Epilogue
Sean
Two Months Later
Ellie and I are back on the circuit. She’s teamed up with and is mentoring a young woman who’s in her first year as a professional. They’re doing well and have medaled in one of their competitions. The best thing about this arrangement? Ellie’s not as focused on far future results. Each match is a new opportunity. She’s happy and having fun again.
Since we don’t have strong family ties anywhere and Maya liked the surgeon at the local hospital, she decided to remain in Love Beach for her surgery and rehab. After a couple weeks of rehab, she pretty much kicked Ellie and I out. Despite a few setbacks, she says she’s doing okay on her own. We talk almost every day enabling me to keep my big brother protector role active.
Most of the video calls are spent on wedding plans. Ellie and I have set a tentative date far enough out because she’s determined Maya will be her maid of honor. Of course my sister objected to our having to wait on her. Offered options that included using a wheelchair or crutches. Or having one of the B Boys carry her. Ellie nixed every possible option, insistent Maya will walk the aisle showing off a beautiful dress. One that actually doesn’t look like a brides maid dress. Whatever the hell that means.
I’m staying out of it. All I need to know is where to be and what time. And I guess what I’m supposed to wear.
There’s a two week lull in our volleyball tournaments so Ellie and I are visiting her parents. Ellie was surprised to discover her mother had always secretly dreamed about planning her daughter’s storybook wedding. Probably making up for the one she didn’t have.
I knew Ellie’s dad had struggled to support his wife and daughter. So I was thinking we’d get married in a quiet way, with only a few close friends joining the celebration. But their lives changed when he won a national lottery and unlike other winners, wisely invested most of the money. Now our wedding day has become a huge affair at a fancy venue. Ellie and her mom spend hours talking dresses, cake flavors, what songs for which dances. They include me in most of the planning, at least enough for me to feel a part of the decision making process. I’ve enjoyed the various cake tastings.
But I know nothing about her dress. If I even come into the room while they’re looking through their tall stack of bridal magazines, the pages are closed and they’ll both stare at me until I leave. Guess that’s one old tradition Ellie’s determined to follow. Not only will I not see her in the dress before the wedding, I also won’t even have a clue what she’ll look like.
No, that’s not true. She will be stunningly beautiful no matter what dress she chooses.
So, I let them make their plans, agree when I need to, and spend time with Ellie’s dad. We get along great, talking volleyball and business. He approves of my plans for a permanent volleyball training facility, hinting that it would be nice if Ellie wasn’t on the road all the time. When he mentions grandchildren in the next breath I understand his interest.
I’m not adverse to that possibility and Ellie and I have talked a little about having kids. Someday. Starting a family isn’t at the top of our priorities list right now.
Ellie’s dad and I are enjoying a baseball game although he’s watching the television while I’m focused on Ellie. She and her mom have notes and plans spread across the kitchen island. Somehow she always senses when I’m looking at her and she smiles at me.
She’s got this one sexy grin that never fails to instantly turn me on. And she uses it to her advantage. Or to torture me. I live for that sweet, sweet torture even when it’s damn uncomfortable and difficult to hide my body’s reaction.
Like right now. I rest one calf on my opposite knee gaining a little relief.
Ellie’s dad eyes me and stretches. “I’ve had enough baseball for today.” He stands and strides toward the kitchen, gives the messy counter a quick glance and shakes his head. “Put this stuff away for a while, Ellie. Your mom and I have some errands to run. So why don’t you and Sean relax. Spend time down at the pool.”
We’ve been staying in their casita. It’s far enough from their house, and with a tall, wooden safety fence around the pool area there’s plenty of privacy for whatever we might want to do. The man is observant and wise enough to know we don’t just sleep there.
He arches one brow at me then winks. My estimation of the man takes a huge step higher.
“What a good idea, Dad,” Ellie says as she creates a stack of scattered sticky notes. “Have fun erranding.”
She pulls me from my chair and we exit through wide sliders to the expansive back yard. Walking backward she gives me that smile again and says, “I feel like skinny dipping. Interested in joining me?”
“Interested in joining with you, sweetheart. My body with yours. Now and forever.”
“Hmm. Not a bad thought, babe. Not bad at all.” She reaches for the hem of her shirt. “Last one in the pool has to do whatever the other says for one hour.”
She turns and sprints for the pool. I take my time, both in following her and stripping out of my clothes. At the gate, I watch her smooth dive into the water. She surfaces, laughs, and stabs her pointer finger toward me. “You lose.”
The last of my clothes drop to the stone pool deck. My cock is hard. Watching her expression, I stroke the length, showing off what she does to me. I use the steps at the shallow end of the pool to slowly enter the sun-warmed water.
I’m going to enjoy losing this race.