Uncrushable (Forehead Kisses #3) (24 page)

“Can I tell you something?” I whispered.

“Yes.”

“I’m glad he’s dead.”

“I am too,” he said without hesitation. He finally pulled his face away from my neck, the tears gone. “I love you so much, baby. I couldn’t live without you…”

“I couldn’t live without you.”

He rested his head against mine and closed his eyes. “I’m glad all of this is over—everything.”

“We survived—and now we’re stronger because of it.”

“We’re unbreakable.”

“Unshakeable.”

He pressed his lips to my forehead. “And now uncrushable.”

Epilogue

Liam

I hopped on my feet, circling my opponent in the ring. He aimed a few swipes at me, but missed every hit. I was too fast, and he was too big. His muscle mass was weighing him down.

When he threw his fist at my face, I dodged out of the way.

“Kick his ass!” Keira was on the outside of the rope, screaming at the top of her lungs.

I smirked. Her enthusiasm was adorable.

He lunged at me, trying to finally land a hit.

“Take him out!” Keira pulled on the ropes.

I sidestepped his punch then kneed him from behind. When he was down, I wailed my fists against his face, bloodying his lip more than I already had. He tried to cover his face but I wouldn’t let him.

The ref blew the whistle. “End of match.”

Keira screamed louder than I ever heard her. “Yes! Liam!”

I retreated to my corner and wiped my forehead with a towel. Water was handed to me and I downed it.

Keira crawled through the ropes then wrapped her arms around me despite all the sweat on my chest. “You put him in his place.”

I smirked at her, loving the sight of her at the sidelines. “I did.”

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me. “So proud of you.”

My eyes softened while I stared at her. “Thanks.”

The guys climbed onto the stage.  Bran clapped my shoulder. “Let’s go out. Liam is buying.”

“Look how that worked out,” I said sarcastically.

“Let’s head to the Gaslight,” Tony said. “It helps with the ladies when they see me with a champion.”

“Always using me,” I said.

“I like to use you too…” Keira gave me a playful look.

“Well, that’s perfectly okay,” I whispered to her.

Scotty looked uncomfortable. “Anyway…”

“Let’s head out,” Bran said.

Johnny came onto the stage. “Good match.” He shook my hand.

“Thanks, man.”

He handed me the check. “Your winnings…”

Bran tried to snatch it away.

“I don’t think so, buddy.” I handed it to Keira.

Keira took it and placed it in her wallet.

“Why does she get the money?” Tony demanded.

“Because she’s my girl,” I argued.

“And I rock his world,” Keira added.

Scotty looked uncomfortable again. “Anyway…”

“Let’s go,” Bran said. “I’m parched.”

We moved through the crowd as we headed outside. I kept Keira close to my side, protecting her with my size.

When we were outside, Keira handed me a shirt. “I don’t want anyone else to see that more than they have to.” She kissed the skin over my heart. “This is mine.”

I liked her increase in confidence and her territorial ways. “Yes, ma’am.” She wore one of my swag t-shirts, a picture of me with my fists pressed together. It had my name and my title in red. It looked good on her.

We headed to the bar then walked inside. I recognized most of the regulars from school.

“I’ll get the beers.” Bran headed to the bar.

I pulled out Keira’s chair for her but she didn’t sit down. She looked at me like I was crazy. Then she pushed me into the chair then dropped her bottom on my lap. Her arm hooked around my neck, and she was weightless on my thighs.

Scotty shook his head slightly. “Let’s keep this PG.”

“Nope.” Keira nibbled on my ear before she pulled away. “I got to make sure all these girls know Liam is taken.”

“I think it’s pretty clear, baby.” My large arm hooked around her slim waist. Weeks after Finn’s death, she finally returned to her normal self. She was quiet every day, not saying much and keeping to herself. But then her true self came out, but she was different. For the first time, she seemed truly happy, not having a care or worry. She was accepted into the credential program, and she loved every second of her training. All the weight and stress was finally lifted from her shoulders. She was a whole new woman, strong and courageous.

“Adrianna is here,” Scotty said, watching the crowd.

She walked by then stilled when she saw Keira on my lap.

Fear moved into her eyes then she darted away, practically running.

Keira watched her the entire time, threatening her silently.

Scotty laughed. “Who knew my cousin would be a badass?”

“I did,” I said.

Bran came back with the beers then passed them around. “To Liam.”

I raised my glass and clanked it against everyone’s. “To me.”

“And me, his manager.” Keira smiled then downed her glass.

A small line of foam was on her mouth so I leaned in and kissed it away.

“Seriously, I’m going to vomit,” Scotty said. “Wait until you get home.”

Keira grabbed my neck and gave me a scorching kiss. “We prefer public places.”

Scotty rolled his eyes. “I’m realizing that…”

We talked about the match and the poor performance of my opponent.

“You’re a machine,” Tony said. “If I were in a dark alley, I wouldn’t want to run into you.”

“I would,” Keira said with a mischievous look.

“But I would want Liam with me if I ran into Keira in a dark alley,” Bran said.

“My baby is pretty badass,” I said.

“Yep.” She finished her beer then took a sip of mine.

I didn’t mind. We’d come a long way to get to where we were now. It was full of obstacles, pain, and hard work, but it was worth every second. We were already strong, but now our relationship couldn’t be defied. She was my best friend, my partner, and my accomplice. When I was weak, she pulled me up. When she fell, I picked her up.

It was everything I could have wanted.

“Where are you taking me?” Keira asked.

“You’ll see.” I kept one hand on the steering wheel and the other around her shoulders. I had a surprise for her and I was excited to show her.

“Hmm…” Her mind started to work. “Can I eat it?”

I smirked. “No.”

“Can I wear it?”

“No.”

She paused. “Is it pink?”

I laughed. “No.”

“Damn, what is it?”

I shrugged. “You’ll see.”

I pulled into the parking lot on the side of the building then killed the engine. She looked around, analyzing everything around her. I jumped out of the truck then waited for her to follow me. When she was on the ground, she looked at the building. It was empty and without a sign.

“Why are you taking me here?”

I took her hand. “I’ll show you.”

When we reached the door, I pulled out the key and unlocked it.

We stepped inside and then surveyed the empty room. Mirrors were on every wall, and there were two smaller rooms.

Keira paced the room, staring at every corner and nook. She studied her features in the mirror then kept moving, trying to figure it out. “Okay. I give up.”

“I bought it.”

Confusion flooded her face. “Why?”

“I’ve decided to open a self-defense studio. You and I will be instructors.”

Her eyes widened and emotions drained inside. Brightness emitted from deep within, making them shine from their own luminesces. “Really?”

I nodded. “I think we’d be great trainers.”

She stepped closer to me, at a loss of words.

“I’ll still compete in my fights, but during the week, I could work here.”

A smile stretched her face. “I love it. It’s perfect.”

I knew she would like it. “It is.”

She jumped into my arms and wrapped her legs around my waist. “Thank you so much.”

My hands moved to her ass, keeping her close to me. “You’re welcome.”

“When do we start?” she said excitedly.

I shrugged. “Whenever you want.”

“Then let’s start now.”

Over the next few weeks, we got everything ready for the studio. The equipment was ordered and we got our business license. Keira was more than excited. It was all she could talk about. She was even more passionate about it than teaching. I wondered if she would be able to juggle both or she would just quit teaching. I wouldn’t pressure her either way. I made more than enough money so she didn’t need to work at all, but I wouldn’t hold her back from her dreams.

We worked in our garden every day. It was our favorite pastime. We didn’t speak often, but our minds were still connected during our work. Feeling my hands in the soil made me feel the dirt, the heartbeat of the earth. We had a silent routine. She took care of the vegetables and I took care of the flowers.

The California Poppies swayed in the breeze. I pulled the weeds from the soil and made sure the soil was damp enough. Sometimes there wasn’t enough nitrogen so it needed to be added. I always tested it, making sure every plant had its exact needs.

“Look how big these tomatoes are.”  Keira held one up to me. It was round and plump.

“Impressive.”

She placed it in the basket and kept picking from the garden.

I finished my planter box then wiped the dirt from my hands. I sat on the bench and watched her work. A small line of sweat was on the back of her neck, but she never complained about the heat. A smile was on her face and her eyes were bright. She loved every second of gardening.

Every time I was out here, I imagined our lives together. We were exactly the way I wanted to be. She trusted me implicitly, and that feeling was mutual. We were both strong, but not as strong as we were together. Time would pass and our beauty would fade, but the connection of our souls would never loosen. When I imagined the years of meaningless sex, empty relationships, and lonely nights, I realized how much she saved me. I was an old soul, experiencing more turmoil than anyone my age, and she had the same dents in her lifetime. Like flowers from the same root, we were from the same beginnings.

She leaned on the balls of her feet then wiped her forehead. Then she picked up the basket and sat beside me on the bench, placing it next to her. “Looks like we’re having vegetable lasagna for dinner.”

“Sounds good.”

She wiped her hands on her jeans then scooted closer to me.

The sky was turning orange and red, the sunset disappearing in the distance. She and I stared at it silently, enjoying the quiet sounds of the world. A hummingbird ate from its feeder, and a butterfly passed before our eyes. Time stopped when we were here.

With her eyes directed to the sky, I stared at her face, memorizing every feature I adored. When I looked at the green color of her orbs, it reminded me of the vibrant hue of our garden. Every beautiful aspect of light burned in her eyes. I could stare at them forever.

“Keira?”

“Hmm?”

“I love you.” The words rang loud and true. I felt them resonate in my heart, making it clutch painfully.

She turned to me, the same feeling in her eyes. “I love you.”

“I want to spend the rest of our lives like this, every day.”

She studied my face, the emotion shining like a beacon in her eyes.

“I want to be with you forever, having silent conversations without realizing it, sharing every secret through quiet whispers. You’re the only person who truly understands me, who knows the hardships I’ve endured. With you, I don’t need to explain myself. You’re another flower in my garden, growing in the same light that nourishes us both. We’ve survived every frost, and we prosper every spring. My heart beats for you and yours beats for me.”

Her eyes coated with tears but they didn’t fall. I didn’t usually express my emotions in this way. I was never good with words, not like she was. The only way I could really show her how I felt was through my touch. Every night we were together, she knew exactly how I felt about her.

The moment I’d been waiting for finally arrived.

I moved off the bench then lowered myself to one knee.

Keira gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. The coat of moisture bubble then formed a drop. When she blinked, it fell. The light in her eyes darkened, her body tensing at the sight of me.

I pulled the ring out of my pocket then extended it to her. It was simple, a single band with a single diamond. I knew she didn’t want anything extravagant. She wanted something plain because she added so much to it with her beauty. “Say yes.”