Chapter 45
FORTY-FIVE
Rhett
Present Day
Lainey
So … I did something today.
Me
You stopped taking your birth control.
Lainey
Ha! NO. Nice try though.
Me
Tell me.
Lainey
How about I show you instead?
A picture came through, and I pressed on it to blow up the image. It took a second before I realized I was looking at Lainey’s wrist. In the center, a black infinity symbol had been tattooed, and in the middle of the loop was an R .
Lainey
I’m your why. But you’re my why too, Rhett. Forever.
I balanced the bottom of my phone on my desk, and after rereading her words several times, I looked at her tattoo once more. At the symbolism she’d permanently inked on her body. At the letter she not only wore around her neck again, but now on her hand that was closest to her heart.
This woman … did she know what she was doing to me?
Every gesture, every surprise, every word she spoke.
It all made me love her even more—when more wasn’t even possible.
Me
Baby, you put me on your body.
Lainey
I can’t see the necklace unless I look in a mirror. But this? I can look at it whenever I want. That’s important to me. Having you there. Always.
Me
I can’t wait to kiss it.
Lainey
I can’t wait to kiss you tonight.