Epilogue
“Keller! Good to see you, man.” Remington shakes his friend’s hand.
He is just as tall as Remington, thicker though, like an immovable brick wall of muscle and tattoos.
So many tattoos. You would think that would make Keller Shore scary, but looking at his face, kindness radiates out of him.
He has dark hair, a crooked smile, double dimples that are sure to make women melt, and striking green eyes.
“It’s been too long.” Keller’s rumbling voice booms through his tattoo shop.
Remington motions to me. “This is my fiancé, Lainey.”
“Nice to meet you, Lainey.” Keller takes my hand, shaking it in a firm but gentle grasp.
“It’s really nice to meet you. I’ve heard so many stories from Remington.” I smile at the two friends.
“Oh shit, don’t believe any of them.” Keller throws his head back on a laugh. “Come on over to my station, I have everything ready to go for you.”
Anxiety rolls through my gut. I’m really doing this?
Remington, knowing me so well, runs his hands up and down my bare shoulders, whispering, “You can do this, baby. And if you changed your mind, we can try again another day.”
His unwavering love and support, always giving me the freedom to choose what I want, gives me the courage to sit down in the chair next to Keller.
Hours later, inked up my spine in shades of black and grey, resting between my shoulder blades, is a beautiful peony flower in bloom, drawn for me by Remington. Woven into the stem of the flower in cursive is the word “worthy.”
Worthy.
I finally believe it.
Worthy of love.
Worthy of loving myself.
Worthy of accepting love and kindness from others.
Worthy of this life Remington and I are building together.