Epilogue #3
“Without traffic. It’ll take you an hour from here to get to Home Remedies. You’re already tired when you leave work,” he complained. “In fact, we can find a home closer to the store, and I’ll take the longer commute.”
I smiled at his thoughtfulness. “We still have months to figure it out, and if Elle knows we plan to live together, she’s going to want to stay home with us and not live on campus. Know she loves her Poppy.”
He beamed. “I wouldn’t mind that at all. We could ride together to UCLA every morning. I love it when she stays here with me. Nothing would make me happier than waking up in the same house with both parts of my heart.”
I kissed his soft lips. “Nothing would make me happier either.”
“Elle called me to tell me she’ll miss practice since she’ll be staying with Carter for a few days. I hate that I still get jealous of their closeness instead of pride that she has always been mature enough to embrace both of us,” he quietly admitted.
“I know, Sweetie,” I cooed, wishing like I often did that I’d been honest with Grey about my pregnancy.
The sounds of the seagulls and the waves crashing against the shore lulled us closer to each other.
Grey’s arms tightened around me, and I pressed my head to his chest. I loved hearing his heartbeat.
He’d been my calm and respite for so many years.
We’d been open and transparent with each other even through the hard conversations.
Grey finally broke the silence. “Still haven’t told me what’s bothering you.”
“Thought we were going out since you asked me to wear this.” I tugged on my rose-pink sweater dress. “If I knew we would be at the house, I would’ve worn leggings over here.”
“I’ll get up in a minute. Won’t take me long to get ready. Already showered.” He tilted his head to see my face. “What’s on your mind if it’s not Ethyn?”
I softly began, “Carter wants to try again. Said he’s changed. Realized that he’d been a fool to let me go because no matter how deeply I felt for you, I still loved him and was willing to give you up for him. He wants to be the husband he should’ve been to me.”
“You owe me a home-cooked meal, preferably you naked in my kitchen while I watch.” He chuckled. “I told you he would try to get you back one day.”
“We made that bet when he and I first separated. It’s been ten years since we’ve been together, and he hadn’t even looked at me like he had any interest until today.” I propped my leg over his. “You’re not remotely worried?”
“Should I be?” His heartbeat didn’t increase as he gazed into my eyes.
“No. But it’s kind of weird that you’re not, especially if you’re jealous of Carter’s relationship with Elle.”
“Move,” he said roughly as he disentangled himself from me.
“Wait. Don’t be mad. I didn’t mean anything.” I tried to hold on to him, but he promptly removed my arms and stood over me.
He jabbed the air with his index finger.
“For years, I dealt with knowing you were married and had children with him. I hated how often my stomach and heart burned with regret and loss. Knew that being with you meant he would always be a part of our lives, so I left that jealousy shit behind me. I’m at peace, though you apparently like all that drama and mess.
I’m not going back there. If he’s who you want, I’m not stopping you. ”
I quickly grabbed his hands and pulled him back to me. “I don’t want him. Just being honest with you.”
“I know.” Grey crinkled his eyes into a smile.
“Were you just playing?” I released his hands in disbelief.
“Yep. You love to see me get mad because it makes you all hot and bothered for me, so I gave you what you wanted.” Grey moved toward the door.
“That’s not funny.” I jumped up.
He took off into the house, laughing and running from me. We were both fully aware I would never catch him unless he wanted me to. We’d played this game countless times over the years like big kids. We ran through his house twice. Grey finally stopped on the other side of his bed. “You give up?”
I bent over, breathing hard. “Yes.”
He climbed into his bed and snatched me into him. I tumbled into him, bumping his head, and we laughed together as I settled on top of him. Grey winced as he touched his forehead. “I don’t know why you’ve never outgrown being clumsy.”
“Shut up.” I moved his hand and kissed the spot he rubbed before I rested my chin on his chest.
“Let me guess how Carter approached you. He brought up that we’re not married yet, and he’s willing to give you what I never will.” He quirked a brow.
“Of course he did.” I glanced around the room. “Do you have a monitor somewhere recording my house?” I started tickling his side.
“Quit it.” Grey tried to hide how ticklish he was by grabbing my wandering hand. “He called me earlier and told me to do right by you, or he would. He sees how beautiful and happy you are, and now that he’s single again, he wants another shot.”
“I can’t believe he called you. Wow.”
Grey brushed my twisted hair off my face.
“I used to be so jealous of him. Not so much that he was with you, but more of how he seemed so sure of love and relationships. That day on the beach, when we almost fought, he told me he knew he would marry you one day. He said it with such certainty that I envied him. Wondered if I would ever be that sure of myself. Too caught up in my head to truly understand that I’d always been sure of you.
..of us...of myself. I do want us to be married, but I don’t need to be married to remain devoted and loyal to you and only you for the rest of our lives. ”
“I don’t need to be married to you either.”
“Oh...then I guess I’ll just return the ring I bought.” He rolled over as if he would get rid of the ring right then.
“No...no...I want the ring and to be Mrs. Grant Jameson.” I wrapped my arms around his waist.
Grey’s expression sobered before he captured my lips in a soul-wrenching kiss, pressing me back into the mattress. His throbbing erection pressed against my pulsing center. God, how I wanted him.
His doorbell reverberated through the house, startling us, and he broke the kiss. “What time is it?”
“Almost five. Who’s that?”
“Why don’t you open the door and see?” He pushed off the bed and looked down at the tentpole in his shorts. “Um...I need a moment.”
“Okayy...what’s the big surprise? Christmas is next week.” I drawled and walked to the door.
Ethyn stood on the other side, dressed in a light gray suit, holding a bouquet of pink, red, and white roses and a sheepish grin. “Hey, Ma.”
I squealed and hugged my handsome son tight. “What are you doing here?”
“Coach thought it was a good idea to show you how much I appreciate and love you.” He shrugged as he gave me the flowers. “I agreed.”
I inhaled the beautiful bouquet. “This is gorgeous and smells so good.” I tiptoed to ruffle his growing locs as he entered Grey’s home. “I was hoping you would be with your father.”
“He’s on his way here with Elle.”
My stomach dropped. “Excuse me?” It’s one thing to be over your ex-husband, and it’s another thing to have him stop by your current man’s home when neither man cared for the other. At least when I dropped the twins off by Carter and Joi, we became friendly with each other.
“Yeah, Elle wanted to be here too.”
“For what?”
He frowned, searching the living area behind me. “Where’s Coach?”
“Hey, those flowers were from me,” Grey called behind me. He was gorgeous in a tailored dark gray suit with a pearl white shirt, making his hazel eyes appear blue. “He’s just the delivery guy.”
“Okay...we’re coordinated. Where are we going?” My head swam with possibilities. I chuckled nervously as I looked at Grey, whose countenance had changed from playful to solemn. “What did you do?”
The doorbell rang again, and Ethyn stepped back to answer.
Elle rocked a fitted, velvet, long-sleeved pink dress and gave me a small wave.
Carter stood right behind her, dressed in a cream satin shirt and light gray slacks similar to his son’s suit.
He gave me a slight smile that warmed his eyes as he and Elle joined Ethyn.
My twins standing with Carter in Grey’s home seemed surreal.
My past, present, and future were all in the same space.
Grey stepped forward and beckoned everyone to stand around me. He took my hand. “We all thought it was time to make our love official.”
“Yeah, Mama.” Elle chimed in. “You’ve been with Poppy for years and known him forever. I want to see my parents together.”
Ethyn nodded. “He asked my permission to marry you the day I moved out, and I asked him what had taken so long. When he said it was because he didn’t want to seem like he was trying to take Daddy’s place, how could I do anything but give my permission?”
Carter’s eyes watered before he started speaking.
“If it weren’t for Grey, we all wouldn’t be here.
I knew he loved you before you knew it. As much as I wanted to hate him when you and I first met and when he came back into our lives, I couldn’t.
When he couldn’t be there for you back in college, he asked me to be there because he loved you that much.
” He glanced at Grey before looking at his daughter.
“Years later, your father forgave us for keeping you a secret and wanted to be sure that you still considered me your daddy. I know that had to be so damn hard.” He then gripped Ethyn’s shoulder.
“Grey bonded with you when he didn’t have to.
A son whom I love and hope can forgive me for not always considering you in any decisions I’ve made and knowing that I plan to do better by you. ”
Ethyn placed his hand over his father’s, and for the first time in a very long time, he smiled approvingly at Carter. My ex looked at his children again before addressing me.
“So, this time, I’m going to truly mean it when I say that I wish you and Grey the life you’ve always wanted together.”
I met Carter’s sincere eyes and whispered, “Thank you.”
Grey had his hands behind his back. “I guess you know by now what’s about to happen.
Your parents gave their blessings after Ethyn gave them to me first. I asked Ethyn and Elle to be here, and they asked if their father could be here, too.
Carter and I spoke, and he told me he still loved you but wanted to be here to show support for me.
” His lips slowly spread into a wide smile. “I guess he did change.”
“I knew y’all talked about me,” Carter accused teasingly.
Feigning annoyance, I rolled my eyes and held my hands out to Grey.
As he grasped them, I could feel the diamond ring pressed on my palm, and my nervousness dissipated in the air.
Grey had been my very best friend since we were fourteen, and the years hadn’t lessened our friendship or our passion for each other.
He was the love of my life.
I smiled through my tears. “You don’t have to get on bended knee.
I want to look up to you and not down on you.
You’ve been a patient man who has loved me for over twenty-five years and has made many sacrifices for my family and me, and I promise you that all this waiting won’t be in vain. We’re going to have the best life.”
“We’ve already have a pretty good life. It’s only going to get better because of everyone’s blessings.
” He released my hand and held up a pink diamond solitaire.
“Darren, this is the same ring I had when I knocked on Dani’s door, hoping you would forgive me for leaving you.
I used to resent that Dani didn’t tell you I came for you, but then I learned that everything happens in its own time and how it is meant.
The five of us were supposed to be here today as you and I take the next step in our journey.
” Grey gently gripped my left hand and slid the most beautiful jewel I’d ever seen on my ring finger. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” I gleefully shouted, and he promptly lifted me off my feet with excitement while my children clapped and Carter whistled. I ran my hand over the nape of Grey’s neck as he placed me back on my feet. I grabbed his chin before kissing him soundly.
Ethyn cleared his throat loudly. “Ma, can we go eat or something?”
A blushing Grey lifted his head and replied, “Um...yeah. Think that would be best.”
I moved back from Grey, and Elle immediately rushed into his open arms, and Ethyn hugged Grey from the other side.
Carter nudged my shoulder with his arm and quietly said, “Told you I changed.”
I twisted my mouth. “Mm...hmm, and what would've happened if I took you up on what you said earlier?”
He averted his gaze to the ceiling before resting on my face. “I would’ve lived the rest of my life doing whatever I needed to do to make you happy.” Carter then kissed my cheek. “Think I’ve been generous enough for one day. E can drive Elle back to my place later. Y’all have fun at dinner.”
Carter saluted Grey and told his children. “Walk me out.”
Ethyn and Elle flanked Carter as he exited the door, and this time, I didn’t feel the melancholy I’d experienced this morning.
Carter St. Patrick would be just fine. He had Ethyn back, and he’d shown selflessness and maturity, which I hadn’t seen in him since we were first together, and he’d accepted Elle as his.
As soon as the door closed, I slid my arms under my future husband’s arms and gazed up at him. “I can’t believe you did all this.”
“Figured you would want the twins here. Carter was a gamble.” His eyes lovingly caressed my face.
“Crazy as it may sound, I’m glad he was here. The three of us have been entwined for years. Seems full circle somehow.”
Grey nodded. “It really does.” His arms tightened around my waist. “Ready to leave all the mess behind and be Mrs. Grant Jameson forever?”
I slowly smiled, quoting Outcast, “Forever...Ever?”
“Forever...Ever.” Grey confirmed before sealing his words with a kiss.
Thank you for reading A Complete Mess, and hope you enjoyed Grey and Darren’s journey back to each other. Please write a review and let other readers know so they can discover this story!