Parker shakes her head, but it doesn’t toss the confusion from her face. “What?”

I put the hammer down beside the box cutter. “I need you to promise me to never think that you are second to anyone or anything in my life. I get I made you feel that way before. I made you feel you were second to football. I let…him make me think that was the only way. But it isn’t true.”

I stand, walking down the stairs.

“Because things might’ve been different, but maybe I would’ve been better with you beside me all these years. I need you to understand that I think you are the bravest, strongest person I know. And that’s saying something.” I reach out, wiping away the tears from her cheeks. “Most of my friends are close to three hundred pounds.”

I feel like I can finally breathe when Parker lets out a soft laugh.

“I need you to understand that I’d do anything for you. Rip up carpet”—I motion behind me—“take on a demonic mother-in-law. All of it. I’d do it for you. But I need you to do something for me, Parker.”

She tries to get a hold on her quivering lips but doesn’t succeed. “What?” she asks again.

I tilt up her chin. “Let me be beside you when you turn the world upside down. Even if I’m in the line of fire, I promise you, the country will never have seen a husband prouder of his wife.”

The quivering takes over her entire face as I kiss her.

Maybe it’s the thousandth kiss we’ve shared in a short period of time, but this one feels and tastes different. And what Parker says next after she wraps her arms around my neck lets me know why.

“I love you, Fitz.”

* * *

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“What?” I ask, pulling her to my side. “Walk without being followed? I’d love to keep doing it. Let’s take another lap.”

Parker taps my middle. “Fitz, if you need to take some and think⁠—”

“There’s been enough taking,” I tell her. “Foller took you from me. Your parents took your freedom. That place took Sarah’s life and god knows how many others’.”

Today, we’re taking back what we can.

After finishing up what I could of the stairs and a shower, I made two courtesy calls. The first was to Heath to tell him it might be in his best interest to find a new coach immediately because I was certain that by the time the news broke, there wouldn’t be any Rebels players willing to suit up for Foller.