Wild Side: Discover the instant Sunday Times bestseller and your newest small town romance obsession! (Rose Hill Book 3)

The roar of the crowd’s cheers buzzes across my skin and blocks out any other sounds or thoughts.

Only as I look down over my friend—who is still writhing in “pain”—do I make one final symbolic gesture. Slowly and with intention, I peel my mask back and off my face. The noise in the arena hits a deafening decibel, and I finally grin.

Then I turn and toss the mask toward my girl. She catches it and, without hesitation, pulls it over her face before standing up, clapping in time, and joining the crowd in their cheers.

I laugh, because suddenly, I’m back in that unfinished basement chasing Tabitha around. She’s laughing, wearing my mask and my ring. And it feels just as thrilling. I’m even more obsessed with her now than I was then.

As I take my last leap from the top rope, an entire lifetime of adventures flashes before my eyes.

I’ve been a lot of things in my life. Traveled a lot of places too.

But now I’m not just a wrestler. I’m a dad, I’m a friend, and I’m a husband to Tabitha Garrison, the mega-hot brunette who makes the best carbonara in the world.

And it strikes me that this is my favorite thing I’ve ever been.

My eyes drop lower, to the front row of floor seats where my wife sits.

Milo, now seven years old, sits on one side of her waving a sign that reads Wild Side is my dad in the messy scrawl of a small child.

Our daughter, Minka Garrison, is wrapped against her chest with a pair of lime-green earmuffs covering her shock of dark hair.

My in-laws, Lisa and Paul, are here too—decked out in every piece of Wild Side gear that money can buy.

I get lost for a moment, staring at them all. My family. My home. Seeing all these people who’ve cheered me on for so many years, I’m overcome with gratitude.

For this life. For this adventure. For all this love.

I shake my head and let my lips tip up as I gaze out over the culmination of everything I’ve been through.

It took me a long time to get to this place, but I’ve finally made peace with feeling like I deserve all the happiness I have. I’ve worked hard for it, and now I plan to spend the rest of my days enjoying everything I’ve been given.

“That one kind of looks like fingers. Hooked together.”

I smile and turn to my side, drawing Milo into me. Slotting him right against my front. He smells a little bit like Erika and feels a lot like home. As does the man who presses closer behind me. Spooning me just like I’m spooning Milo.

When he wraps his arm over us, his pinky links with mine.

And we drift off like that, under a bluebird sky with big puffy clouds floating above us.

Together.