Page 163 of Too Far

Kendrick and Decker guide Thomas to the same door.

Locke and Kylian wrap their arms around me, each by my side.

“It’s done,” I whisper in awe.

“It’s done,” Kylian vows, kissing the top of my head as Locke blows out a long sigh of relief at my other side.

Chapter 73

Decker

Kendrickcutsacrossthelake faster than normal, chasing the light of the setting sun on the water as we make our way home.

I’ve received dozens of calls since my press conference: from the school, from my coach, from the NCAA rep at LCU, and from multiple partners severing contracts.

We knew that would happen.

It still stings.

Megan set up a control room for us in the executive suite of a nearby hotel, where we spent a few hours fielding questions and updating the lawyers. Kendrick signed with her, too, and Megan is confident she can navigate his image in the coming months and ensure he’s still a top pick for the draft.

It helps that I just blew up my own life in a very public way. Kendrick’s unsubstantiated charges seem trivial compared to the shitshow of drama I just created. It’s the perfect distraction.

Leaving the team to continue handling the fallout was hard, but Megan insisted we go home and take some time to breathe.

And breathe we can. Everything else is handled. We worked around the clock over the last few days to ensure everything is done.

My lawyers submitted our marriage license to my mom’s estate first thing Monday morning.

The money is ours. My dad is gone. There’s still a lot of heartache around my mom’s death to unpack, but as we cruise across the lake, I push that all out of my mind. In this moment, I can’t help but feel like we finally made it. We’re free.

“Hi, husband,” Josephine purrs as she switches seats with Kylian and scoots closer. “How are you holding up?”

For a second, I really consider her question. I just blew up my life. Destroyed my career. Cut ties with my dad. Yet… “I’m good.Reallygood.“ I sling an arm over her shoulders, which she takes as an invitation to straddle my lap.

This girl.

My wife.

Once again, she’s not wearing a life jacket. Fear flutters inside me when I’m hit with an image of the speed boat grounded on the isle and all the people I love pouring out of it.

I turn to Kendrick, ready to tell him to slow down, but before I can, he’s backing off the throttle on his own. His chin tip confirms we’re on the same wavelength.

Resting her forehead against mine, she rakes her nails over my scalp. I’m hit with a wave of tingles that only relaxes me more.

“What you said to your dad… about a prenup… I didn’t even think of that. Is it too late? Is a postnuptial agreement a thing? I’m happy to sign one.”

“Siren.” I trace up the hollow of her throat with two fingers and gently lift her chin so she’s forced to look at me.

Fuck. She’s gorgeous. The sincerity in her eyes as she surveys me in return makes my still tender heart ache. She’s mine. She’s ours. And most importantly, she’s letting me hold her now. She’s willing to let me put in the work to stitch together the relationship she deserves.

“I didn’t ask for one, because if you want out, then I want you to have that option. You’ll get the house. Half the money. Anything you want.” I clear my throat and lean into the vulnerability I’m learning to embrace. “I won’t fight you. As long as you promise to stick with them and take care of them”—I jut my chin at the guys—“I won’t fight you over anything.”

She lets out a quiet sob, her chest heaving, and tears well in her eyes, but she blinks them back, never looking away from me.

“Thank you, Decker,” she whispers, hugging my neck and resting her head on my shoulder.

I exhale and hug her back, keeping my cool, though the familiar ache of rejection sours my mood.