Love You Always

“They’re only things.” Ethan shrugs like it’s no big deal, closing the door behind us and flipping the lock. “I don’t think I’ll bring much from my place except clothes and some of the stuff you picked out and added.” I let out a small laugh.

“I have been decorating your place.” I didn’t realize that I’d been doing that but I guess I had been. It just goes to show that with Ethan, as scared as I was at the start, deep down inside of me I knew we’d be together. I had been making a home with him without even knowing I was doing it.

“I don’t think I will either.”

“New stuff.” He pulls me back into his arms. “You should probably quit that job of yours. You have this place to decorate, a baby to plan for, and”—he leans down—“a wedding.”

I lick my lips, my tongue dragging across his mouth as I do it. “That is a lot to do,” I playfully admit. “You know when I called about breaking my lease, I was sure it was going to cost me a pretty penny. Then I found out we have a new owner. That he cleared me to break it. You know anything about that?”

“I buy lots of things. You did once tell me you like to take long strolls around buildings. I wanted to make sure you have options. That you always have everything you want and need at your fingertips.” I put one hand on my belly while the other reaches up to caress his face.

“I already have everything that I could have ever wished for.”

His lips are on mine before the last word even leaves my lips. He reaches his hand down to rest over mine in a possessive hold while he owns my mouth. “There is one thing that you don’t have,” he says as he kneels down in front of me.

His hand momentarily leaves my belly to reach into his pocket. After a second it reappears with a beautiful blue velvet box. He opens the lid to reveal a stunning solitaire pear-shaped diamond. It’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. Tears well up in my eyes with the thought of this being my life. I never would have thought that I could be so happy, but Ethan has made it that way.

“Holy crap, that thing is huge.” The words escape my lips before I can stop them. Ethan smiles and shakes his head before taking the ring out of the box, grabbing my hand and sliding it on my finger. He doesn't ask me at first. He remains silent for a moment. His other hand returns to rest over mine that's still placed on my belly.

“Amelia, the one and only love of my life, will you marry me? Will you allow me the honor of being your husband for every moment, good or bad, for the rest of eternity? To love you and our family without boundaries and unconditionally? I would ask you to make me the happiest man in the world but you’ve already done that.”

“Yes.” I breathe out the one word. My throat is tight and unable to get anything else out. He stands, lifting me up with him. I wrap my arms around him, holding him tight, knowing I’ll never let go. I’ll never run from him again. This love is forever.

Epilogue

Ethan

A few months later

I sit in my home office sipping on a glass of a hundred-year-old scotch. I taste nothing. I don’t even feel the burn at the back of my throat like I should. All my attention is on one thing. The room is completely quiet even though there are four of us in here. We listen to the sounds of giggles that travel down the hallway. My office door stands wide open so we can catch every sound. We’re lions waiting for a reason to pounce on them.

“How long does a bridal shower take? She's already married.” Sean stands from his chair, starting to pace back and forth. I fight a smile because I know it will piss him off if he knows how much I’m enjoying watching him get worked up over a girl. She’s had him on the hunt. “You’re already married, for fuck sake!” He turns to glare at the open doors. Another fit of laughter travels down the hallway into my office.

Kim’s husband Kent and Maxwell look openly amused at my brother’s discomfort. They’ve been at it for two hours now. I rushed my dollface down the aisle. Not that she fought me on it. She had to miss out on a few things.

Mia was not letting the bridal shower go. Neither was Kim. I was all for it. Kim owns a fucking lingerie company. I knew my wife was going to end up with trunkfuls of all kinds of shit that I’ll enjoy the fuck out of later.