Page 164 of Only the Wicked
Later, as we’re getting dressed, Rhodes suddenly stops with one sock halfway on.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I just realized something.”
“What?”
“We own a swimming hole.”
“We do.”
“That’s possibly the coolest thing anyone’s ever said.”
I burst out laughing. “You own a tech company worth billions of dollars.”
“Yeah, but that’s just business. This?” He gestures at the clear water, the surrounding trees, the boulder where we first jumped together. “This is ours. This is our origin story.”
As we pack up to leave, I look back at the swimming hole one more time. The late afternoon light glimmers over the water, and I can almost see us as we were that first day—uncertain, attracted, teetering on the edge of something that would change everything.
Now we’re standing on solid ground, sure of each other and the life we’re building together. But this place, our place, will always be here to remind us of how we started. Sure, there was deception and distrust, but we worked through it. No matter what comes, we’ll work through it.
“Ready?” Rhodes asks, shouldering his pack.
I take his outstretched hand. “Ready.”
As we walk back through the forest toward the trailhead, Rhodes suddenly stops and pulls me close.
“What now?” I ask, teasing.
“I’m just thinking about all the times we’ll come back here. All the anniversaries, all the summers, maybe someday with…”
“With what?”
“Kids,” he says softly. “Little ones learning to jump off that rock.”
The image makes my heart skip. “Getting ahead of yourself there, MacMillan.”
“Maybe. But when you know, you know.”
“And you know?”
“I know I want everything with you, Syd. Every anniversary, every season, every adventure.”
“Even the scary ones?”
“Especially the scary ones.”
I stand on my toes to kiss him, tasting the promise of all those tomorrows.
“Then let’s go home,” I say. “The day’s not over. I’ve got more planned.”
“Have you now?”
“You know me…something wicked.” I grin, wiggling my eyebrows while tugging on his hand.
He slaps my ass and I squeal as he pulls me back against his chest. “You’re a temptress, Mrs. MacMillan.”
As we emerge from the forest, the sun is setting behind the mountains, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold. Rhodes helps me into the Scout, but before closing my door, he leans in.
