Page 849 of End Game

“You never asked me to be quieter. Less independent. Less complicated. Less tattooed. Less sick. Less stubborn.”

Griffin laughs wetly.

“Definitely not less stubborn.”

“Good. Because that one wasn’t happening.”

The room laughs with them.

Then her voice softens again.

“Thank you for loving me without asking me to stop being myself.”

That one fucking lands.

“You somehow made space for more of me instead.”

Griffin is crying openly now.

“So I promise you the same thing. I promise I will never ask you to make yourself smaller so I can feel bigger. I promise I’ll tell you what I need instead of pretending I don’t need anything. I promise not to make you guess when I’m hurt, even though I am probably going to be terrible at that one for a while.”

He laughs softly.

“I promise I will keep choosing you. Not because you’re my husband on paper. Not because you’re the safest option. And not because you rescued me.”

Her smile trembles.

“Although you really fucking love rescuing people.”

He laughs again.

“I choose you because you’re you.”

She wipes her cheek with the heel of her hand.

“I promise to keep building this ridiculous life with you even when the map makes absolutely no fucking sense. And I promise that no matter how many people love us, no matter how complicated our family becomes, being loved by them will never make what I feel for you smaller.”

Griffin breaks.

It’s subtle at first.

One tear.

Then another.

Cami cups his face.

“You are my husband. My best friend. My emergency contact.”

That gets another wet laugh.

“My favorite medic.”

She smiles up at Griffin. “And you’re home.”

I have to look down.

Because that one lands everywhere.