Epilogue
PATRICK
Today’s the day!
I can’t stop my hands from shaking. Thank God Paul and Henry are here to help.
There would be no way in hell I’d get this done before Elle and her sisters showed up and that would be embarrassing.
“Alright buddy, I think we are almost done and Mama should be here soon.” Paul exits the office, ruffling his son’s hair.
Henry hasn’t been in the office but he’s kept Honey Cat distracted and in the room.
I wanted to make sure the whole family was here, so he’s been a giant help.
“Nervous?” Paul looks at me with a giant smile on his face.
We’ve come a long way in the last couple of months and though I’ve never had one, I’d consider him a brother.
“Hell yeah I am.” I can’t deny it, Elle is always surprising me and I can’t guarantee what her reaction will be.
My glorious grump always keeps me on my toes, like when a month after she fractured her ankle, she asked me to move into her house with her.
I was flabbergasted and moved in by the next week.
“Mama!” Henry jumps up, abandoning Honey Cat and running into the arms of a tall dark haired woman.
I glance at Paul as the woman bends down and hugs her son.
He has a melancholy look on his face, it’s sad but also a little happy?
I’m not sure. Elle has told me that their situation is a unique one but that it’s not her story to tell and I’ve respected that but seeing the family all together pulls at my curiosity.
“Ready to go baby boy?”
“I not a baby, Mama.”
“I know, you’re my big guy.”
“Yeah! Big guy like Daddy and Rick!” A small sad smile dances across her features at Henry’s words and I guess that breaks Paul out of whatever trance he was in.
“Hey Nik, this is Patrick, or Rick, Elle’s guy.
” My chest puffs out at that introduction.
Being Elle’s guy is the best thing I’ve ever been and I would happily have that be the only thing that anyone I was introduced to moving forward knows about me.
“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” I reach out to shake her hand.
As we shake, Henry’s face scrunches up in confusion.
“Rick, not ma’am, she’s Mama.” This kid was so damn funny without even trying.
I nod solemnly, acting like I messed up my words.
“Hi, I’m Anika, this big guy’s Mama. It’s nice to meet you, too.
” Paul stands from giving Henry a hug good-bye and telling him to be good to his mama.
His eyes dance over Anika’s face but it seems like she is unwilling to meet his eyes.
“You know, Nik, you’re more than welcome to stay.
Sisters should be here soon.” Paul doesn’t even get the full sentence out before Anika’s head starts to shake.
“I made an appointment for Henry and I to join Bennett and Luka at the bounce place.” It’s subtle but Paul’s shoulders slump in resignation.
“Alright, tell them I said hi. I hope you have a good time.” Anika nods, weaving her fingers with Henry’s. “Have a good day, Rick. And good luck.”
Henry’s wave is so extreme, it shakes his whole little body and makes me chuckle.
Paul’s phone chimes and the awkward tension dissipates, turning into nervous energy. She’s coming. I rub my hands on my jeans, attempting to make sure I didn’t have sweaty palms for this. “Alright, it’s showtime!” Paul’s hands slap down on my shoulders and he gives me a little shake.
ELLE
Mabel and Lola are being weird. They invited me out to lunch and kept changing the subject so that I barely could keep track of what they were even talking about.
Now, they are walking me to Patrick’s office, which I don’t understand.
I haven’t seen Patrick all day and I don’t really want my sisters watching our reunion but I have no reason to ask them to leave because that would cause them to giggle like school girls.
You’d think at our age, wanting to kiss my guy would be a normal thing but not with these Warren girls.
Paul is standing outside the tour building and my confusion grows.
“Hey Grandma!” Paul wraps his arms around me in a bear hug, basically lifting me off the ground.
I groan, “Let go of me you big lug!” I wiggle out of his grip but now all of my siblings have the same dumb grin.
I scowl at them all. I raise my finger and point at each of them.
“You all can go now, I’m sure you all have work to do.
” I turn on my heel and open the door without another word.
I don’t want to hear it, I just want to see my Intruder.
Patrick’s standing in the middle of the room, Honey Cat in his arms. He’s so handsome, it takes my breath away.
“Hey sweetie.” I cross to the middle of the room and wrap my arms around his waist, not wanting to mess with the hold he has on Honey Cat.
I take in a deep breath, soaking in his sunshine scent and letting it calm my nerves from my siblings' weird vibes. “I missed you.” I admit as he plants a kiss on my forehead. Honey Cat is obviously tired of being sandwiched between us and leaps out Patrick’s arms and lets out a loud meow at the same time the door, that I specifically closed to keep out noisy Warrens, opens.
Patrick’s grin is wide as he bends down to place a quick peck on my lips before leading me to the door that leads to his private office.
“I have something I wanted to show you and I bribed your sisters to make sure you got here. Their only stipulation was to be here when I asked.” My nose scrunches but I keep my eyes on Patrick as he opens the door to the office.
A small gasp escapes my lips as I take in the area that is supposed to house all of Patrick’s stuff but instead of his stuff, it’s all the stuff from my office.
All of my stuff and a shit load of wildflowers in vases.
I’m so confused and don’t keep my expression guarded as I turn and look at Patrick.
“I know we live together but I want to be as close to you as possible all the time. We both know I’m never in the office anyway and I think it’s a much better use of space to have my girl around. You asked me to move into your house and now it’s my turn, will you move into my office?”
I chuckle and shake my head. “Fucking finally. Of course I’ll move in with you, again.
” Patrick’s hands land on my cheeks and brings his lips to mine in a searing kiss that is broken when I hear my fucking siblings cheering.
“Get out of here!” I wave my hands at my siblings wanting them to leave so I can show Patrick how excited I am to be sharing even more space with him.
Patrick shakes his head. “I do have one more question for you, sweetheart.” HIs hands drop from my face and the rest of his drops to the floor, onto one knee.
A small green box appears in his hands and my vision gets blurry with tears.
“Elle April Warren, my grumpy goddess,” this elicited a snort from Paul, “will you do me the greatest pleasure and marry me? Oof!”
I’m assuming I knocked the wind out of Patrick as I jump into him and wrap my arms around his neck. “Yes!” kiss “Fuck yes!” kiss “I love you.” kiss kiss kiss.
Cheers sound above us as I continue to pepper kisses across Patrick’s face, I can taste the salt from my tears mix with our tongues.
Patrick maneuvers our bodies so we are sitting up but still intertwined.
I lean my head against his as he opens the ring box.
Nestled in the middle of the box is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.
One stone surrounded by five smaller ones, looking like a flower.
It slips on my finger, a perfect fit. I can’t keep the smile off my face as I pull Patrick’s mouth to mine for another kiss.
My siblings surround us in a group hug. I had forgotten they were here and let out a small shriek.
“I have a question for you now, Intruder.” Patrick quirks his brow at me.
“What took you so damn long?”