Epilogue
WREN
A MONTH LATER
Iwas nervous as hell. I hadn’t seen my mom and dad in the same room since…
I was a kid. And now that the graduation ceremony was over, both sets of parents from Eli’s family and mine headed to the Desert Dog house for our graduation party.
Grace was having dinner with her family but had promised to stop by later, and Casey was having a meeting of the parents at Postinos wine bar in Tempe.
I paced across the main room, noting the maroon and gold decorations we’d set out earlier with Malik and Tex’s help. There were streamers and table toppers, and even the paper plates and plastic silverware were color coordinated.
“Babe, settle down. It’ll be fine.” Eli stopped me midway to the kitchen and wrapped me in one of his bear hugs. “Your dad’s done a lot of work in therapy, and your mom won’t start anything. She’s better than that.” He kissed my head.
“I know…well, maybe I don’t.” That was the problem. Would they even speak to each other? I slumped into Eli’s hold. “I need a drink.”
“Wait until everyone gets here.” Eli freed me and stepped back.
Malik strolled into the room in his best form-fitting shirt and board shorts. “Hey guys, can I help you at all?”
Eli peered toward the kitchen. “Can you bring the appetizers out and set them on the kitchen island? And then when people arrive, help us with the champagne bottles.” His gaze swung to me. “We have help. Relax.”
“Sure thing.” Patting me on the back, Malik stopped. “We’ve got this.”
“Thank you.” As I blew out a long breath, the doorbell rang. “Shit, I’ll get it.” Who would show up first?
I jogged to the door and flung it open.
Eli’s parents stood in the entry along with his sister, Harper. “Hey, Denise, Ron and Harper.” I hugged them.
“Here are some cards for you two.” Harper held the cards out to me.
As I took the cards from her, I said, “Thank you.”
“So, this is where my son’s been living this year.” With a warm smile at me, Denise strolled into the house, her dark hair and eyes matching Eli’s. “Isn’t this nice, Ron?”
“Sure. I’ll bet it’s not always this neat with four football players living in it.” Ron smirked.
“Oh, we keep it pretty neat. You’d be surprised, Mr. Dawson.” Tex lumbered into the room, stretching his hand toward Ron. “Name’s Tex, offensive lineman.”
“Nice to meet you.” Ron cleared his throat, shook Tex’s hand and then shifted his gaze to Eli as he approached. “Son.”
“Hey, Dad.” Eli gave his father a swift hug.
“I’m proud of you.” His father pulled Eli in for a longer hug. “Really damn proud.”
Denise’s eyes shone. “Who’d have thought the enormous child we raised with the big heart would be a linebacker with the San Francisco Forty-Niners?” She clapped her hands together in front of her chest.
Damn, that was a perfect description of the love of my life and my high school sweetheart.
Malik swooped in with an open bottle of champagne and two glasses, introducing himself to Eli’s parents.
The doorbell rang through the house. “Shit.” This had to be my mom or dad. I stepped to the door with Eli beside me.
“Ready?” Eli placed his hand on the doorknob.
“I am.” I puffed out a breath and braced myself. Which one would it be?
He popped the door open.
Mom and Dad stood in the entry, staring straight at me.
“Uh, Mom…” I hugged her first while Dad stepped inside. Shit, had they said anything to each other? In her ear, I whispered, “Everything okay?”
“Of course.” She freed me and lifted her chin, her gaze swinging toward Dad, caught in one of Eli’s hugs. “We’re all well here. We had a brief talk in the driveway, and your father apologized to me.”
“What?” My jaw dropped. Damn, he was moving right along with his therapy.
“He did. I accepted the apology.” She smirked. “For now, or until he misbehaves again.” She patted my shoulder. “I know you’re shocked. I was too. Whatever you’ve done to him, so far it’s working.”
Malik stepped toward us with champagne. “Hello, Ms. Lewis. Champagne?”
“Yes, please.” She greeted Malik with a side hug, and he handed her a glass of champagne.
As Mom walked off with Malik, Eli stepped toward me with Dad.
“Hey, Wren, your dad says we can stay at his house until we find a place to live. It’s probably a forty-five-minute drive to the training facility, but I don’t need to be there until the middle of July, and he’s getting the place back from his renters in June. ”
“We can?” I stared at Dad, beaming back at me. Damn, things were moving so fast.
“Yes, I’d love to host you both. You can have my former childhood bedroom.” He chuckled.
“Uh, great.” Then, I’d have more time to decide what company I wanted to work for. I’d had interviews at Apple and PayPal so far. “Thanks, Dad.” I gave him a brief hug as I glanced around the room, everyone holding champagne glasses, including Harper. “Uh, Eli, should your sister be drinking?”
“What, a little champagne with the family won’t hurt her.” He scoffed and snatched my hand. “Come here.” He slipped his phone from his board shorts and checked it. “Let’s get some drinks.”
“Sure.” We strolled toward the kitchen island, where Tex and Malik entertained our families and kept the drinks flowing.
The front door opened, and Grace stepped inside. “Yoo-hoo, am I too late?”
Eli twisted to face her. “No, grab a glass.”
Too late? For what? “Hey, Grace, I thought you wouldn’t be here until later?” As she jogged toward me, I wrapped her up in a tight embrace.
“I’m just stopping in for a few minutes and then heading to dinner with my family.” She kissed my cheek and grabbed my shoulders, holding me in front of her, her eyes twinkling. “I—”
“Grace.” Eli bumped her with his elbow, and his attention drew to me. “Wren, come here.” Grabbing my wrist, he pulled me to the center of the room. “Everyone, may I have your attention?” He set his glass on the dinette.
What the hell was he doing? I studied him while everyone’s gazes snapped our way.
With a sly grin, he said, “Wren…” He dropped to one knee.
“You were my high school sweetheart, and even though we lost each other, the universe conspired for us to be together again. Over Christmas, I promised to propose properly once I had my NFL contract. Well, that time has come.” He dug into his pocket and then held out a thick gold band.
“Wren, will you marry me? You’re the only man I’ve ever loved or will ever love. ”
As my heart flipped, and my pulse beat out of control, I said. “Yes, yes, yes!” My eyes heated and my vision hazed as I held out my trembling hand. Shit, the promise ring…
Eli slipped the promise ring off, slid the engagement band on and stood, handing me a matching engagement ring. “Put it on me, babe.”
As I sniffled, I slid the ring onto his finger. With all the shit going on today, I hadn’t even realized he hadn’t been wearing his promise ring.
“Kiss me, babe.” Grabbing my nape, he drew me in and pressed his lips against mine, holding them together for a few beats before releasing me.
“Fuck yeah!” Malik shouted, pumping his fist.
The room exploded with clapping and cheers.
“I’m so happy for you both,” Denise said while standing arm and arm with Mom.
“We have a wedding to plan.” Dad, standing next to Mom, held his glass up and tapped it on Mom’s.
As my gaze swept the room, it landed on Eli’s warm brown eyes. “You know what? You’re the only man I’ve ever loved, too. I don’t think I ever told you that.”
He planted a kiss on my forehead. “You didn’t have to.”
Malik’s best friend from New York moves in, hoping to escape his wealthy family’s demands.