Page 175 of Beyond the Stroke

She laughs, and I feel some of the tension dissolve between us.

I slide a hand into her hair, threading my fingers through the soft waves.

“Well, you can’t eat me for your cheat day snack.”

“That’s what you think.” I lift a brow, grinning.

She shakes her head at me, tears in her eyes and a small smile on her lips.

“About what you said? That I make you happy and that?—”

“I love you.” I say it again firmer this time.

“You promised you wouldn’t fall in love with me.”

“Yeah, well, you promised the same.”

She exhales, not in frustration, but in surrender.

“Guess we’re both liars then.”

“Speak for yourself. I’ve never been more honest in my life.”

I take her left hand, feeling the cool ridges of her diamond wedding band beneath my thumb.

“I didn’t think I’d ever want more than swimming, but then you showed up, messy and brilliant and wild, and now I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

Something cool and wet nudges my ankle.

I glance down at Edgar. “You too, buddy.”

When I look back at Summer, she’s giving me a look—part amused, part exasperated.

“Did you say messy?” she asks, narrowing her eyes.

I nod, pressing a kiss to her pout. “But in the best way.”

There’s so much to tell her but right now I want her to know what matters most. Our life together.

“I don’t know what happens next with swimming. I’ve never been more uncertain about the future. But I do know is that I want you there. Whatever happens—win or lose, gold or nothing—I want you beside me.”

She nods, eyes shining.

We stand there, quiet for a beat, just holding each other.

“Rory?” she says softly.

“Hmm?”

“I love you, too.”

My chest squeezes at her words.

I pull back to look at her. My beautiful, talented wife.

“I love the way you look at me like I matter. I love that you don’t let me hide, but you know when I need a safe place, too.”Her fingers tease along my jaw. “I even love how you think squirrels are out to get you.”

“They are out to get me,” I mutter. “One of them threw an acorn at my head last week with sniper-like precision.”

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