Page 388 of Faking the Goal

"More than ever." Her face brightens immediately. "I want to travel. I want to photograph places I've never seen and animals I've only ever seen in books or documentaries. Maybe work for a conservation organization someday, or a wildlife magazine. I don't know." She smiles. "There are so many things I want to do now."

I fucking love hearing that.

There was a time when Taylor barely let herself think beyond getting through the next day. Now she's lying beside me talking about all the places she wants to see.

"Then do them."

Her brows lift. "Just like that?"

"Yeah. Go everywhere you want to go. Take every fucking picture you've ever wanted to take."

"And what about us?"

"What about us?"

She gives me a look. "Kentaro."

I laugh softly and bring our joined hands to my mouth, kissing her knuckles. "Trouble, I'm not expecting you to give up your dream so you can follow me around while I chase mine."

Her expression softens.

"We'll figure it out. Maybe you get a job that takes you across the fucking world. Maybe I'm in Vegas. Maybe they send me somewhere else before I ever make their roster. I don't know what either of our lives are going to look like yet."

"That doesn't scare you?"

"The not knowing?" I think about it. "A little."

"Me too."

"But losing you scares me a hell of a lot more."

She goes quiet.

I brush a strand of red hair away from her cheek. "So wherever we end up, we make it work."

"Even if I'm photographing polar bears in Canada while you're getting pucks shot at your head in Nevada?"

"Yeah."

"What if I'm chasing elephants through Africa?"

"I'll FaceTime you."

"Different time zones."

"I'll stay awake."

"What if I disappear into the Amazon for three months?"

I narrow my eyes. "Okay, now you're deliberately trying to piss me off."

She laughs, snuggling closer.

"I'm serious, Taylor." My hand settles against her cheek. "I want you to have everything you've never let yourself dream about before. I'm not going to be another person telling you where you're supposed to be."

Her smile slowly disappears.

Fuck.