Page 69 of All The Things We Were

He grabbed my ankle and squeezed. "My poor baby. Do you need afootrub."

"Desperately."

"And a nice, hotbubblebath?"

I thought of the frigid temperatures outside and practically moaned attheidea.

"I love you," he said with a chuckle. "I need to pack my gear up, but would love to drive you home after. That is, if you don't think Averywouldmind."

I looked over to Avery and Carter on stage. He kept trying to put stuff away, only to have Avery interrupt with a smooch or some kind of touch. They weren't getting married until the spring, but one look at the two of them would make you think they were on their honeymoonalready.

"I don't thinkshe'llmind."

He snuck one more kiss, giving me butterflies, before running back to thestage.

Life wasn't a fairy tale, I knew that. Things weren't always easy between the two of us as we figured out ourbalance.

But Rainier was my prince charming, and I knew he alwayswouldbe.