My life is complete with him in it. The boy next door made all of my dreams come true.
Sometime in the morning, Ethan and I wake to the sound of the hotel door slamming. He shoots out of bed and scrambles to slip into his boxers before heading out into the living room. Instead of looking for my clothes, I wrap the sheet around me when I hear Clarke frantic and calling my name.
I rush out of the bedroom, clutching the sheet tightly, surprised to find both Clarke and Will in my suite. “What’s wrong? Where did you guys sleep last night? You both disappeared without saying anything. I was so worried about you.”
Clarke looks like shit as if she hasn’t slept in days. Her dark hair is matted to her forehead, a few strands tucked behind her ears. Her blue eyes are bloodshot and watery, and when she raises her left hand, I gasp in shock.
“Tell me that’s not what I think it is,” I say, staring in awe at the gold band on her ring finger.”
Will lifts his left hand and nods. “It’s exactly what you think it is. We were so drunk, we got married last night. We’re not even sure where. All we know is we woke up naked, in my bed, and with these rings on our fingers.”
Ethan laughs and shakes his head. “Dumbass. Leave it to Will to marry a complete stranger in Vegas.”
“Hey, I’m not a complete stranger,” Clarke interjects, looking like she’s been to hell and back again. “We can get it annulled. It’s not like I want to be married to this idiot,” she says, pointing a finger at Will.
Will snorts. “You’d be lucky to have the pleasure of marrying me.”
She shoves her hand in his face. “Seems as though I already am married to you, hubs.”
He smirks. “Then, maybe we should go consummate our marriage… again.”
“Pig,” she growls, stealing her hand away from his face. “I hate you. The second we get back to Philly, we’re annulling this marriage. You’re the last person on Earth I want to be with.”
“That’s not what you said last night,” he counters with a wicked smirk.
I push my hands out to get between them.
How did they get along so well when they were drunk last night? It’s the same thing with them every time. They can’t stand the sight of each other sober, and then once they start drinking, their inhibitions lower, and they end up in bed together. This isn’t the first time Clarke has had sex with my brother, and judging by the looks on their faces, I doubt last night will be the last.
Clarke strips the ring from her finger and throws it at Will’s chest. “You’re such a jerk. I’m not gonna be the Juliet to your Romeo.” I laugh at her play on my brother’s nickname and watch in awe as she spins on her heel in an attempt to leave the room.
Will grabs her by the wrist and pins her in place, coming up from behind her to whisper something I can’t hear from this distance. Whatever he said to her softens her resolve. She leans back against his chest, allowing him to wrap his arm around her.
What is it with them? One minute they hate each other, and then the next they’re clawing at each other, unable to keep their hands to themselves.
“We’ll be back,” Will says to us over his shoulder. “We have a few things to work out.”
“I’m sure you do,” I deadpan as they exit the room.
I spin around to look at Ethan, my mouth still open in surprise. “Can you believe this? They have to get this marriage annulled.”
Ethan shrugs. “I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“How did my idiot brother end up getting married before me?” I grunt in frustration, and Ethan chuckles.
“Are you really mad that Will got married first? It’s not like it will last more than the time it takes them to get it annulled.”
“I hope so,” I mutter.
Ethan hugs me so hard the sheet drops to the floor. His eyes roam over my naked body, and in response, I get an approving wink and a crooked grin from my soon-to-be-husband. He runs his hand over my breasts and down to my stomach.
“I have a feeling,” he says. “Pretty soon we’ll have a family. I just know it.”
I smile up at him in response.
Epilogue
Ethan: Three years later