We locked the door to the condo and headed toward the elevator. “You’d think,” Ethan grumbled, pressing the down button and slinging his arm over my shoulder as we waited. “But just to be on the safe side, all the paperwork for our life insurance policies are in the lockbox on the top closet shelf. Use the money wisely.”
He winked and I smacked him in his nice, firm stomach as the doors opened and we climbed onto the elevator. With my head resting against his shoulder, I thought back over the past year and a half.
Shortly after proposing, Ethan had insisted we get married right away. We argued about it… a lot, but ended up getting married on our spot just before Christmas — despite the chilling temperature — with the reception being held at my dad and Chloe’s house. It was the most perfect wedding. Small, intimate, and quick, just us surrounded by the people who loved us the most. Since he was still out for the season, we spent the holidays and the following summer bouncing between Pembrooke and Denver so I could check on the progress of the new café and begin the hiring process. I’d lucked out in finding a general manager who could run the place in her sleep, so moving back home during the off-season wasn’t such a terrifying idea now that I knew the restaurant wouldn’t burn to the ground in my absence.
I could honestly say that I’d never been happier in my life than I have been married to Ethan Prewitt, football star, and every morning I wake up thankful that we both managed to find our way back to each other.
I loved him as a child, and that love eventually turned into the most important friendship I’d ever had. We lost our footing for a few years, but we found our way home, and I was happy to say our relationship had come full circle.
The elevator dinged and my husband took my hand, leading me through the parking garage toward our car. “Did you call Lilly to tell her we were coming?” he asked as he popped the truck and put the last of our bags in.
“Yep. And she can’t wait. She said she’s been dying to rub my belly ever since she visited last month.”
We climbed in, buckled up, and Ethan started the car. “You ever find out what went down with her and Quinn?”
I frowned at the reminder. Lilly called me around last Christmas in tears over a guy she’d been dating. She didn’t go into detail, but she eventually let it slip that she’d been seeing Quinn for a few months and it had ended badly. “No,” I answered. “Did you ever ask him about it?”
“I did, but he was suspiciously tight lipped about the whole thing.”
I gave that some thought. “I don’t like this. Quinn’s a good guy. I can’t imagine what he could have done to make her so upset.”
Knowing how much it bothered me that my best friend was in pain, Ethan reached over and took my hand in his, lifted it to his lips and placed a kiss on my knuckles, right where his ring rested. “Well, no worries baby. We’re heading home now, so you have all the time in the world to meddle in her business.”
I laughed at that. “It’s only fair. She did the same with us.”
“That she did,” Ethan grinned, giving my hand a squeeze before resting it on his thigh. “And I couldn’t be happier about the outcome.”
“Me either,” I smiled as we turned out of the garage and onto the road that would lead us home.
“I love you, Ethan Prewitt.”
He gave me a quick look, gracing me with that smile that got me every single time. “And I love you, Eliza Prewitt. Always have and always will.”
I let that rest in my soul and warm me from the inside out because I had no doubt that he meant it.
I took his hand and rested both our palms on my protruding belly. Together, we’d found our happiness. And it was the most beautiful thing imaginable.
The End
stay tuned for Quinn and Lilly’s story
coming early 2017
To my husband: What can I say that I haven’t already, other than I fall even more in love with you every single day.
To Rachel Van Dyken and Tara Sivec: Not only are you amazing critique partners, but you’ve also become amazing friends. I couldn’t have done with without out you.
To Erin Noelle: I’m so unbelievably happy to have you in my life.
To Jill Sava: You are such a crucial part to this whole process. I’m so glad I have you in my life.
To Jenn Wolfel: I love you for always giving it to me straight. Never stop
To the lovely ladies of F*ck That Noise: I LOVE you guys!
And as always, to my readers: This is for YOU!
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Coming Full Circle (the Pembrooke series Book 2) Page 21
