s dancing to with my n ephew begins to fade, so I stand from my seat, leaving my beer on the table. “I gotta go take care of something,” I tell them before I go. Stopping by the DJ booth, I request a song, then make my way to the dance floor to steal my wife. I catch her attention as I cross the dance floor to her, soft smile on her lips, hands still holding my n ephew’s. “Excuse me, Bug, but I need to steal my wife from you.” He looks up at me as if I’ve lost my goddamn mind to take the pretty girl in the white dress away from him. “No.” I startle with a laugh. “Max, it’s my wedding day.” He points to his chest. “My birthday.” Well, shit. He’s got me there. “Hey, Bug,” Miller says, crossing the floor to us. “How about you dance with me for your birthday instead?” He quickly appraises his mom before agreeing and swapping Kennedy’s hands and feet for Miller’s. It feels like a sigh of relief when I slide my hand against Kennedy’s lower back, pulling her against me. She melts into my touch, her cheek resting on my chest, one hand wrapped around my waist, the other holding mine out to the side. “Missed you.” She chuckles. “It’s been two songs.” “Do you think that matters?” There was once a time Kennedy questioned what it felt like to be missed, but she’ll never have to wonder now. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss her. If she goes into another room, I miss her. If she leaves for work before me, I miss her. And I’m sure to tell her each and every time.
I catch the DJ’s eye and give him a nod of approval just before the song Kennedy walked down the aisle to the first time comes on. Mariah Carey’s “Obsessed” overtakes the speakers and Kennedy’s head instantly falls back in laughter. “You didn’t.” “Of course I did. I’m still counting this as our wedding song.” The guests around us cheer for the song they all know as my walk-up song. I haven’t changed it in two seasons, and I have no plans to change it in the future. “I still can’t believe you picked this that night.” She shrugs, this sweet knowing smile on her lips. “Was I wrong?” “Not even a little bit. Not then and not now.” My hand slides down over the curve of her ass, and it’s strange to think there was ever a time that she’d flinch at my touch. Or when she didn’t hug her friends, or when she felt uncomfortable at the prospect of holding my hand. Now, Kennedy initiates physical contact as much as I do, whether that be a quick kiss at work or taking my hand when we’re walking next to each other. And there’s not a day that goes by when she doesn’t hug Miller or Indy or Stevie when she sees them. “Are you happy?” she asks, looking up at me. “Do you even have to ask?” “No.” Her smile is soft. “You wear it. Just like you always have.” “So do you, Ken. I’ve never seen happiness shine quite as bright as the kind you’ve worn the past two years.” “I think that’s because I was the opposite for so long, you know? Before us.” Leaning down, I kiss her, pressing my lips to my wife’s on our wedding day, dancing to the song she once walked down the aisle to, wearing the outfit she first said “I do” in. “I told you so.” “Shut up,” she laughs. “I did, though! I knew I could make you fall in love with me.” “You’re annoying.” She kisses me again. “But I’m glad you were persistent enough for the both of us.” There’s not a whole lot that’s changed between us in the two years since we first said I do. We fell de eper in love. We moved in together and recently bought a house close to my brother and Miller. We dated, continuing to check off any firsts Kennedy hadn’t experienced. I started bimonthly therapy to deal with the trauma response to my mom’s accident, learning to control my thoughts and not relying on Kennedy to settle me down. Now, when a storm hits, I find the rational part of my mind to walk me through the st eps I’ve learned instead of instantly grabbing my phone and dialing those closest to me.
We stay and dance for the entirety of the song, slow dancing to a tune that isn’t exactly meant for that. But neither of us cares as we slowly sway under the string lights. “I love you,” she whispers up at me as the song fades out. I’ll never get over hearing her say those words. “Love you, baby.” I nod towards the bar. “Want to do a celebratory shot with me?” She laughs, her eyes crinkling with a smile. “Tequila?” “Obviously.” Her hand in mine, we find the makeshift bar set up in the corner of our rec eption. “Congratulations, you two. What can I get you?” the bartender asks. “Two shots of tequila, please.” He pours the clear liquor, topping the shot glass with a slice of lime. Kennedy holds it up to me in a cheers. “To getting it right the first time, even if it was an accident.” I connect my glass with hers. “To forever.” “Forever.” Leaning down, I kiss her before we each throw back our shot. “Come with me,” Kennedy says, fingers intertwining with my own. She pulls me behind as I follow her into the house. “A mid-rec eption quicky?” I ask. “I think I like this whole marriage thing.” She huffs a laugh, turning down the hall to the room we’ve been staying in. Once inside, she closes the door behind us and switches the light on, turning the brightness all the way up. “And with the lights on?” I begin to unbutton my shirt. “Let’s go!” “I have a wedding gift for you.” “Hell yeah, you do.” Hand over mine, she stops me from unbuttoning the last of my shirt. “A different kind of wedding gift. Don’t worry. You’ll be getting plenty of wedding-night action later.” She digs into her suitcase and pulls out a small box, worrying her lip between her teeth as she hands it over. “They don’t work for everyone, so this might be a bust, but I thought it was worth a try.” “What is it?” “Open it up and see.” Suspiciously watching her, I slip the lid off the cardboard box, and nestled inside is an eyeglass case. “Glasses?” Flipping open the magnetic lid, I find an interesting-looking lens outlined by thick black frames. “Sunglasses,” I correct.
Her voice is tender. “Put them on for me?” I do as she asks, unfolding them and slipping them over my ears, adjusting the nose piece to allow them to sit properly on my face. She watches me the whole time with rapt attention. “They’re nice, baby. Thank you.” “Sometimes, they take a few minutes for your eyes to adjust. They’re meant to be used outside in the sunlight, so they might not work in here. Or they might not work at all. It’s different for everyone.” “They’re working.” I look around the room. “It’s more shaded in here for sure.” My eyes fall back to her, this slight smile on her lips that seems more disappointed than anything. Maybe I’m not coming off grateful enough, so I lean in and kiss her. “Thank you. They’re great.” Pulling away, sunglasses still on, I blink, eyes adjusting in a way I can’t fully explain. Vibrant, I guess. Not brightness per se, but vibrancy. I blink again. More color. More saturation. “Whoa.” Attention quickly averting to the floor, I take the glasses off and blink rapidly, adjusting my eyes. When I look back at her, with the glasses still in my hand, curiosity has r eplaced the once disappointed smile she wore. “Are they working?” Hope. So much hope in her tone. I cautiously slip them back on over the bridge of my nose. Auburn. That’s what that color has to be. Kennedy Rhodes Auburn is falling in waves around her face. What was once a muted tone I couldn’t categorize is now the most beautiful color I’ve ever seen, framing the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. “What’s happening?” I ask. Her small laugh is watery but excited, nonetheless. Reaching out, I slip my fingers through her hair, letting the strands slide over my hand, watching the way the different colors dance with the movement. “Oh,” I breathe, eyes burning with emotion. “I truly had no idea, did I?” She smiles up at me, a rogue tear falling from the corner of her eye so I use my thumb to clear it from her cheek. I apparently never understood the real complexities of the color that I once memorized. What I learned to be red and orange, and what my imagination ran with and believed, doesn’t even begin to touch their true tones. My throat is thick as I try to speak. “How are you so beautiful, Kenny? You were already the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen, but now...” I shake my head in disbelief. “Wow.”
Her freckles pop against her fair skin. Her eyes shine with a vibrancy I’ve never seen before, but her hair... “God, I really was right about nothing ever being this color.” Hair gliding through my fingers, I continue to watch as the light reflects and changes the tones. My attention stays locked on her as I study and relearn what I once thought I knew. “You get to see this every day?” She smiles up at me. “They’ll work even better in the daylight. We can watch the sunset together tomorrow night. I want you to see it. And this fall, when the leaves change. We’ll take a drive so you can see all the colors. The trees are beautiful that time of year.” “I don’t see how any view can get better than this one.” Then my view only gets better when she hooks her hand—her left hand —around my forearm. And that’s when I see it. My mother’s ring— Kennedy’s ring in all its glory. I had an idea of what purple looked like. I always assumed it was essentially blue, but once again, this is better than I could’ve imagined. She was right when she said this was the prettiest shade of purple she had ever seen. As I run my thumb over the center stone, tears prick my eyes while I watch the light bounce, allowing the amethyst to sparkle. I had my own version of what it looked like on my mom, and now, after all these years, I can put the pieces of the past and present together to get the complete, accurate picture. Kennedy gave me that gift, to accurately know what this ring looked like on my two favorite women. “Thank you.” Hand moving to the back of her head, I pull her into me, pressing my mouth to hers. “Thank you so much.” I leave my forehead resting against hers as she speaks. “So the big question... Is auburn still one of your favorite colors now that you’ve seen it?” I smile against her. “Nothing will ever compare.” Zanders, Stevie, Ryan, Indy, Kai, Miller, and Rio are all seated around a table just off the dance floor. We join them, taking the last empty seat, where I pull Kennedy onto my lap. “Congrats, you two.” Indy sits forward, elbows on the table and chin in her hands, beaming at us like the romantic she is. “Thanks, Ind,” Kennedy says, wrapping an arm around my neck. “We’re so glad you all could make it and help us recreate our first one.” Zanders looks between us. “Wouldn’t miss it.” “I’ve got to know,” Ryan says. “Was the Elvis impersonator there the first time?” “Couldn’t tell you,” Kennedy and I answer at the same time. “Guys. Look at them.” Stevie nods towards the dance floor beside us.
All our attention swings to the completely empty dance floor minus the four little ones dancing together in a circle they’ve created. Max is the oldest and most coordinated so far, holding Taylor Zanders’ hand in one and Iverson Shay’s in the other. Iverson’s got the hand of his sister, Navy, on the other side and she’s connected with her cousin. They’re fucking cute out there in their little suits and fancy dresses. “That will be you one day too, baby girl,” Kai says to a sle eping Emmy on his chest. Miller’s got her head on his shoulder, her fingers toying with the ends of his hair as she watches Max with his friends. “Cute tiny humans, we get it,” Rio says. “But let’s make this about me for a second.” I can feel Kennedy’s silent laugh against my chest as she sits in my lap, head resting back on my shoulder as our wedding rec eption begins to wind down. “Seriously, when is it my turn? Look at you guys.” Rio gestures around the table. “You’re all wifed up and I’m over here, twenty-seven and still looking.” “Four out of five,” Kai adds. “One to go. It’ll happen soon, Rio.” “Well, they better be fucking great, making me wait this long to meet them.” “What if it’s someone you’ve already met and you have no idea?” Ryan asks. “Nah,” Rio brushes him off. “I can’t think of a single person I already know that I’d be remotely interested in.” Zanders shakes his head. “You are the pickiest guy I know while also being the thirstiest. It’s the strangest combination. It’s no wonder you’re single.” “This is the year. It’s happening. And Cody and Travis just need to stay in their lane and be single because I swear to God if I have to attend another wedding without a date...” Rio shakes his head. “Well, then I just won’t come.” “Wow,” Indy laughs. “Very threatening.” “You all should feel threatened. You’d all be bored as hell without me around.” The conversation continues, but I’m not listening. I’m focused on the auburn-haired girl currently curled in my lap. I press my lips to the skin under her ear, feeling her shiver against me. I hold her tighter before my eyes meet Kai’s. One hand holding his daughter, the other holding a beer, resting on Miller’s thigh. He lifts his beer to me across the table. I nod, the two of us having a silent conversation acknowledging how fucking blessed our lives have turned out to be. What was once just the two of us is now this massive family, some blood-related, some not. Most important to me is the one on my lap, wearing my mother’s ring. Leaning my head against hers, I whisper, “Thanks for marrying me, Kenny.” It’s been a common phrase I haven’t been afraid to voice over the past two years.
She turns to look at me, warm brown eyes tracing my face before running a fingertip over the birthmark by my eye. “And which time are you referring to?” I press my lips to hers. “Both.” THE END Rio’s book is the fifth and final book in the Windy City Series! Pre-order REWIND IT BACK here! ALSO BY LIZ TOMFORDE Windy City Series MILE HIGH - A Chicago Hockey Romance- Zanders and Stevie’s Story THE RIGHT MOVE - A Chicago Basketball Romance- Ryan and Indy’s Story CAUGHT UP - A Chicago Baseball Romance- Kai and Miller’s Story PLAY ALONG - A Chicago Baseball Romance- Isaiah and Kennedy’s Story REWIND IT BACK - coming soon - A Chicago Hockey Romance- Rio’s story ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born and raised in Northern California, Liz Tomforde is the youngest of five children. She grew up watching and playing sports. She loves all things romance, traveling, dogs, and hockey & basketball. When she’s not traveling or writing, Liz can be found reading a good book or taking her Golden Retriever, Luke, on a hike in her hometown. www. liztomforde. com Newsletter- for bonus scenes and sneak peeks Click here to join my newsletter! Instagram- for pictures of my dog @liztomforde. author Facebook- for those of you that don’t like Instagram @Liz Tomforde. author Reader’s Group on Facebook Liz’s Reader Crew Tik Tok- for watching a millennial fail at technology @liztomforde. author Amazon- for more stories Click here to follow my Amazon author page! Play Along’s Playlist- for the vibes
Spotify Apple Music ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The first and biggest thank you is to you all— the reader. If it weren’t for you taking the time to read, review, and share your love for this fictional world, I wouldn’t be where I am today, getting to spend my life telling these stories. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me the space to do what I love. It’s all because of your unending support. I am more grateful than I could put into words for all of you. Allyson- I think my favorite part of this job is getting to do it with you. You’re not only one of my best friends, but such a stellar sounding board when I’m needing help with plot points and storylines. I’m so grateful for your friendship and your willingness to listen to an hour’s worth of voice memos in order for me to straighten out the ending of a book or tell me when I’m being dramatic on those nights I’m convinced everything I type is literal garbage. I can’t wait for what the next chapter looks like for us. Love you! Sierra- I am so thankful for you! You’re such a massive help to me in areas I don’t have the capacity for. Thank you for all your help and for being such a great addition to the alpha reading team! Megan- Book three together! Thank you so much, as always, for all your help with alpha reading. Isaiah, my golden retriever boy, is all yours. You deserve him. Erica- Book four together! I am so grateful to have you in my corner, as not only my editor, but also my friend. Thank you for your patience with me on this one. Jess- Thank you for being my wonderful agent! I appreciate you and everyone at SDLA for all the hard work you put in for me. SJ- My author bestie. I’m not sure this book would’ve come to fruition if it weren’t for our constant midnight sprint sessions and plot chats. It really was such a game-changer for me on this one, when finding writing time was tough. Also, I’m just like your biggest fan, so there’s that. Samantha- My wonderful PA! Thank you so much for taking on the things I can’t. I appreciate you so much! Marc- Another book. Another playlist. Cheers to accidentally making this one a banger. We’ve got one more trip to the Windy City. Rio’s turn is up next. Stay tuned for the fifth and final book in the series!