Epilogue

Mason

"You're slacking, big guy." Reed glances down at me and winks.

She's gripping the rock over her head, looking confident from where she's hanging over me.

Every time we go rock climbing, she gets a little better at it. A little more confident. It's why she's grinning at me now, looking down like a goddess from up on her ledge.

She's adorable. Even though she knows I could easily catch up, she likes trying to put me in my place. After all, Reed is the better rock climber. She's smart about it. She thinks about every move. And given her short arms and legs, she has to make twice as many of them as I do. So while I climb the rock quickly on strength and height alone, she works for it.

"Careful or I might reach up and get you." I grin, inching up a little more, and grazing my fingers over the back of her calf as I do.

Enough to tease her without doing anything that might result in her actually losing her balance.

"You could try." She reaches above her head, grabbing a little farther this time to pull away from me.

Every time she makes a move she gets a wrinkle between her eyebrows. Her mind works as she analyzes the surface, deciding what's the best way to go. It's nowhere near as easy as the rock wall we first climbed in the city, but I think that's what she appreciates about it.

We're slowly making our way up the mountain. One move at a time. I'll take forever if needed because she's so happy out here, and I love seeing it.

The first time we tried outdoor rock climbing was shortly after everything happened with Carter. Reed's therapist suggested she do something that she'd always wanted to do and never had. She came up with rock climbing and asked if I'd go with her.

To an actual rock this time.

The way her face flushed when she asked was enough to sway my answer, even if it was already a yes.

There's a part of her that is still skittish. She'll hesitate in asking for what she wants from me, thinking it might not be what I want to do. I'm slowly trying to break her out of that shell. Trying to help her understand that I want to do things for her and that it doesn't put me out.

The same way she does little things for me. Which she does, considering all the time I spend at the shop.

There are long weekends where we don't get to spend much time together and late nights. But she supports me chasing my dreams. She knows tattooing is important, and she wants me to have that.

The same way I want her to have everything.

Like today, finding a new spot to climb. A new challenge.

Slowly, we've gone from bouldering to top climbing, like we're doing today, and it's a little tricky. But we still have the security of the pre-set anchors, ropes, and belayers at the bottom.

I'm not a huge fan of heights, but I like seeing Reed smile, so I just avoid looking down.

Reed pauses about halfway up and waits for me. It's not a big climb, and the belayers told us to take our time—especially after I told them what I was planning.

Reed likes climbing rocks because she likes solving puzzles. But today I'm going to make it a little different.

When she smiles down at me, she's my entire world illuminating. I didn't used to like spending long stretches of time with people because they never really cared about me. But with Reed, it isn't about money, sex, or distraction.

It's us, wanting to just be together.

"You stopped," I say when I catch up.

She smiles, glancing over her shoulder and taking in the view.

Whenever we pause, the ropes are locked, so even if we sway away from the rock, we won't go anywhere. Which is the excuse I need to reach over and pull her closer to me.

"Just taking in the scenery for a moment."

"It's a nice view."

She narrows her eyes as I tug her closer, and one leg straddles mine.

I'm pretty sure it's frowned upon, but since I already told them what I'm planning, they don't yell up at us to get back on the rock.

The anchors are secure, and we're the only couple climbing today.

"You aren't even looking out at the view."

"Yes, I am. And the only scenery worth looking at is right here." Leaning in, I plant a kiss on her and love the smile that climbs her cheeks.

"You're too good to me."

"Nah, I'm just borderline acceptable."

She shakes her head, pretending to swat at my chest, but I don't budge. Her gaze dips to the tattoo peeking out of my sleeve on my forearm, and she starts tracing it like she often does.

When we started officially dating, she asked me what every single tattoo of mine meant. And she sat there while I explained each one. It was almost like looking through a photo album of heartbreak and memories, and she listened to the stories, like she was a part of them with me.

The next day I went to Echo and had her ink me as a surprise just for Reed—the stick figure picture she had drawn on the wall at the old Twisted Roses shop. It was painted over when we officially moved locations. But I had a photo of it up in my station at the new parlor because I didn't want to truly leave it behind.

Reed didn't believe it at first. She thought it was Sharpie, and I was kidding. But when she realized it was real, and I actually tattooed her picture on my forearm, she cried big happy tears that melted my heart.

It made me want to tattoo my entire body with memories of her just to make her happy like that always.

This girl is everything.

"I guess now's a good time then," I say as she hangs there for a minute looking out around us.

"For what?" She glances back at me.

Reaching in my pocket, I realize I really didn't think this through since the harness is bunched up and I can barely get my fingers inside, but I make it work.

"The anticipation is killing me." Reed's eyebrows pinch as she watches me struggle.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny." Finally, I snatch what I'm looking for, and somehow manage not to drop it.

Reed glances at my hand, and her face is still for a minute as she processes. Her eyes dart from the ring between my fingers to me before looking back again.

Her cheeks are the brightest pink. A perfect blush that compliments her strawberry lips.

"Mason, what is this?"

I tip her chin up to look at me. "I thought about doing this on one knee, but then I thought this would be more fitting because from the second I met you I've been floating."

"That's so cheesy." She laughs, even as a tear slips out.

"You love it." I wipe the tear from her cheek. "And I'm not kidding. You knock gravity right out from under me. You challenge me. You complete me. I made a promise to myself that if you ever gave me a chance, I wouldn't waste it. I'd spend every day appreciating you, even if you someday figure out I don't deserve you. I want to give you everything, Reed Jackson. Because you're everything I need, and you gave me you."

Tears run down her cheeks as she blinks at me. Her lip trembles, and I drag my thumb over it.

"Will you marry me?" I ask her.

Air holds in my chest. The birds might even get quiet around us. I hang, literally suspended, waiting for her to decide if I can be worth it. If she can love me as much as I love her. Enough to give me all her days.

I hang here, with the only girl who has ever seen me, and I hold my heart out for her as proof that I'll protect her own.

Reed blinks, kissing the pad of my thumb. "Of course I will, Mason."

I pull her in for a kiss, and the ropes creak, which at any other moment might terrify me, but I don't care right now. Reed said yes.

Claps come from below us, and Reed looks down as they start whistling before her gaze comes back to mine.

"You planned this?"

"I did." I grin.

"Guess now I know why they weren't asking if we were going to keep going." She smiles.

I take her hand and slip the ring onto her finger.

She mentioned once that she didn't like diamonds because she finds gestures more important than possessions. So I had an intricate white gold band crafted for her instead.

"It's beautiful." She inspects the woven strands and smiles.

"Not as beautiful as you."

"You're a serious cheeseball today." She rolls her eyes but pulls me to her for another kiss as she says it.

"I am. You bring it out of me. And I don't care, you said yes. That's all that matters."

"You actually thought I wouldn't?"

"I mean, you never know. You keep me on my fucking toes, Sticks."

She grins at my comment. "It's for your own good."

"Yes, it is."

"So then…" Reed wraps her arms around my shoulders and pulls her body closer to me. "Does my brother know you're going to make an honest woman out of me?"

"He does."

Sage has always been a little hesitant about me getting involved with his sister, but I never took it personally because I get it. No one is ever good enough for your sister.

Still, when I told him I was proposing to her, he seemed genuinely happy about it, and offered to give me the weekend off.

Reed might think this little climb is the end of it. But we've got a cabin all to ourselves, and I'm going to sit around a fire with her and do all the dirty things I know my girl has been thinking about since she started reading a new book series.

Reed smiles so big it looks like she's up to something.

"What?"

"Nothing." She bites her lip. "It's just Lyla told me this might be coming."

"Your brother and his big mouth."

Reed leans her head back and laughs. "No, I don't think it was him. About a month ago, she brought me a tarot card and said you were it."

"So, you're telling me the universe gave away my secrets? Because that's about the time I bought this ring. Lyla's a cool chick and all, but it's kinda creepy when she reads the future."

"You get used to it."

"Whatever you say." I kiss her again.

"So, what now?" she asks, beaming at me.

"Now, we climb this fucking rock so I can kiss my fiancée properly." I release her so we can go back to gripping the rock surface. "Unless you'd like to stop and celebrate right here. You think I could fuck you against this cliff?"

"I think you could try, and it wouldn't go very well." She grins. "Plus, they might have approved our little pause for the proposal, but I don't think our belayers would appreciate that."

"Depends on if we give them a good enough show." I wink.

Reed shakes her head. "Nice try. But my pants are firmly secured by this harness."

"Fair point. Guess we need to get you out of the harness. Race you to the top then, Sticks."

"What are we racing for?"

I think about that for a second, and then just admit what's motivating me. "I win, I put you on your knees."

"Okay." Her cheeks flush. "Then if I win, I put you on yours."

"Yes, ma'am."

I yell down to let the belayers know that we're ready to go, and we find our footing on the rock wall again.

I probably could win if I actually wanted to, but I don't.

And when I lose, I'm sure Reed knows it's on purpose. But she doesn't point it out. She doesn't have time. Because the moment we get to the cabin, I start on my knees as promised, and the only thing that leaves her mouth all night long are her beautiful screams.