Epilogue #2
When we’re done spooning out the steaming pasta, Matthew raises his glass in toast. “To new beginnings,” he says.
Sophie smiles as she catches his glance and raises her glass. “To new beginnings.”
“And surprises,” I say with a wink as she shakes her head at me.
Eli chuckles. “I’ll second that.”
Sophie
I let out a deep sigh as I lean back into the couch cushions, my hand resting over my stomach. My babies are kicking up a storm, and I can’t seem to get comfortable.
“Here, let me help,” Matthew says as he props my pillows up behind me and grabs my feet to place in his lap. Elijah enters the room with his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixated on me. Benny plops down beside Matthew, his gaze settling on me too.
“Thanks,” I say.
Matthew gives me a smile. “Of course.”
Elijah walks over to me, standing in front of me, an unreadable expression on his face.
“What? Do I have some pasta sauce on me or—”
He says, “Do you remember senior year, when you went to prom by yourself?”
I nod, wondering why he’s bringing this up since it was years ago.
“That night we danced together, and I wanted to tell you the truth. I wanted to tell you then how much I loved you.”
My heart lifts as a soft smile graces my lips. “I wanted to tell you I love you too, but you were with that other woman and—”
“I went with her because you were going with that idiot I couldn’t stand,” he says with a chuckle. “I wanted to ask you to prom, but…I was afraid.”
My eyebrows furrow and I realize the others have gone quiet. Matthew rubs my feet, which feels amazing, but I can’t focus on that when the look in Elijah’s face is so sincere.
His gaze drifts to my neck. To my necklace I always wear.
The shell with the diamonds he bought me in Paradise.
“I wanted you to ask me,” I admit. “To prom. I only said yes to that asshole because I didn’t want to ask you. I was afraid you’d say no.”
Elijah kneels before me, his gaze capturing mine. He reaches for my hand and holds it, his thumb brushing my knuckles. His touch is reverent and warm, like his arms.
“I was afraid then, but…I’m not now,” he says coolly.
“What do you mean?”
His thumb brushes over my knuckles and he lets out a deep breath as he lets go of my hand, slips his hand into his pocket, and procures a small velvet box.
I remember that day in Paradise when he did the same thing.
“Open it,” he says, and I see the glimmer in his eyes.
I take it from his hands, noting how they shake when I do so. My heart is in my throat, because I think I know on some deeper level what is happening, though it feels like a dream. Like slow motion and rapid succession all at once.
I pop the box open and gasp as I note the perfect, cushion cut diamond, surrounded by five smaller diamonds.
“Sophie…” Elijah starts, and a sob catches in my throat as Matthew’s hands stop kneading my feet.
“Grace,” Benny says, my middle name, and I look up at him, noting he’s opened a box too. On display is a pure white-gold band with five diamonds in a channel.
“Martin.” Matthew’s warm, charismatic air fades into seriousness as I turn to see that he’s opened a box too, showing off another white gold ring with a five diamond channel.
I want to speak but all I can do is cry.
“Will you marry me?” Elijah says the words so clearly, its irrefutable.
I nod as the tears run down my face.
“Yes!” I say through choked sobs as Elijah grins. “Yes, I absolutely will marry you!”
He grasps my hand, sliding the ring over my slightly swollen finger, and I grasp his face, bringing his mouth to mine as I kiss him, whispering that one word over and over again.
Yes.
Matthew pulls me close as Benny scoots closer.
“I know it’s not going to be official official, but—” Matt grasps my right hand and slides his ring over my ring finger. I choke out another sob. “Will you marry me too?” His smirk is that charming boyish smirk I’ve always loved and I can see the faint humor in his eyes.
I smile, laughing and crying as I nod and pull him to my lips. “Yes, Matthew. I will marry you too.”
He kisses me softly and when he lets go, I notice Benny staring at me with teary eyes, twirling his ring in his hand.
I get up, take two steps toward him, and for a moment he just looks at me with that same look he had after the first time we had sex.
When he picked me up and held me close in the tub.
“Whattaya say, kitten?” he breathes. “You want to make an honest man out of an asshole?”
“Benny…”
He pauses and for a moment I think he’s done talking, but then he offers me his ring, his smile soft and warm. “I pick you, Sophia,” he says, and I hear the emotion in his voice as it cracks. “Today, tomorrow, and every day forward. I—”
I grab the ring from his hand, throw my arms around him, and pull him down to me, my belly making it harder to get to his mouth than I want, but he bends to me easily.
His lips meet mine and he kisses me. His kiss is unfettered and deep, intense and fiery and full of so much love it’s hard to refute.
“Yes,” I tell him. “I pick you too, Benjamin. Today, tomorrow, and every day from here on out.”
I feel his smile against my lips as he picks me up, and I wrap my legs around him without question.
“I’m so glad you said yes,” he whispers. “To me.”
“To us,” Elijah says.
“You thought I’d say no?” I say through kisses and sobs.
“I didn’t think you’d say no,” Matthew says, his voice tinged with humor. “I knew you’d say yes.”
I laugh as Benny carries me down the hall to our bedroom and lays me down gently on the bed. My fiancés follow him, and before I know it, we’re all on the California king-sized bed, curled together in warmth and joy.
Just me and my three best men, and our babies in my belly.
I guess Paradise really does exist after all.
The End
My dearest reader, thank you for reading My Brother’s Best Men!
If, like me, you couldn’t get enough of Sophie & her three best men, then click here to get your bonus epilogue.
P.S. If you enjoyed reading My Brother’s Best Men, then I think you’ll enjoy reading My Ex’s Brothers too! Swipe to the next page for a quick sneak peek…