Epilogue- Kennedy

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Chapter Song: Forever- Chelsea Cutler

1 year later.

"Okay, I'll see you next week." I smiled at Jean before walking out the door.

"Have a good week, Kennedy."

I had been seeing my therapist consistently since I got back last year. She'd been a lot of help, and while it was scary I was so glad I went.

It was good to get professional help. And to have so many supportive people behind me. Luckily while I spent the summer in Chicago we had our sessions over Zoom.

The summer was fun. It was needed. I felt like a kid again. Cal did get accepted into the internship, and Hayden let the two of us stay with him. It was good to have quality time with Hayden again.

When he was busy, Cal and I found ourselves exploring the city and falling in love with it. We joked about moving there. Part of me thought he was serious, and I didn't think I would hate the idea.

Liam, Riley, Natalie, Ty, and Mason flew out for Fourth of July. Natalie brought her girlfriend Alana too. Mason even mentioned how he started seeing someone but it was relatively new.

Ty was still being Ty. I had to admire it. He was truly himself and had other things to prioritize.

Like finally convincing me to coach our high school's swim team with him. It didn't take much honestly. I had come to check out the team more often and continued to give them tips. I even went to meets to get more photos for my portfolio. Finally I just gave in and accepted.

I was excited for this season. To be able to help other swimmers. To help them in a way that I know how. Something that I loved doing at one point. Even if I fell out of love with it, I started to fall for it again.

When I pulled into the parking lot I checked my phone. There was only one text from my dad asking about dinner this week.

We either had weekly dinners or Pancake Sundays. Sometimes we had both. Him and Tish recently received their two foster children, so it made our family meals more fun. Liam and Riley also joined us. Cal usually did when he wasn't busy. Sometimes even his mom came.

Those dinners or Sundays were my favorite. They gave me something to look forward to. And even though I would randomly cry leaving because how much I wish Livi was there, I knew she would have loved it. She probably would also tell me to stop crying. Or beg Cal to stay longer.

And when I would have a hard time Cal was there to hold my hand. Sometimes we'd mourn together. But that's how it worked sometimes. There were the good days and bad days, but there was always him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, out of retirement, Kennedy Parker!" Mason yelled across the pool as the doors shut behind me.

I laughed and bowed and played it off as if there were paparazzi. Riley and Natalie pretended to hold cameras and interview me.

Since Ty and I were the coaches we had keys to the pool. I owed him a race after he took his team to state last season. I was a woman of my word.

The team was on the bleachers anxiously waiting for us to race. They practiced while I had therapy. Ty knew about it, and let me miss practice on occasion. Usually I was late or we'd start practice later. But there were days where I'd miss if it was a heavy day.

Liam also brought the lacrosse team. It was the annual practice with them. I couldn't help but laugh at how we used to do it in high school. We'd place bets and everything. I missed those days sometimes.

"Ready to get your ass kicked KP?" Ty smirked at me putting on his goggles.

"In your dreams, Anderson," I smirked stepping onto the block.

It'd been so long since I stood on these blocks. I was already stretched and ready. I should have swam a few practice laps before hand, but we were only swimming a 50. Even if I was dying I would survive.

"Simmers take your mark," Mason called. Then it was Liam I think who blew the whistle.

The water was colder than expected and instantly shocked my body. I didn't tense up like I thought. It was a natural process that always happened. My body knew the water, it relished in swimming. My muscles worked together and I felt like I was gliding.

Don't look at the other swimmers. That was the number one rule. Never turn your head to look but I did it anyway. We were neck and neck. The only time he got ahead of me was our flip turn. But that was because we was taller than me. I had to work harder to keep up with him.

That was the downside of not being tall, I didn't have the length of a swimmer. But I worked just as hard if not harder.

"It was a tie!" Liam cried.

We both ripped our goggles off along with my swim cap. We glanced at each other and back to Liam confused. There was no way. All the kids on the bleachers were arguing about who won.

"No way, Kenny totally won," Riley yelled at him.

"I agree," Cal shrugged.

"You're only saying that so you can get into bed with her," Ty joked.

"Language!" Liam yelled. He was right. I don't think the students heard at all they were too far away.

"Hey, coach!" A lacrosse boy yelled.

Liam, Cal, and Mason all turned. Mason and Cal started to help Liam coach the past fall. They were good at it, won a state title. That hadn't been done since we were in high school. They were good with the boys too.

"Why don't you guys race them? That's what you used to do right?"

"We're retired," Mason called back.

"Oh so that's the game we're playing," I grinned wickedly. "I came out of my retirement. Or are you guys just too afraid to get showed up in front of your team."

"I have to agree with our coach over here," Ty gave me a smirk. "What do you guys think?" Ty asked the teams.

There were cheers and boos. Calling them chickens or weenies. I couldn't help but laugh at the whole ordeal.

"I'll race any of you," I told them. Natalie even said she'd race them and she wasn't a swimmer.

"Fine," they groaned.

While they were changing the lacrosse boys and the swim team started taking bets. We even set up a white board that had them. We also wrote down who from each team would race against each other after we swam. Next week they were going to teach our team how to play lacrosse. I was actually looking forward to it.

I let Liam win our race. Mainly so he wouldn't pout, but also because Cal promised he'd help me out for lacrosse next week. I figured it would be more funny to watch him pout next week about that.

"Parker!" Cal winked at me as he sauntered over.

"Yeah?" I asked from the water.

"Wanna place a bet for our race?"

I swore the whole room got silent. I bet you could hear a single drop of water land on the floor. The last time we bet on a race almost gave Liam and aneurism. I doubt it would be like that this time.

"If you win, I'll move in with you," he smiled.

We'd talked about it before. His and Ty's lease was almost up. Cal liked living with him, but I think he would rather come home to me. At least those were his words not mine.

Besides he already spent more time at my apartment than his. I liked having him there. I think even if I lost the bet it would still happen. I had a good feeling about that.

"And if you win?" I asked him. It was probably going to be the same answer except that I moved in with him or something.

"If I win," he paused. The goofiest grin grew on his face and his eyes lit up. "You have to marry me."

I smiled at him as I hopped out of the water. I stepped towards him never breaking eye contact. I held out my hand for his to shake. I was well aware of everyone around us. I didn't care what they were doing.

I wouldn't lose anything. There was only something to gain in this situation. When it came to Cal there were no more losses. He was by my side no matter what.

I took his hand in mine shaking it firmly. Our smiles could be seen for miles. He was going to be by my side for whatever deals we made. Whatever our next adventures would be, and all the messes. We'd clean it up together, and celebrate when needed. There's no one else I'd choose to do any of it with.

"Deal."


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