Dopplebanger (Meet-Cute #5)

Epilogue

Attuned in every way to the sexy redhead sitting in the passenger seat, I noticed every shift, the way she picked at her nails, and how she wouldn’t stop worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.

“Baby, it’s going to be fine.”

She turned her big hazel eyes on me. Every day I considered myself one lucky bastard that she’d forgiven me and taken me back, and every day I fought to make sure she knew how much I loved her for who she was so I never had to experience the darkness of what it was like to be without her ever again. “It’s going to be awkward.”

“Maybe,” I said, and when she frowned at me, I shrugged. “Hey, I swore I’d never lie to you again.”

“That doesn’t mean you can’t soften it.”

“That was what the ‘maybe’ was for.”

“Gee, thanks for that, counselor.”

“Jokes on you, it turns me on when you call me counselor.”

Gwen leaned across the console, her lips so close to my ear that they brushed it when she spoke. “Spoiler alert, I like that it turns you on. How about we go back to my place and do something about that growing issue in your pants?”

I shifted, well accustomed to getting hard-ons and having to constantly readjust when she was in the car with me. “We can get to that after we make it through the party.”

Gwen flopped back in her seat, a pout on her pretty lips.

“It’s my birthday party,” I said. “I can’t just skip it.”

“I had a different idea for a party, one that involved our birthday suits.”

“And luckily we’ll have time for both kinds of parties.” It wasn’t that she was opposed to celebrating my birthday, but one that involved my whole family. And having my whole family watch on as she interacted with several of the people who knew her from back when she was dating Evan. Admittedly, odds of awkwardness were high.

“My parents are going to love you, I promise,” I said, deciding to address that worry first. “And my brother… Well, he can stick to friends. Who don’t touch.” My hands tightened on the steering wheel. Evan and I were cool. He and Gwen had even formed a sort of friendship where they talked and joked around whenever their paths crossed—it wasn’t perfect, but it was less strained each time. I knew that part of him was still stung over the fact that Gwen hadn’t picked him, but we’d worked through it, and he knew how I felt about her, and it was time to introduce her to the rest of my family.

“I plan on you being part of my life for a very long time—like forever. We’ve got to do this sooner or later.” I pulled up to the house I’d grown up in.

“I pick later!” She twisted to face me, eyes wide. “I’ll let you take me on a rollercoaster. Right now only, deal expires at midnight.”

Tempting, but not enough to prevent me from getting out of the car, circling the hood, and opening her door. One sexy leg stuck out and I got a little lost in ogling my girlfriend. We’d been dating for two months now. She’d been to my work, I’d been to hers. It was time to take that leap and introduce her to my parents.

Her shoulders relaxed slightly, and while I thought it was from my stellar comforting skills, I realized as soon as Tori came strolling over that it was about her best friend. “Thank goodness you’re here.”

“You say jump, I say who do I jump?” Tori replied with a giant grin. Then she nodded at me. “Hey, doppelbanger.”

“Hey, fake British chick.”

She blew me a kiss and then the three of us walked up the steps to the house. Admittedly, I liked Tori. She was funny and authentic and had Gwen’s back, no matter what. Kinda wished Gwen didn’t feel the need to have her here tonight, but if it helped the party go smoother, I’d call it a win.

“Surprise!” several people shouted when I stepped inside, even though obviously it wasn’t a surprise party.

Evan stepped up to give me a hug, patting my back and wishing me a happy birthday.

“Right back at you,” I said.

“Gwen.” He tipped his head. “Looking lovely this evening.” He cast me a quick glance, like he was checking he hadn’t crossed the line. Not that I could claim to be an expert on avoiding crossing the line, but I appreciated it. Then his smile tightened as he glanced at Gwen’s roommate. “Tori. Still clinging to the obnoxious British thing, I presume?” Unlike when I teased her about her personality quirk, there wasn’t any humor in his jab.

“I’ll take that as a compliment coming from the discontinued, outdated version of Ethan.”

Wow. The hatred was strong with those two. Not sure why, and I didn’t want to get in the middle of it—I was done getting involved in Evan’s messes. Before we got pulled into that, I nudged Gwen on past my brother’s group of friends, who called out greetings to us as we walked by. Naturally, they all loved Gwen, and it took us a few extra minutes to make it across the room.

“Ethan! Happy birthday!” Mom walked up to us, her smile widening as she took in my girlfriend and her pretty purple dress. “And you must be Gwen. We’ve heard so much about you.” She hugged Gwen, who enthusiastically hugged her back once she realized there was hugging happening. “You’re just as lovely as Ethan said.”

“He’s great at upselling me like that.”

My mom laughed and then Dad came over, and within minutes, they were trying to keep up with Gwen’s chatter as they beamed at her.

I nudged her, my silent way of saying Told you so.

She bumped her hip against mine, in a move that I took to mean Since you were obviously right, you’re going to totally get lucky tonight.

Okay, I might’ve read more into that than she meant, but as the night wore on, and all the weirdness faded, everything in my life felt perfectly aligned. My dad even remarked how impressed he was that I was already up for a promotion.

“Have you seen Tori?” Gwen asked, glancing around.

“Not in a while.” I looked around, too, but didn’t see her anywhere. After another thirty or so minutes of circulating, I curled Gwen to me and whispered, “Ready to get out of here? I can’t stop thinking about you in your birthday suit.”

Heat flooded her gaze, and she gripped a fistful of my shirt. “You better take me home, and quick, or I’ll make what Horny does to his rainbow look like amateur hour.”

“I don’t even know what that means,” I said with a laugh, “but I’m looking forward to finding out.”

We wished people goodbye on our way out—although I couldn’t find Evan—and then we climbed into my car. It wasn’t a Camaro, but it was mine. As was the girl by my side.

On the drive back to my place, I once again thanked my lucky stars for my past poor judgment, a road trip that’d flipped my life upside down, and a woman who was amazing enough to forgive and forget, in spite of my imperfections.

I lifted our entwined hands to my lips and kissed the back of hers. “Have I mentioned lately how much I love you, Guinevere Cosgrave?”

The streetlight lit up her dimpled smile. “It’s been an hour or so. Have I mentioned how much I love you back?”

“You have. But I’d be open to further discussion…”

She grinned and leaned across the console to nibble on my earlobe. “As soon as we get home, I’m going to make sure you have a new favorite ride. Spoiler alert: it’s me.”

I groaned, our game dialing the blood in my veins to blazing hot in a flash. Suddenly the three or so miles we had left seemed way too long.

The engine growled as I eased down the accelerator a couple more inches. When the stoplight at the last intersection before my apartment complex forced me to brake, I used the idling time to slide my hand up her silky thigh. I pushed up her skirt and stroked her over her lacy panties, pleased to find her already growing damp for me.

“Ethan,” she moaned, and I grinned.

There it was.

My car, my girl—and best of all—my name.

Thank you for reading DOPPELBANGER!