But then I remember the contract he was offered and I tell myself to calm down. My man is going to be making a lot of money as long as he keeps up his end of the deal.
“Champagne already? What are we celebrating?” I’m teasing him and notice the shaky smile on his face. The way his leg bounces.
He’s nervous.
Hmm.
“You. And me.” He lifts his glass and I do the same, meeting in the middle of the table and clinking them together. “We did it, Princess.”
“You did it,” I remind him, just before I take a sip. The champagne is cool and crisp and the bubbles tickle my throat as it goes down.
“Couldn’t have done it without you.” His gaze is intense as he stares at me. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I murmur with a little smile.
He says it a lot. More than he ever did before. After everything that happened before Christmas, he told me he looks at me as his gift. The one thing he was given that he’ll cherish above everything else.
I feel the same way about him.
These last six months, after everything we’ve experienced, have only brought us closer. We’ve been through a lot together, and we’ve learned so much about each other, too. It’s almost as if we have a renewed purpose within our relationship—and our love. The hardships have only made us stronger, and now our life together…
It’s amazing—and it’s only going to get better.
I just know it.
We eat the best meal I think l I’ve ever had. We drink more champagne. He jokes with me, being his typical Eli self and I laugh. He says something dirty and I laugh even more.
But he’s still nervous. I can sense it. And after our plates are taken away and it becomes quiet, I glance around to see that the catering staff is gone.
We’re the only ones left out here.
“You look beautiful tonight.” He reaches across the table to take my hand in his.
I smile at him. “So do you.”
“I can’t wait to take that dress off of you later.” He smirks.
The promise in his deep voice makes my toes curl. “We’re staying the night here, right?”
“Yeah. We’ve got the entire place to ourselves.” His eyes twinkle. “I say we try and christen as many rooms as possible before the night is over. What do you think?”
“Don’t you figure Jackson and Ellie have done the very same thing already?” I wrinkle my nose. They’re not even in the country right now. Jackson is on a European spring/summer tour and, of course, Ellie went with him, documenting everything via social media and her weekly podcast.
“Nah. Jackson never had much stamina.”
I laugh. “You are so full of shit.”
“You think so?” He raises a brow.
I nod, bringing the champagne glass up to my lips. I might be a little tipsy. “Definitely.”
“How about right now?” He suddenly gets down on one knee directly in front of me, reminding me of that day in his room when he got down on his knees and asked me to marry him.
After I lost the baby, we never brought getting married back up. I was too scared. Afraid he might’ve changed his mind, which is dumb.
This man is clearly going nowhere.
“Eli, what are you doing?” I ask him, my voice shaky.
“Ava Elizabeth Callahan.” He takes a deep breath. “I asked you to marry me about six months ago, and then I never followed through on my promise. I suck.”
I giggle. “You’ve been a little busy.”
“I have, but that’s no excuse. When a man finds the one woman he knows he will love for the rest of his life, he needs to make a move or…”
“Lose her forever,” I whisper, smiling. I might’ve said something similar to him a time or two.
“I love you so damn much. I want you to be my wife. To stand by my side through this new life we’re forming. I’m nervous about it, not gonna lie, but I know everything will be fine if I’ve got you with me. What do you say?” He pops open a box I didn’t even notice he had in his hand, and I gasp when I see the ring tucked inside.
It’s a deep green emerald, square cut and huge, flanked by a sleek diamond on each side. I lift my gaze to Eli’s to find him watching me.
“What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful,” I breathe.
“I had another one for you. Bought it and everything, but it was just so…I don’t know. Standard? Boring? And you’re not boring, Ava. Not even close. So I returned it and went in search of something else, something uniquely you. When I saw the emerald at a jewelry store a couple of months ago, it reminded me of your eyes,” he says as he takes the ring out of the box. “Give me your hand.”
I offer it to him, noting how my fingers tremble. His are shaky too and it takes him a second to jam the ring on my finger, both of us laughing. “It fits perfectly.”
The stones sparkle, thanks to the candles, the deep green of the emerald absolutely stunning.
“Will you marry me, Ava?”
“You’ve had this ring for a couple of months?” I ask incredulously.
He shrugs. “I bought the other one right after Thanksgiving.”
“Oh.” I glance down at the beautiful gift he’s given me. “You meant it when you said you wanted to marry me the first time.”
“Fuck yes, I did,” he says fiercely, scooting closer so he can touch my face, his fingers stroking my cheek. “You are the love of my life. My heart. My soul. We’ve been through some tough times. Being apart from you was one of the toughest things I’ve ever endured, but that means I got to fall in love with you twice—and that makes me a lucky man. I know this sounds like a bunch of corny shit, but I mean every word I say. Please say you’ll be my wife, Princess. Let me make you my queen.”
“Yes,” I murmur, my mouth stretching wide with a smile that can’t be contained. “Yes, yes, ye—”
He cuts off my response with his lips, kissing me hungrily, his hand sliding into my hair, his other hand touching the side of my neck, his fingers gentle as he streaks them across my skin. He kisses me until I’m moaning, my arms wrapping around his shoulders. Until I’m almost falling into his lap, right there on the deck.
Until we’re both laughing and I’m straddling him, his face pressed against my chest as he nips at my skin. As he whispers that he loves me.
As he whispers that I’m his.
And that I belong to him.
Forever.
Epilogue Part 2
Eli
Four years later
The back yard is full of people.
People I know and love.
People who mean everything to me.
There’s Jackson and Ellie, sitting with Tony and Hayden, and Caleb and Gracie. The three couples are at one of the many round tables that cover the lawn, laughing loudly, making me wish I was sitting with them. Jackson is still putting out hit songs, and Ellie is still touring with him all over the world. They aren’t married. They’re not even engaged, but they’re enjoying their free-spirited life, so good for them.
Tony is living in San Francisco and working for the family business, and he and Hayden got married a few months ago. Just as he predicted, she wears a thin gold band on her ring finger. No flashy diamonds for rich girl Hayden.
And then there’s Caleb, who works in the very town he grew up in. After graduating college, they got married right away and he got his real estate license. He’s now the top agent in the mountain area. Gracie is still teaching. Rumor has it she’s pregnant.
Neither of them will confirm or deny, which is just as well. We’ll figure it out eventually.
Jocelyn is speaking with my wife, eight-year-old Gigi by her mom’s side. Jos keeps resting her hand on her full belly, and Diego stops beside his wife at one point, pressing his lips to her cheek for a quick kiss before he grabs Gigi and sets her on his shoulders, making her laugh.
That laugh makes me smile.
Autumn and Ash are sitting und
er the giant oak tree, a baby in each of their arms. They had twins—a boy and a girl—a few months ago, which quietly freaked me out.
I can’t imagine having twins so I wish them well. That’s like twice the fuckin’ work.
I spot Beck and his girlfriend, and my smile returns. I remember being young and in so much fuckin’ love with Ava, I couldn’t pay attention to anyone else.
I hope those two go the distance.
Diego sets Gigi on the ground and they approach Jake and Hannah, the four of them talking, Gigi keeping up conversation with Hannah before the two of them head over to the table laden with cupcakes, both of them grabbing one.
I keep seeing Gigi with a cupcake. She’s going to eat too many for sure.
Jake wanted to play for the Niners, just like his dad, but the great Jordan Tuttle is still heading up that team, so Jake was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals. I wish I got drafted by the Niners too, but then again, I like where I’m at now. So does my wife.
Jake and Hannah aren’t married yet, but they’re engaged. She’s becoming a prominent artist who shows and sells her work around the world. We have a couple of her paintings that hang in the house and while I don’t normally give a shit about art, I have to admit they’re cool. Like the artist herself.
I like Hannah a lot. Her fiancé? Eh.
Ha, Jake and I are fine. We’re practically brothers, so we have to be. He’s also an enemy—on the football field once again since our teams are in the NFC West. I play for the Seahawks, which means we live in Seattle. Here’s what’s crazy—Diego plays for them too. We’ve gotten a lot closer over the years, Diego and me. Jocelyn and Ava are good friends too. Once we came to Seattle, Ava went back to college, attending the University of Washington, where she got her bachelor’s degree in international business.
Then I knocked her up. She’s a stay-at-home mom now, but eventually, I know she’ll take that bachelor’s degree and that giant brain of hers and use it for something good.
My baby can do anything she sets her mind to.
It was hard on her at first, living in a new city. Thank God she had Jocelyn to spend time with. And while Ava misses her family and friends, we do come see them as much as we can.
Like today.
Drew and Fable Callahan are bustling around, taking care of their many guests. They offered to host this event, which I appreciate. A more central place for all of us to meet, since we’re scattered all over the country.
But we’re all together today, celebrating us. Me and Ava.
And our impending arrival.
Ava’s belly matches Jocelyn’s. They’re both waddling little mamas ready to pop. My wife has been fucking radiant throughout this pregnancy. Her hair is thicker, like it gets when she’s expecting, and it flows down her back in golden waves. Her cheeks are rounder and her eyes are bright. Her laugh is joyous and her spirit is addictive. Everyone wants to talk to her, be with her, love on her.
Today is her day, so she deserves it.
“Ava’s going to open her gifts,” her father calls. “So everyone gather around the mama-to-be.”
Ava sits in a chair that looks more like a throne, and I send a questioning look in Jackson’s direction, who’s making his approach toward me. “Don’t tell me that’s yours.”
He shrugs, a lopsided grin on his face. “Ellie found it stashed in one of the spare bedrooms and we thought it would be fun to bring the chair out of retirement.”
I can’t help but laugh. He used to sit in that chair when he’d perform at Strummers back in the day, all mysterious and shit. Making the teen girls scream in orgasmic glee.
That feels like a lifetime ago. Maybe because it is.
My mother approaches Ava, delivering a beautifully wrapped box on her lap and bending over to kiss my wife’s cheek. Ava smiles up at her, grabbing her hand and murmuring thank you.
Mom’s been clean and sober now for four years. Since her accident and that DUI charge that she took care of. Guess you really do have to hit rock bottom before you climb your way back up.
I’m proud of her.
My brother actually stuck around to help out Mom when he can, and he’s doing well, too. We’ve gotten closer, and it helps, knowing that he’s here for her. That I don’t have to worry so much about her anymore.
Glancing to my left, I spot Ryan chatting up Ash, as he tries to juggle both of his babies in his arms. One of them starts to cry and Autumn rushes back over, taking the crying one from her husband before she returns to the circle of chairs surrounding my wife, every one of them filled with her friends and relatives. Autumn settles into the chair right next to her sister, the baby still crying and Ava watches them both with a serene smile on her face.
My heart expands and grows, which you would think is impossible considering how long I’ve loved this girl.
But it’s true. My heart just keeps growing fuller and fuller the more this woman gives me.
“Hey.”
I turn to see Fable approach, a sleepy toddler wrapped around her. I don’t know when she went back into the house to get her, but she hands my daughter over to me and I take her, loving how my baby girl snuggles close to me, her warm face lodged in my neck.
“Thanks, Grandma,” I say, which earns me a scowl from Fable. I’d laugh, but I don’t want to disturb my sleepy little princess.
“Daddy.” She grabs hold of the hair at my nape, giving it a tug. Making me wince.
My daughter is strong. Bold. Confrontational. Demanding. Arrogant.
Kenzie Elizabeth Bennett is the perfect combination of both her mother and her father. Blonde hair. Hazel eyes that lean more toward green. A sturdy little body and a huge personality.
“What’s up, lovebug?”
She lifts her head and looks around, spotting Gigi sitting nearby munching on a cupcake. “I want one.”
Kenzie points at the half-eaten cupcake, then wipes wispy blonde strands of hair out of her eyes.
“In a minute.” I kiss her soft cheek, staring at her in awe. I still can’t get over my daughter. She’s so damn cute. And smart. And full of it. When she first wakes up from a nap is when she’s at her calmest. I need to savor the moment while I can.
Leaning in, I breathe in her toddler sweet smell. She’s two. Naps are becoming rarer and rarer, unfortunately. I’m surprised she fell asleep right at the beginning of the party. Kenzie usually stays up to all hours of the night, never wanting to miss a thing.
I walk over to where Ava’s opening presents for our baby, all of the clothes neutral colors since we opted not to find out what we’re having. Everyone thinks we’re nuts. Why not find out?
Why not keep it a surprise? We found out with Kenzie, but this time, we’re changing it up.
Ava receives so many presents and all the women ooh and ahh over every single thing. The guys are clustered together chatting and I plan on joining them eventually. Just need to make sure my wife opens all of her gifts first.
Fable takes Kenzie from me to get her a cupcake. Gigi falls into step beside Fable, and I’m sure she’ll con another cupcake out of the woman. That girl is going to be throwing up before the afternoon is through, I can guarantee it.
There are so many gift bags and open boxes surrounding Ava by the time she’s through; she looks around helplessly, a giant smile on her face. “Thank you so much, you guys,” she calls out to everyone. “This baby is so loved.”
Among the murmurs of approval and the ‘you’re welcomes,’ I notice the one little bag sitting by the side of Ava’s throne, right by her foot.
“You missed one,” I call out.
Frowning, she glances around, but doesn’t spot it.
“Right there, baby.” I point at it and she looks down, snagging the tiny white gift bag by the handle and settling it into her lap.
“There’s no card.” Her gaze meets mine. “I don’t know who it’s from.”
“Open it,” I tell her, my heart starting to race when she peeks inside.
She pulls out a small lump wrapped in pale blue tissue, and slowly unfurls it to reveal…
A red baby onesie with the number one on the front, ‘Bulldog Fan’ written in script beneath the number.
“Aw, this is so cute.” Her gaze scans the crowd and there are people nodding in agreement, but no one claims the gift, which makes her frown once more. Her gaze finds mine again.
I stare back at her, filled with so much love for this woman, I can feel my eyes start to grow damp.
Aw, fuck. I’m gonna cry.
Ava rises to her feet and waddles through the sea of open boxes and gift bags, gently kicking them aside. She squeezes through two chairs, walks right past her daughter, who’s currently sitting in Fable’s lap with her face covered in white frosting, and only stops when she’s standing directly in front of me.
“When did you get this?” she whispers, holding the onesie up in her hand.
My wife is so smart. Always on to me, I swear.
“A really long time ago,” I whisper back, one tear tracking its way down my face.
Her eyes fill with tears too and she reaches for my face, wiping the single tear away with her thumb. “Oh Eli. I love it.”
“I think we’re having a boy.”
“I do too,” she murmurs, dipping her head so she can gaze at the onesie, the number one on the front of it. The sun glints off of her blonde hair and she’s never looked more beautiful. She traces her finger over the number one before lifting her head to meet my gaze once more. “You bought this after I told you that first time, huh?”
“Yeah. Never got a chance to give it to you. And then I didn’t want to make you sad. Eventually it got packed away during one of our moves. I found it about a year ago, but Kenz was too big to wear it. So I stashed it away in my closet, ready to bring it back out when the time was right.”
Ava shifts closer, leaning her head against my chest. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her even closer. “This is my favorite present by far.”
“You’re my favorite,” I whisper against her temple, kissing her there. “Don’t ever forget it.”
The Senior (College Years Book 4) Page 32