Epilogue 2
ETHAN
Shit . I was nervous.
The Thorne women had ventured out for an afternoon of shopping, which left me alone with Phil and Owen.
“You alright, bro?” Owen asked, pitching an eyebrow. “You look jittery.”
We sat in lawn chairs in Phil’s backyard, watching Austin play pretend pirates as we chilled with a beer.
Well, they chilled. I was overheating by the millisecond. That’s when Phil pivoted his attention my way, eyes scanning my bouncing knee.
“Got something to say, Harris?”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out besides a husky cough that morphed into a choke.
Alicia and I had been together for two years, and in that time, her parents had slowly warmed to me.
They loved my dad and regularly met up with us in the city, but I could feel that lingering hesitation.
Like they were waiting and watching to see if I would continue to show up for their daughter. And I did, every single time.
Officially, I was in my last year of football, ready to settle down and find a new normal with my girl.
With Alicia, everything felt easy. That connection had always been there, but with each passing day, it became more potent, raw and unyielding.
After our tragic separation and having a glimpse of what my life could be like without her. I never wanted to experience that again, so I never stopped trying.
I strived to do better and constantly worked on improving myself. For her.
And now I had come to the crossroads that every respectable man had to take. It was intimidating, that one question playing on repeat in my mind the whole four hours we drove to Acacia Falls from the city.
What if he says no?
I couldn’t let that happen. Alicia loved her father and respected his opinion. I needed his approval and craved it desperately.
“Ethan?” Phil asked, clinking his beer against mine.
That’s when anxiety took over, and I blurted, “Phil. I want to formally ask you for permission to marry your daughter…” It was rushed, not at all how I had rehearsed it.
One beat turned into two as Phil just stared at me, his gaze tracking down my frame as if cataloguing each imperfection.
I gulped but rallied with fake confidence. My expression was earnest, portraying that it is what I wanted, above all else on earth. And just to sweeten the deal, I pulled the offering from my pocket, extending his favourite chocolate bar between us.
Phil’s mask cracked before a wide grin took over. He snatched the candy, then pulled me upright into a tight bear hug.
I sagged with relief. “For a second there, I thought you were going to say no.”
Phil retreated. “I was never going to say no, Ethan. You’re my son. Have been for a while now. As soon as Alicia accepted you into the fold, so did we. She loves you, so we love you.”
“Th-thanks,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.
“Pay up,” Phil said, his palm open in front of Owen, who groaned before swiftly depositing a $50 note in his hand.
I sniggered. “You made a bet?”
“Owen thought you’d pussy out,” Phil said.
My eyes narrowed on the man in question, which had Owen raising his hands in surrender. “Hey. I was sure you’d ask, just not when.” Then, his features altered into a cheeky smirk. “Better watch out, though, Ethan. Once you put that ring on her finger, you automatically turn into Alicia’s bitch.”
And I’d have it no other way. Alicia could boss me around, relay her commands and I’d happily follow through like a well-trained pup.
Phil whacked the back of Owen’s head. “Watch how you talk about my girls.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I smiled when I saw my dad calling. He had met a special lady friend through his fishing club and had gone for a weekend getaway out on the water.
I slipped away to answer and gave him the good news of Phil’s acceptance. After a solid ten minutes of Dad relaying his latest catch, I heard female mutterings carry over from the porch. Alicia’s back.
As I went to wrap up my call, Austin’s young voice cut through. “Aunty, guess what happened! Daddy gave Papa lots of money, then, Papa hit Daddy on the head.”
“Why’d Papa hit Dad?” Alexis asked.
Oh, no. They warned me the kid had a big mouth, but I didn’t expect him to be that preceptive.
As my dad continued to ramble over speakerphone, unaware of my critical situation—I ran over to the porch, ready to shut that little shit up.
Unfortunately, I was too late.
“Daddy said Uncle Ethan will be a bitch when he puts a ring on your fing—”
“Language,” Harriot snapped.
“What the hell, Owen?” Alexis said.
Everyone spoke over each other as raucous laughter came through my phone.
Fucking great.
Palming my device over to Phil, I ignored and dodged them all, tentatively approaching a frozen Alicia. Her gaze tracked my every movement.
Once in front of her, I immediately admitted defeat and gathered to one knee, pulling out a ring box from my pocket.
I hummed, then licked my lips. Why is my mouth so dry all of a sudden?
“Alicia. This isn’t what I had planned. But, in the grand scheme of things, I guess the end result would still be the same. I want you to be mine in every way, and I want to give you that in return. Be my forever love. Marry m—”
“Yes!” Alicia launched right at me. We were caught in a spell of our own making, kissing and hugging and squeezing so tight we were basically one entity.
The Thorne family congregated around us, conveying their congratulations and best wishes towards our shared union.
I kept Alicia next to me, an arm settled around her waist as she showed off her ring. I needed her touch, to make sure I was anchored in this moment of reality.
Owen gripped my shoulder. “Congrats, bro. We finally outnumber the girls. Maybe this means we’ll stand a chance?”
“I wouldn’t speak too soon…” Alicia whispered, hesitancy coating her voice.
That caught my attention. “What’s up, love?”
Alicia stared up at me with glistening eyes, two bright beams of hope shining through. Everything faded into the background as my world was entirely narrowed down and encapsulated onto the woman before me.
Ever so slowly, Alicia grasped my hand and pressed my palm flat against her lower abdomen. A sudden warmth rushed through me as my lungs seized from the deliberate statement.
My baby. Our baby.
“Are you happy?” Alicia asked, tears freely running down her cheeks.
I rushed forward planting my lips on hers before I dropped to my knees once more, my face buried in her stomach to try and staunch the onslaught of emotions. “Happy? I never thought this would happen for me, love.” I peppered kisses over her middle, loving on my girl and our little creation.
Then, after a long minute, I looked up at my fiancé, freely giving her my tears and my joy beaming from within. “You gave me a family, Ali. You are my happiness. ”
We were shortly surrounded by our family, accompanied by Rudy Harris sniffling through the phone. I was one lucky son of a bitch. Enveloped by so much love that I was near bursting with gratitude.
Through Alicia, I had found the future I had never dared to hope for but dreamed of all the same.
She was my purpose. My future. A distant wish, come to life.
Raising to stand, I shifted and pressed my forehead against hers, then whispered one last vow over the seal of her lips. “Thank you for running back to me, love. Thank you for giving me this life. Thank you. ”