26. Lily
One Month Later
I balanced precariously on my stepladder, stretching to hang the “Welcome, Marge Statten!” banner across the front window of Happy Ever Affogato.
“A little to the left,” Yolande called out. “No, wait. A little to the right.”
I felt the rickety ladder wobble underneath me. I let out a tiny yelp, but then I steadied myself. “Why is this so hard? All I want is for the banner to be totally perfect!”
“Perfection is unattainable,” Yolande said with a shrug. Then she walked back over to the bookshelves and continued brushing off the fake cobwebs she’d decorated the place with while I was gone.
It’s not like I hated the changes Yolande had made in my absence. I just felt it was important that they were confined to one very specific corner of the bookstore. Right at the back, in the Supernatural Swoons section. After all, I didn’t want our regular customers to think they needed to bring garlic and holy water just to browse the latest Nora Roberts novel.
But I had to hand it to Yolande—beneath all the plastic fangs and fake blood, she had a genuine passion for romance. While I was off in the big city, she’d somehow managed to breathe life back into our struggling sales figures.
Now that I was back, our odd-couple dynamic was working wonders. My New York experience had been a whirlwind of pitch meetings and power lunches, but it had taught me a thing or two. How to chase down a sale like it owed me money. How to brand yourself so shamelessly even the Kardashians would blush. How to find your USP and ride it like a gothic vampire romance heroine astride her nightmarish steed.
Turns out, when I put my heart and soul into something—and wasn’t stretched so thin I started to resemble a piece of Yolande’s decorative cobweb—I could do pretty amazing stuff. Who knew all it would take was a stint in the city that never sleeps and a goth assistant with a penchant for the paranormal to turn our little bookstore into a romance reader’s dream?
We had an ‘Adopt a Single Dad’ table, where people could rent a single dad romance novel for a week for just a couple of bucks. Then there were our lucky dip tables and sign-up forms for our Romance Novel of the Month club that Yolande had started. For a monthly subscription, you got a romance novel hand-selected for your taste, as well as a themed snack and a special gift. This month, it was a pen with a hunky lumberjack on. When you turned it the wrong way up, the guy’s plaid shirt slowly disappeared, leaving his tiny abs on full display. I can’t tell you how much I loved those pens.
I climbed down from the ladder, admiring the store. It was almost ready for Marge’s arrival. Some of Marge’s fans were already here, browsing the shelves and buying up her books.
Because Marge was now a friend of mine—I had to pinch myself about that every day—I got her to pre-sign some of her backlist titles, and I even ordered a few copies of the special editions of her Lighthouse of Love series. They were leather-bound, with a jewel-encrusted lighthouse on the spine and oh, did I mention that they go for around $150?
Well, we’d sold all ten copies this morning already.
“This place is looking awesome!” Yolande said, giving a rare grin. She was very pretty when she smiled, with cute dimples in her cheeks. It was a shame she tried not to do it very often. Although she did seem a lot happier since working back at the bookstore again. She had even moved into my apartment now that I was living with Ethan properly. She was renting it off me, which gave me a little extra income. Apparently, she'd painted my old egg-yolk yellow front door midnight black, but hey, the girl had a right to express herself.
“We make a pretty great team, huh?”
“So?” she asked. “Did you read book three?”
I nodded. “It’s amazing. I always love the final book in one of Marge’s series. She ties up the storylines from all the novels so beautifully.”
“And? The rubber farm?”
“Bouncy,” I said, waggling my eyebrows. “Very bouncy indeed.”
I’d been devouring novels since I got back to town. I’d even—shock horror—started reading historical romance. It was pretty much impossible not to with a new season of Bridgerton out.
“Looks like someone’s romance addiction is back in full force.”
I felt my cheeks flush. “Guilty as charged.”
Just then, the bell above the door chimed, and in walked Marge and Mary-Beth. Marge swept into the store in a pink cowboy jacket, a riot of bubblegum color adorned with enough rhinestones to make a disco ball jealous. Her legs were clad in form-fitting dark denim jeans, tucked into a pair of pink cowboy boots that matched her jacket perfectly. The boots’ heels added an extra inch or two to her already commanding presence. Accessories were, of course, abundant. Multiple rings adorned her fingers, each one catching the light with every animated gesture. A pair of oversized hoop earrings swung from her ears, and a delicate gold pen hung from a chain around her neck – ever ready for an impromptu autograph session.
“Well, hello there, sugar,” she said, smiling at me.
“Marge!” I exclaimed, rushing over to greet her with a warm hug. “Welcome to Happy Ever Affogato!”
“Lily, darlin’,” Marge drawled, kissing both my cheeks. “This place is absolutely charming. I can see why you left the big city behind.” She breathed in deeply. “Why does it smell so divine in here? Aha!” She eyed the coffee machine. “Mystery solved.”
There was an excited murmur as the customers in the shop chatted about Marge’s arrival.
“Mind if I make the coffees?” Mary-Beth asked, rolling up her sleeves. “I worked as a barista in college, and I miss it. Nothing quite like yanking a handle and grinding some beans.”
“Honey, are we still talking about coffee?” Marge asked. “Speaking of yanking and grinding, how are things going with Ethan, Lily?”
I laughed, trying to hide my blush. “Things are . . . good.”
Good. It was the understatement of the century.
“Good?” Marge pressed, her eyes twinkling. “I need more than that, bunny rabbit. I need the juicy details.”
I couldn’t help but giggle. “Marge, I can’t dish at work.”
“Later then. We’ll go for cocktails. Bluehaven Beach has cocktails, right?”
“We have a diner.”
“Isn’t this place just adorable?” Marge cooed, pulling out her notebook.
“Ethan’s sister, Ida, runs the place.”
In the background, I heard MB enthusiastically loading the bean hopper before grinding what sounded like far too many beans.
Marge scribbled furiously. “Well, of course she does.”
“Marge?”
“Just making sure that I get all this down. I need my next book to be as true to life as possible.”
I felt the blush returning to my cheek. “Your next book?”
“Got to be careful around writers,” Marge said, “they’re always listening.”
***
An hour or so later, when Marge and Mary-Beth were sufficiently caffeinated, the event began. The place was packed. As well as lots of avid Marge Statten fans, it felt like nearly half the town was here.
Elara and Ida. Connie and Cole. Susie had picked up Ava early from school with special permission, and I had instructed her to cover Ava’s ears if anything saucy was said. Even Jenna had shown up. She clutched a copy of all three books in the Lavender Farms series. I didn’t know she was a fan.
It struck me that I was the reason that all these wonderful people had fallen in love with romance. Well, I guess the writers also had something to do with it, but I’d been the one recommending and selling the books. I felt a rush of pride.
It was a shame Ethan couldn’t make it. He’d had some last-minute work to finish at the garage but had promised he’d come pick us up when he was done.
After everyone was seated, Marge started with a—luckily family-friendly—reading from the start of the book. I’d hosted a few small events here before, but they paled in comparison to what Marge was doing. Turns out, she was just as accomplished a reader as a writer. The atmosphere was electric. People oohed, aahed, and laughed as they were introduced to the characters and the world of Lavender Farms.
“And now, y’all,” Marge announced with a twinkle in her eye, “I have a special surprise. Somethin’ I’m sharin’ for the very first time. My next book—book one in the Smalltown Sweethearts series—has been inspired by a real-life romance.”
My eyes widened.
No.
Fricking.
Way.
“And not just any old romance. A romance that’s quite close to home. In fact, it happened right here in Bluehaven Beach.” She was looking right at me as the crowd murmured with excitement. “It’s the story of our lovely hostess, Lily Lane, and her mechanic sweetie, Ethan!”
It was at that precise moment that Ethan decided to make his grand entrance. He was wearing his overalls and covered in car grease.
“Sorry I’m late!” he shouted, pushing open the door and stumbling in carrying a stack of books. Romance books.
When he’d first confessed to me that he was hopelessly addicted to Marge Statten novels, I’d been shocked, but not disbelieving. I had a feeling that deep down, there was a very gooey center hidden away behind all that firefightery gruffness.
He sat in the empty seat next to Ava and apologized for making a fuss.
Even though he was stacked up high with copies of extremely pastel-colored romance books, Ethan still managed to look so masculine it should have been illegal. He’d gotten even more muscular recently. Since qualifying as a firefighter, he had stepped up his workout regime, ensuring that he was ready for whatever emergency came his way. His face was tanned from the summer sun, and his blue eyes were deep and alluring and playful as hell.
I watched happily as he gave Ava’s knee a little squeeze, and winked at me.
“As I was sayin’,” Marge said, “my next book will be all about an age-gap romance between a bookish sweetheart and a firefighter-cum-mechanic.”
“Sounds far-fetched,” Ethan joked.
“That’s romance for you,” Marge quipped back.
After a brief Q&A, I set up Marge at the store counter with a pen and a few stacks of books. People queued up, including Ethan. I sidled up to him and gave him a kiss.
“Can you believe she’s writing a novel about us?” he asked, his face as excited as a kid’s. “The maestro!”
“I can’t! It’s crazy.”
“The boys at the station will never believe it,” he said, shaking his head.
The line moved forward.
Eventually, it was Ethan’s turn. I watched, utterly charmed, as he approached Marge’s table. His usual gruff demeanor melted away as he handed over his book.
“This is Ethan,” I said.
“Well, butter my biscuit if it ain’t Bluehaven’s very own Mr. Darcy,” Marge drawled, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
Ethan chuckled, a slight blush creeping up his neck. “I’m more of a Heathcliff, don’t you think? Brooding and misunderstood?”
I smiled proudly. Since learning about Ethan’s interest in romance, I’d been introducing him to a few classics, and he’d devoured them with a hunger to learn.
“Bless your heart, sugar,” Marge said, scribbling in his book. “You’ve got a heart of gold, so Lily tells it. And a talent for rescuin’ damsels and their distressed vehicles, I hear.”
Ethan scratched his head. “You heard about that, huh?”
“Honey, that’s the meet-cute in my next book! Couldn’t resist.”
“Meet-cute?”
“Don’t you worry your pretty head about it, darlin’. It’s just a fancy romance term. Awfully complicated. It’s when the characters meet. And it’s cute.”
“Yep, too technical for me,” Ethan joked.
As Marge handed the signed book back, Ethan thanked her and pulled me over to one side. Even feeling his hand take mine felt as electric as that first time he’d touched me. His strong, rough hands. Knowing what they could do to me—what they had been doing to me, every night since we’d come back from New York.
“I’m taking Ava for a soda while you finish up. Meet us outside after the signing.” He squeezed my hand, sending shivers down my spine. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
My mind raced with possibilities as I watched him and Ava leave. She turned and waved at me, with a mysterious smile. What on earth was going on?
The moment the last customer filed out, I practically sprinted for the door, my heart pounding with anticipation.
My breath caught in my throat.
It was the Vladmobile, but not as I knew it.
Gone was the gaudy, gothic-font decal that had once adorned its hood. In its place stood a gleaming masterpiece of vintage Americana, reimagined with a touch of Ethan’s mechanical genius and a whole lot of love.
The car’s body had been repainted in a deep, burnt orange that seemed to glow in the late afternoon sun. Chrome accents sparkled along the bumpers and around the windows, meticulously polished to a mirror shine. The once-dented hood now curved smoothly, its surface unmarred and perfect.
But it was the little details that truly took my breath away. On the driver’s door, in elegant, hand-painted script, was my name: “Lily.” My heart swelled at the sight.
“You like the color?” asked Ethan nervously. “I literally held color palettes up to your hair a couple of weeks ago, while you were sleeping, trying to match it.”
I laughed. “I love it. Is it big-headed of me to say that?”
Ethan chuckled, opening up the car door. “Take a look inside.”
The interior was a work of art, too. The seats had been reupholstered in buttery soft, cream-colored leather that looked impossibly inviting. The dashboard gleamed with restored vintage gauges and a retro-styled radio that I strongly suspected housed modern technology behind its chrome facade.
As I circled the car in awe, I noticed a small decal on the rear window—a stack of books with a wrench leaning against them, encased together inside a heart.
“So,” Ethan said, eyes piercing mine, “what do you think?”
I turned to him, tears welling in my eyes. “Ethan, it’s . . . it’s perfect. I had no idea you were doing it! I can’t believe you did all this. When did you find the time?”
He shrugged, a bashful smile playing on his lips. “I had some help. Ava kept me company reading books to me while I worked.”
“That’s awesome, Ava!”
Ethan dangled the keys in front of me. “Want to take her for a spin?”
I grinned, snatching the keys from his hand. “You bet I do. But first . . .” I pulled him in for a deep, passionate kiss, pouring all my gratitude and love into it.
“Ew, gross!” Ava said.
“Sorry,” I said, “blame your father for being so damn perfect.”
“A perfect pig!” Ava said, chuckling.
Ethan oinked a couple of times, then we bundled into the car.
“I’ve got some good news, too,” Ethan said as we put on our seatbelts. “Today I finally found a buyer for the Spyder!”
“That’s amazing!”
“Wait,” Ava said, “does that mean—”
“We’re going to Disney World!”
We cheered, and Ava punched the air, then I turned the key, and the engine purred to life.
Ethan grinned at me from the passenger seat, while Ava bounced excitedly in the back.
“Lily, can we cruise down to the beach?” Ava asked, her eyes sparkling with delight. "And when we get to the beach we can download the Disney app! And make a list of all the rides we want to go on!”
Ethan laughed. "One thing at a time, kiddo."
"Okay, okay," said Ava. "Beach first, then ice cream, then Disney app."
As Ava continued to reel off all the exciting things she wanted to do with her afternoon, Ethan’s hand found mine on the gear shift. “Let’s see what this beauty can do.”
As we cruised along the coastal road, windows down and the salty air whipping through our hair, I couldn’t stop smiling. I’d hated this car for such a long time. All it needed was a new context for me to learn to love it.
“Hey, Ava,” I said, glancing in the rearview mirror. “Did you get your constellation project back yet?”
Ava’s face lit up. “Yeah! I forgot to tell you.”
“Wait ‘til you hear.” Ethan chipped in, proudly.
“I got a principal’s award!”
“You did?” I was so happy I almost took my hands off the wheel to clap. Ava had worked incredibly hard on her project. It was the first time, so she said, that she had actually finished something like this. What made it all the sweeter was just how difficult it had been for her. Even with the overlays and the other tools she had, reading and writing would always be trickier than for other kids. But she didn’t give up. She was a star.
“It’s all thanks to you, Lily,” Ava said softly.
I felt a warmth bloom in my chest. “We’re a team, remember? All of us.”
As we rounded a bend, Ethan cleared his throat. “Speaking of teams . . . I was thinking we could do something special tonight. As a family.”
“Ooh, what?” Ava leaned forward, practically vibrating with excitement.
Ethan chuckled. “It’s a surprise, squirt. But I promise you’ll love it. A little well done present for doing so well on your project.”
“As well as Disney World?” Ava’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. "You're so much cooler since you and Lily got together, Dad!"
I raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re on a roll today, Firefighter McCoy.”
He winked at me, sending my heart into a flutter. “What can I say? I’m full of grand gestures these days.”
“No horses this time, please. We’ve got quite enough manure for the time being.”
“No horses,” he promised, chuckling. “Although you can never have enough manure.”
***
It was a funny-looking package.
Tall and spindly and hastily wrapped. It stood outside the condo in the middle of the yard.
“What is it, Daddy?” Ava asked.
“I can’t spoil the surprise,” he grinned. “You’re going to have to wait until after sunset.”
“After sunset?” I asked, curiosity peaked. “Is it something magical? Something that needs the light of the full moon to activate it?”
“Something like that,” Ethan said.
It was Ava’s present, but I was struggling to contain my excitement, too. Over dinner, Ava and I made wild guesses about what could be inside the package. I felt pretty sure that the present was a telescope, but I didn’t want to ruin the surprise, so I guessed that it could be a baby giraffe, or, failing that, a miniature model of the Eiffel Tower.
After we were done eating, we played Uno for a couple of hours, until the sun started to dip beneath the horizon, painting the sky shades of crimson and gold.
We headed outside. Ava was bouncing on the spot with excitement.
“Can I open it?”
“Go for it,” Ethan said, nodding.
It was a joy to watch her tear the gift wrap off. When she was done, Ava let out a squeal of delight. “A telescope? A real one? For me?”
“For all of us,” Ethan said, ruffling her hair. “I thought we could do some stargazing together.”
“I love it! Thank you, Dad!” she said, giving him a hug. Then, she gave me a hug. “And thank you, Mom.”
My breath caught in my throat. She’d never called me that before. I didn’t know what to do.
For a moment, she looked embarrassed. “Sorry, Lily. Is it okay I called you that?”
I felt tears welling in my eyes. “It’s better than okay, honey. It’s about the best thing anyone has ever called me.” I pulled her in tight, closed my eyes, and thanked the universe for bringing this wonderful little girl into my life. “You can call me Mom any time you want to.”
Ethan watched us, misty-eyed. I hoped he felt all right. I didn’t want to take away from Marie’s place in Ava’s memory.
I watched as Ethan carefully set up the telescope, his strong hands moving with surprising gentleness. He referred often to the instructions, taking great care not to damage any of the sensitive parts.
All the while, Ava bounced on her toes, pelting him with questions. “Will we see Mars? What about the Big Dipper? Ooh, can we find Orion’s Belt?”
Ethan chuckled. “I hope so!”
As he fiddled with the settings, I couldn’t help but marvel at the scene before me. My little family, bathed in the soft glow of twilight, about to explore the cosmos together. My heart swelled with a love so fierce it almost hurt.
“All right,” Ethan said, straightening up. “I think this is good to go. Want to give it a spin, Aves?”
“Yep, yep, yep.”
Ethan lifted her up, positioning her eye over the lens. “Okay, what do you see?”
“Uh . . . it’s all blurry,” Ava said, her voice tinged with disappointment.
“Here, let me show you how to focus it,” Ethan said, guiding her small hands to the adjustment knobs.
I leaned in, whispering, “Take it slow, one step at a time.”
Ava nodded, her tongue poking out in concentration as she carefully turned the knobs. Suddenly, her whole face lit up. “I see it! I see a star! It’s so bright! And big!” She let out a loud laugh and clapped her hands together. “They’re so pretty, and there are so many of them! The sky looks so empty but there are tons of them.”
“Sometimes,” Ethan said, looking straight at me, “you can be looking at something for years, but not see how perfect it is.”
“You just need the right lens.” I reached and gave his hand a squeeze.
Loving Ethan was easy.
As we took turns peering through the telescope, Ethan pointed out various constellations and planets. I was impressed by how much he knew—apparently, my firefighter boyfriend had also been busy boning up on astronomy.
“Wow,” I said, “just make sure you let me know when you see the Droopy Caterpillar.”
“Look, there’s the Big Dipper!” Ava exclaimed suddenly.
Just then, to my amazement, a brilliant streak of light blazed across the sky. We all gasped in unison.
“No freaking way,” Ethan whispered.
“A shooting star!” Ava cried out. “Another one? Quick, make a wish!”
I closed my eyes, my heart full of hope. When I opened them, I caught Ethan’s gaze. The tenderness I saw made me weak at the knees.
“I wish for us to be happy forever,” Ava announced proudly.
Ethan cleared his throat. “Sweetie, you’re not supposed to say your wish out loud. It might not come true.”
Ava shrugged, giggling. “I don’t need magic. It’s going to come true anyway. Because we love each other, and that’s all you need.”
Soon, it was Ava’s bedtime. Ethan gently guided her back inside, his large hand enveloping her tiny one.
“You want me to take her in?” I asked.
“You rest,” Ethan said. “It was a big day today. Why don’t you light a fire? I’ll bring out a drink for us.”
“Sounds perfect,” I replied.
I kissed Ava goodnight and got to fire-building. I wasn’t a pro, but I knew the basics. Get sticks. Get wood. Make flames. Be warm.
I used my prehistoric instincts to get a little fire going, and by the time Ethan returned with a couple of glasses of red, there was a tiny bit of heat coming off it.
“Whoa, this blaze is out of control!” Ethan joked.
“You’re not on duty tonight, are you?”
“Nah, not working nights anymore. Not now the training is over. But, you know, I can’t help the muscle memory kicking in. Cheers,” Ethan said, passing me a glass.
We took a sip and I savored the taste: velvety, spicy, robust.
A sparkle from the fire danced in Ethan’s eyes.
“Thought we might do a little stargazing ourselves,” he said, resting a hand on my hip.
“Is that a euphemism?”
“Actually no,” he said with a grin. “I mean actual stargazing. There’s something I want to show you.” He led me to the telescope.
My heart raced as he positioned me in front of it. What was he up to?
“Take a look,” Ethan urged, his voice low and filled with excitement. “Hopefully that blazing inferno of yours won’t stop you from seeing it.”
I peered through the eyepiece, gasping at the brilliant pinprick of light. “It’s beautiful,” I whispered.
“It’s yours,” Ethan replied, pressing something into my hand.
“Mine?”
“Look at the certificate.”
I tore my gaze away from the telescope, my eyes widening as I read the paper. “You . . . you named a star after me?”
Ethan nodded, his blue eyes shimmering in the moonlight. “Lily’s Star,” he said softly. “Because you’re my guiding light.”
Tears pricked my eyes.
“Oh, Ethan,” I breathed, unable to find the words to express the emotions swirling inside me.
As I looked back up at my star, I felt Ethan move beside me. When I turned, my breath caught in my throat. There he was, down on one knee, holding a small velvet box.
“Lily Lane,” he began, his voice husky with emotion, “for so long, I was sure I was broken. You showed me how to be whole. I thought I was a coward. You showed me how brave I could be. I hadn’t just forgotten how to love—I had forgotten how to live, too. And you . . . you haven’t just reminded me of what I’m capable of. You’ve let me see that I’m capable of so, so much more.”
I couldn’t stop the tears now, my heart pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it.
“Most importantly of all, you’ve made me see that some things are worth risking everything for. So . . . here’s another risk.” He paused, taking a shaky breath. “Lils, will you marry me?”
He opened the box, revealing a stunning sapphire ring. For a moment, I was speechless, overwhelmed by the depth of love I felt.
“Yes,” I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, Ethan McCoy, I’ll marry you!”
I fell into Ethan’s arms. He smelled so good—just like he always did. Spice, smoke, sandalwood, sex. He pulled me in, slipping the ring onto my finger, then met my lips with a passionate kiss. His hands moved over me, and my body trembled as he pushed deeper, kissed harder, touched my soul.
As we broke apart, breathless, I couldn’t help but giggle. “You remember when you told me you were as romantic as a dead fish?” I paused. “And then that time you told me you’d destroy me?”
Ethan’s low chuckle rippled through me. “I guess I’ve upped my game.”
His hands slid down my back, and I felt a familiar heat building inside me. “Speaking of upping your game . . .” I murmured, trailing kisses along his jaw.
Ethan’s eyes darkened with desire. “Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, future Mrs. McCoy?”
“Well, we’re already outside under the stars, next to a fire. It’s warm out, almost too warm for clothes . . .”
Without another word, Ethan pulled me in tight, his lips crashing against mine. As we sank onto the blanket laid out beside the telescope, I couldn’t help but think this was better than any romance novel I’d ever read.
And as he started to move inside me, I had the strangest feeling, like the universe was watching us. Smiling. Somewhere, up above, my star was burning, bright and beautiful. It would be there, looking over us, for all of our happy ever after.
***
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you loved Lily and Ethan's story. I completely fell in love with Lily, and as a romance obsessive myself, it was so much fun writing her anti-romance rules! I love how Ethan opens up to her too, and pretty much becomes the most romantic person in Bluehaven Beach!
Thanks again for taking a chance on a new writer. I appreciate you.
Sophia x