Epilogue
Zoe
I stood in the hallway at the stadium, listening to the distant sounds of the crowd filtering out gradually.
The Stars had won tonight. This was only my second season of watching them play regularly, and it was a bit bumpier than last year.
They had two injured starters and the backups couldn’t quite make up the difference.
As it was, they hadn’t been expected to win tonight.
Ethan had played a stellar game, but then I was of the opinion he always did.
I heard his voice teasing Liam about something. A smile bloomed from my heart straight to my toes. It was that bad. I kept thinking the thrill would wear off with him, but it hadn’t yet.
He rounded the corner and grinned when he saw me. I still thought he was too handsome for me. I mean, my God, it was ridiculous. He walked with that easy swagger that he didn’t even realize was a swagger. Women still swooned just looking at him. He reached me and swept me up in his arms.
I laughed and glanced down. It was silly for him to pick me up, seeing as I was almost as tall as him, but he did it anyway. I met his teasing green gaze, the one I’d used to think insouciant, but now all it did was make me wet.
“Nice game,” I murmured as he threaded a hand in my hair and pulled me close.
“Mmm. What do I get for it?” he replied with his lips moving against mine.
He didn’t give me a chance to answer and proceeded to kiss me senseless right there in front of everyone walking by.
ETHAN
Zoe stood by the railing, her hair blowing in a swirl from the wind, and looked out over the ocean.
She’d insisted I needed to visit the islands in Puget Sound, so we were headed out to San Juan Island for a long weekend at an inn.
I had a bloody perfect plan to propose, but I was suddenly impatient.
Against the slightly overcast sky, her hair was so bright and she was so fucking beautiful, I threw my plan into the wind.
I crossed the boat and leaned against the railing beside her, slipping my arm about her waist and tugging her tight against me. She glanced my way, a lock of hair blowing across her eyes. I reached up to brush it out of the way.
“It’s lovely,” I said.
“I don’t think lovely quite cuts it,” she said with a grin.
She was right. The air was scented crisp and salty from the ocean.
Seattle receded behind us, its skyline distant as the boat kept moving away.
Gulls called and swooped. We’d seen a pod of orcas only moments before.
I was definitely out of my element, but I didn’t mind.
As long as Zoe was with me, I didn’t give a bloody damn where I was.
“Perhaps not. That’s not what I came to say though.”
“Oh? Did you learn how to drive the boat yet?” she asked with a sly grin.
I’d ventured to chat with the boat captain and announced to Zoe I thought we’d paid way too much for a drive over the water, but I didn’t care to tease about that now.
“Luv, let’s get married.”
Her eyes widened and then she started laughing. After a beat, tears were sliding down her cheeks. I tugged her into me, turning my back against the railing and pulling her flush against me. I brushed her hair back.
“I had it all planned, but I didn’t want to wait,” I murmured as I dusted kisses over her cheeks. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
She dragged the corner of her sleeve across her cheeks, interrupting me as I kissed my way to her lips.
“They’re good tears,” she said with a hiccup. “What do you mean you had it all planned?”
I leaned back, soaking her in. “I meant to wait until tonight at dinner. I have a ring and all.”
She stared at me, and another tear slipped down her cheek. “Oh. Oh wow. So you really are asking me to marry you.”
I nodded, wondering if I’d stepped wrong here.
It had been roughly a year since that rainy night when I’d finally faced the fact I loved her.
In the intervening time, we’d moved in together and were presently in the midst of trying to find a house outside of the bustle of downtown Seattle.
She’d weathered the kerfuffle over our relationship becoming public news.
As she’d worried, there’d been a few public comments that she’d met me because she’d been hired to handle my legal case.
To my relief, several colleagues of hers had publicly noted she’d done precisely as required and referred my case onward.
I was still annoyed over that bit because I’d thought it entirely pointless.
But, the dust had settled and for that I was relieved.
Zoe was a worrier and ridiculously particular.
Every so often, it occurred to me I should be thankful she’d broken a few rules for me.
Once again, I wasn’t following the plan and even though it wasn’t her who’d done the planning, I bet it bothered her. That thought made me grin.
She eyed me, a slow smile spreading. “What?”
“Just thinking it’s a better plan with you not to have a plan,” I offered, threading my hand into her hair and pulling her close.
“So, what do you say?” I murmured.
“Yes. Of course, I say yes,” she replied, her cheeks flushing pink. “You can’t think I’d say anything else.”
In a flash, the weight of the moment hit me. I knew well Zoe held my heart in her hands, but my tendency to be confident let me forget to worry about what that meant.
I leaned back and gulped in air. “No luv. It’s not quite that simple. I still can’t quite believe you haven’t run me out. Lest you think I have the upper hand, never forget that it’s the opposite. I’d do anything for you.”
Another tear rolled down her cheek, and then I was kissing her with clouds scudding across the sky and the ocean breeze swirling around us.
Thank you for reading Out Of Bounds - I hope you loved Ethan & Zoe’s story!
Rosie & Wyatt’s story is up next in this collection.
Rosie & Wyatt are living a cliche. They got married in Vegas after a hot night together.
Rosie wishes her impulsive marriage was a joke. She’s convinced it’s a huge mistake and plans to file for divorce ASAP, preferably yesterday.
Meanwhile, Wyatt wants a real chance with Rosie. He thinks they could have it all. Wyatt takes he-falls-first to the next level as he fights to prove that what they have is worth it all.