Page 79 of One Last Run

Danica shared all the details of Kiera unexpectedly showing up at her door while they shared the rest of Pete's beer, but then Pete realized something. "Wait, you booked a flight to Costa Rica? With me?"

"Yeah, what other flight would it be?" Danica asked with a laugh.

Honestly, Pete thought that Danica might have bought a cheap flight just to get past security and talk to her, but the idea of Danica coming to Costa Rica made Pete swing her around in excitement. Danica laughed, the sound causing Pete’s heart to explode with happiness. "What seat did you get?"

Danica shrugged. "Uh, I'm not sure. It didn't let me pick."

Pete nodded seriously. "Okay, we've got to go fix that while we can. I'm not spending another moment without you by my side."

Danica beamed up at her, raising onto her tip-toes to kiss Pete once more.

Holding hands, they hurried breathless with happiness toward the ticket counter. Danica initially protested the first-class upgrade, but Pete shut that down quickly, stating that it was the only way they'd be able to sit together. Danica was going to have to get used to getting a little spoiled.

As they boarded the plane, Danica whispered, "Do you think it's okay that I'm wearing a sweatshirt that says ‘I got that dog in me’ in first class? Don’t they have rules?"

Pete couldn't help but laugh. "Somehow, I don't think they'll kick us off the plane for that, Wendell."

"I've never been up here with all the fancy people," Danica admitted as Pete ushered her into their row, giving her the window seat. The flight attendant appeared with champagne, and they each took a glass. "There’s champagne? Wow, don’t let me get used to this or I’m going to become so insufferable."

Pete snorted with laughter as she watched Danica's exuberant bouncing — a joyful, carefree energy radiating from her. “It suits you.”

Danica stopped, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow as her eyes darted around, as though in search of something specific. "I usually hate flying, but look at all this leg room, and they give you bubbles right away. Maybe there's a hot tub behind one of these curtains."

Pete laughed, taking Danica's hand in her own and kissing her fingertips. "The hotel has one, you know, in case you need a happier thought during this flight."

“I can't wait," Danica said, glowing with excitement. She rested her head back against the seat, her expression soft. "I can't wait for every little thing with you."

EPILOGUE

DANICA

One Year Later

The rock feltcool and coarse under Danica's feet as she crouched, peering into the tide pool. She gasped, leaning closer to peer at the cobalt blue sea star stuck to the bottom of the pool, its five long legs shimmering in the sunlight streaming through the shallow water. Pulling out her camera, she hunched, trying to shield the starfish from the sun to get a good photo.

"Find anything good?" Pete called out from nearby.

"I finally found a giant sea star!" Danica exclaimed, giddy with her success. She peered through the camera's viewfinder, watching in awe as the bright blue creature shifted against the rock, crawling deeper into the pool away from the excited paparazzi action.

Pete cheered, and Danica turned, looking to spot Pete standing in the shallow water, a surfboard hooked under her arm. Her dark wet curls stuck to her forehead and cheeks, and her wide grin made Danica's chest ache.

"One last wave before we grab dinner?" Pete asked, shielding her eyes as she looked back at the water of Dreamland Beach. The low tide today was around 4 p.m., and Danica had been climbing around the tide pools for nearly a half hour, exclaiming about snails and crabs. All afternoon she'd felt light and relaxed and so, so happy.

"Let's stay for the sunset." Danica turned back to the tide pool, on a hunt for her dream tide pool creature, a brightly-colored sea slug.

"If you insist," Pete teased, wading carefully through the shallows.

This last-minute trip to Bali was a whirlwind of spontaneous decisions and quickly booked flights. Over the last year, Izzy had shouldered most of the travel for Pete's non-profit, but Pete, with a particular fondness for Bali, insisted on taking that trip herself. When she’d suggested they take an extra few days for a vacation, Danica had swapped shifts with another doctor for six days off in a row. She’d even allowed Pete to use miles to upgrade her seat to first class — after all, they were celebrating.

So much had changed in the past year. Pete had moved to Denver, and they'd lasted nearly six months in separate condos before deciding to move in together. Today marked one year exactly from the day that Danica had taken a chance on their future. She'd hopped a flight to Costa Rica with Pete where they'd split their time between the hotel bed, exploring the rainforest, and lounging on the beach. Pete had even tried to teach Danica how to surf during that trip, but it would take a lot more practice before she felt confident enough to try out the waves at a place like Dreamland Beach.

Danica was grateful every day that they’d decided that trying again was worth the risk. Worth the mistakes and hurt and struggle. And in the end, they had found a lot to compromiseon — Pete had suggested they take it one day at a time, figure everything out as they went.

Reality had far surpassed anything Danica had ever dared to imagine — having Pete by her side felt like a dream she wasn’t sure she deserved, but couldn’t ever imagine living without. Pete was everything she hadn’t known she needed: fiercely supportive, effortlessly spontaneous, and somehow always in tune with her, reading her moods like they shared the same heart. Some days, Danica caught herself simply staring, overwhelmed by how effortlessly they fit, as though every piece of her had been made to align perfectly with Pete’s, and she marveled at how theyworked—how it felt like coming home every time they were together.

The turquoise blue waters of the Indian Ocean were particularly stunning today, and Pete had been ecstatic about the conditions all afternoon. Pete's joy was contagious, and Danica's cheeks hurt from smiling.

Danica made her way from the rocky ledge of the tide pools back toward the cave where they'd set up in the shade. Dreamland Beach was tucked into a sequestered alcove of steep rocky cliffs, brown and sun-bleached giants that made the coastline feel like its own little world. Small caves hollowed out the cliff faces, and though there were umbrellas for rent, Danica much preferred the cool seclusion. She sat down on her towel, squinting into the sun to watch as Pete dropped into a wave. Though Danica was far enough away that she couldn't make out details, she could picture the strong muscles of Pete's legs as she carved her way across the wave, the concentrated furrow in her brow as she flew across the water.

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