33. McKenna
I’m branching out of my typical athleisure style. I’ve got on my favorite pair of mom jeans; they’ve got a relaxed leg but are form-fitting across my waist and hips, making my ass look amazing, and I’ve got on a white bodysuit that tucks into my jeans. Dainty gold jewelry dangles from my ears and neck, and on my right pointer finger is the turquoise ring that Griff gave me.
Griffin said he was taking me, Cadence, and Ranger for a surprise mini staycation and to pack a bag for the weekend. In typical Griff fashion, he wouldn’t give me any details beyond the fact that I wouldn’t need to pack much for Cades since we would have a lot of things for her where we’re going.
I have my guess as to where we’re going, and I’m pretty sure I guessed right as we continue heading north toward my family’s cabin.
Turning down the volume of Paramore’s “Still Into You,” I look over at Griff and take him in. He is so effortlessly sexy in his Raybans, with his hand gripping the steering wheel. He’s got on his heathered gray Patagonia zip-up and dark-fitted jeans that cling to his athletic thighs, highlighting the perfect bulge that I can’t wait to get my hands on later. And of course, he tops the look off with a black backward hat with the Wolverines logo and the number ninety-one on it.
Is he trying to make me jump him right this second?
“Like what you see, Sunshine?”
I continue to gaze longingly at him, not even trying to hide my desire. “How could I not? You’re like my own personal brand of temptation.”
He bites down on his bottom lip, releasing it only to clench his clean-shaven jaw. “McKenna,” he warns, damn near growling my name. My stomach flutters, and I feel heat pooling between my legs.
Griff catches me squirming in my seat from the corner of his eye and adjusts himself in his seat.
“That’s right, Sunshine. Get nice and worked up for me. I have plans for you once our Little Ray goes to bed. Hopefully, you weren’t planning to get any sleep tonight.”
Oh, fuck. It’s only half past ten. If he plans to edge me all day, I might literally pass out when I finally come later.
Cadence is still napping, so Kenna and I are sitting on the back porch next to the fire I lit. We’re snuggled up on the daybed that overlooks the lake, where the sun is beginning to lower in the sky.
I’ve never felt so at peace as I do at this very moment.
“We’re back at the water, Sunshine. Just like you made me promise you we always would. I haven’t missed a year—but I regret not having been back together in the past two years. I want that to change, I want us to come together every year for the rest of our lives. Move in with me for real, Kenna. Please?”
Kenna’s breath hitches, and I can’t get a good read at the look on her face. Instead of her being able to answer me, though, the monitor alerts us that Cadence has woken up from her nap.
“I’ve got her,” I say and head down the hall to get my Little Ray. Hopefully, I can soak up some of her radiance to help settle my nerves. I’m going to need it.
After dinner, I buckle my girls into my Jeep and start our fifteen-minute trek north to the destination of my surprise.
When we pull up to West Pier Beach, Kenna asks, “Isn’t it a bit dark and cold for a beach outing, Hotshot?”
“We’re not here for the beach, Sunshine. Come on, I’ll show you what I’ve got up my sleeve,” I request as I open the back, grab out the two blankets I packed, and hide the other items in my pocket.
Thankfully, it’s an unseasonably warm night for late April in Minnesota, so Kenna and I are fine in our long sleeves. But that doesn’t stop me from bundling Cadence in her fleece winter bodysuit, hat, mittens, and boots to prevent her from getting cold.
Once we’ve bundled her up, I carry her in one arm and hold Kenna’s hand with the other as we walk toward the beach.
People are starting to crowd the beach for the festival, so I steer us toward the large booth with tables of paper lanterns for people to purchase.
“We’ll take one, please,” I tell the attendant before handing her my cash. “Thank you.”
I turn to find Kenna’s puzzled expression staring back at me.
“What is this?” she questions.
“It’s a lantern lighting festival. I thought we could light one in honor of Katie,” I explain as I take a marker from my pocket. “Do you want to write something on the lantern before we light it?”
“I’d love to. Griff, this is amazing.” She starts scribbling something on the lantern, but I don’t see what it is because Cadence distracts me with her excitement.
We move down the beach a little ways away from the booth to try to give us more space. Some people have already started lighting their lanterns, and the night sky begins to glow shades of orange and amber.
“How do we do this?”
I take a lighter from my pocket and hand it to Kenna. “If you grab one side, I’ll grab the other while you light the candle.” She lights it, and once she does, the message she inscribed on the side becomes illuminated. Kenna wrote a part of the chorus from Taylor Swift’s “Bigger Than The Whole Sky,” followed by Rest easy, sweet Katie Cat.
Tears fill my eyes as I lift my arm and release the lantern as it floats into the sky.
“She was a Swiftie through and through—I thought she would appreciate it,” Kenna says sheepishly.
“She would, Sunshine. I’m sure of it.”
I put my arm around Kenna’s shoulders and pull her in, snuggling Cadence against my chest on the other side.
“Look up there, Cadeygirl. Aren’t the lanterns so pretty?”
Cadence grabs my cheeks and points up at the sky ablaze with lanterns. “So pwetty, Dada!”
She’s getting wiggly in my arms. “Dada, down,” Cadence says, so I stand her up on the stiff sand below our feet. We’re far enough from the water that I feel comfortable letting her down.
I turn to Kenna and place my arms around her waist.
“What do you think, Sunshine?”
“I think this is the most amazing sight I’ve ever seen, Griff. Thank you for taking us. Seeing the sky lit up like this is magical. I love that we got to do this for Katie.”
I place my hands under her jaw and bring her in for a chaste kiss. When I pull back, Kenna places her hands on top of mine and says, “Yes.”
“Yes?” I question.
“Yes, we’ll move in with you, Griff. Full time.”
“Are you for real right now, McKenna?”
“I’m for real, and just in case you thought you were dreaming, I’ll gladly pinch you,” she chuckles and lightly pinches my hand.
I scoop Cadence up in my arms and bring Kenna in for another kiss, this time dragging it out and crossing into semi-inappropriate territory with our daughter in my arms. I pull back and rest my forehead against Kenna’s.
“Forever?” I ask.
“And it still won’t be long enough, G,” she replies before grabbing Cadence from my arms.
This moment just feels too perfect to pass up the opportunity.
Taking her left hand in mine, I rub small circles over her ring finger. “Kenna, you are my Sunshine on my darkest days, lighting the path back to you, to our family. With you as my teammate, I know we can get through anything. I want to know all your truths as we grow older together. Forever and always.”
Dropping down to one knee, I open the black velvet box I pulled from my pocket and hold it up to her.
“McKenna Marie, will you make me the luckiest man in this lifetime and marry me?”
I’m not expecting it as she lets go of my hand to drop down to her knees, with Cadence still in her arms, and wraps her free arm around me.
She nods her head into my neck, and relief spreads through me.
“Is that a yes, Sunshine?”
Still nodding her head, she pulls back, her aqua eyes staring into mine. “Yes, Griffin. A thousand times, yes!”
Not able to contain my happiness, I pull her in for a deep kiss, quickly getting caught up in the passion of this moment.
She breaks the kiss and rests her forehead against mine.
“Is this real life?” she asks.
“As real as it gets, my love.” I take the ring out of the box and slide it onto her finger.
Kenna gasps as she takes in the ornate ring I had custom-made for her. The center is a two-carat oval diamond that is surrounded by a halo of sunburst diamonds, making it look like a sun. Fuck, she looks so good finally wearing my ring on her left hand. She looks like mine.
Kenna nuzzles Cadence against her cheek, unshed tears still glistening in her eyes. My entire world begins and ends with the two of them.
Our love can never go back to what it was—we’ve grown, changed, hardened, and re-formed into who we both are now. Our love has evolved through our heartache and loss. Now that we’ve found our way back to each other, I never want to go back to what it was—I love what it is now so much more. I know I’ll love Kenna for the rest of my life. But I’m certain I won’t love her the way I love her today, tomorrow, or years from now. I’ll love her more and more with each breath I take for the rest of my life.
THE END