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Indy’s another of my old Army buddies, and he used to be in the same GB battalion as Rafe, Niall, Rhiannon, and Xavier. Indy left the Army after losing his arm, and he’s been living out in DC for the last two years, hermiting himself just like Tyler’s been.

I get it—that feeling of emptiness after your career, your purpose, has been taken away from you. Feeling like you have nothing left to offer. Feeling like your future is a big question mark with no good answer.

That’s how I felt for a while.

Then Cole called me. Asked me about joining Blade and Arrow. Told me he believed in me even when I wasn’t sure I believed in myself.

And now here I am. With a job I love. Living and working with the best friends I could ever have. Married to the love of my life.

If it could happen for me, if it could happen for my teammates, there’s no reason it couldn’t for Rafe. Or Tyler. Or Indy.

Just because I couldn’t be a Green Beret anymore didn’t mean I couldn’t make a difference.

My injuries didn’t mean I was useless.

My PTSD didn’t mean I could never find love.

And oh, did I find it.

Love.

And it’s so much bigger than I ever understood.

Loving Tate is everything.

It’s waking up every morning with her snuggled in my arms, her hair spilling across my chest and her breath feathering across my skin.

It’s sexy showers together in our newly-redone bathroom, which now hastworainshower heads and a bench in case we decide to get creative.

It’s gardening with Tate, spending that quiet time together. Seeing her proud smile when one of the plants she carefully tended blossoms to life.

It’s being there for her when she has nightmares. And letting her be there for me.

It’s worrying about her when I’m not around to protect her. Whether I’m away on a job or she’s just taking a quick trip into Seguin.

It’s knowing how love really feels. How all-encompassing it is.

Unexpectedly, my throat goes thick.

“Erik?” Tate strokes her fingers across my beard. “Are you okay?”

“Of course.” I turn my face to kiss her palm. “I’m just thinking about you. And how lucky I am.”

“I’m the lucky one,” she replies. “Running into you in the woods like that. What are the chances?”

Sarah smiles at us. “It was meant to be. Just like Matt crossing that parking lot when Isla needed help. Dante sitting at my table at the wedding. Jade calling Niall when she was in trouble. Xavier meeting Lucy at the bookstore. And Hawk and Rhi ending up on the same team.”

Dante kisses Sarah, affection softening his features. “Going to that wedding was the best decision I ever made.”

Matt glances at Isla. “Just like cutting through that parking lot in Dallas.”

Tate looks at Rafe. “You never know, Rafe. I never imagined I’d meet my future husband while I was out on my morning hike in the middle of nowhere. But here I am.” She turns to me. “Hereweare. Happy. In love. Married.”

Emotion clogs my throat. I have to take a few swallows before I can speak. “I love you, Mrs. Rivers. So much.”

“I love you?—”

But she’s interrupted by the distinctivetingof a knife tapping on glass.