Falling for Ezra Thomas (Life With the Thomas Brothers #4)

26. Epilogue

Epilogue

Ezra

Three months later…

“Where are they?” Jacob asks, twisting his hands. Neither of us expected to get our permanent duty station assignments together but we’re not complaining. Still awaiting the results of our Ranger application has us both on edge, but knowing our girls are almost here is a relief.

“They’ll be here. They got a little delayed from traffic, that’s all,” I say. Still, I check around once more, praying Lorelai’s car pulls into the lot soon and my wife is in my arms again.

“I still can’t believe you got married only a few days after returning home. And you all teased me about how fast I wanted to move with Delilah,” he teases.

“Listen, we Thomases don’t understand the meaning of slow down. I think we get it from our father, honestly,” I admit and rub the ring on my finger. In many ways, it still feels odd to have it on there. In others, it feels right as right can be.

“I’m glad she met with Delilah and they rode together,” he says. “It would have been silly to fly, but I didn’t like the idea of her driving alone all this way.”

Delilah and Lorelai set up their own meeting, which neither of us knew about until they sent a selfie from Sweet and Salty. Our girls sure know how to surprise us, but waiting for them has been torture. My impatience is getting to me as I check my watch one more time.

“We don’t have a lot of time left before we have to report,” I say and look around yet again. The cool morning air feels a lot more like home than those hot days in Georgia, but it doesn’t help my homesickness.

“Wait, is that them?” Jacob puts his hand over his eyes to shield them from the sun and stands straighter as a sedan pulls into the gas station parking lot. There weren’t many places to meet the ladies off post, and the small gas station was the best we could do.

The sedan, definitely Lorelai’s, pulls up beside us and she rolls down the window, smiling. “Hey there, soldier. Need a ride?”

The passenger door slams and a petite dark-haired spitfire runs around the back and leaps into Jacob’s arms. He catches her and spins her around, then I avert my eyes so they can have a private reunion. When I open Lorelai’s door and my wife steps out of the car, my heart flips all over again. We only had a few days together before I had to leave again, and all I can think about now is getting back to my apartment this afternoon.

“I missed you,” I mumble into her neck as I draw her as close to me as possible.

“I missed you, too,” she says and squeezes me. “I know you don’t have a lot of time, but I brought you something.” She reaches into her bag and pulls out a small box. It’s a cinnamon roll, and my heart swells. “I know you miss home, so I brought a little of it with me. There’s another for Jacob.”

My sweet bride, who is well on her way to being a children’s book author, never lets an opportunity to show people she loves them go to waste. Which is why our new living arrangements are a little…untraditional. Since we’re married, I can live off base but Jacob is another story. He and Delilah are planning their wedding, but it isn’t for another six months. In Lorelai’s mind, the answer was obvious…Delilah should live with us until the wedding.

Considering this is the first time I’ve met the woman, and she’s still glued to her fiancé, I suppose I understand why she wanted to bring her along. I’m not sure I could tell her no either, especially after seeing how much she loves a man who has quickly become one of my dearest friends.

Jacob manages to get Delilah to release him and takes her hand. Her dark eyes are wide and bright, and her cheeks are red from embarrassment. “Sorry. I’ve just missed him so much.” For a moment, I forgot she’s only nineteen. Not that Lore and I are much older.

“Not a problem. I’m Ezra Thomas, Lorelai’s husband.” Wow. Husband. That still feels odd to say, but the smile it brings to my wife’s lips encourages me to get used to it even faster. I offer my hand to Delilah, who shakes it readily.

“Oh, I know who you are. This one talks about you and Olson all the time. Plus, I’ve grown pretty fond of your wife.” Delilah smiles at Lorelai, who chuckles.

“Me, or the antics we’ve gotten you into the past week?” Lorelai glances at me and adds, “Do you know your brothers are insane? They tried to see if they could fit her in one of the cabinets at Sweet and Salty to leap out and scare your Uncle Dominic. Instead, she scared—”

I raise my hands. “No, don’t say Miss Rose.”

“Thank goodness, no, but your mother almost died,” she says and breaks into laughter with Delilah.

“Let me guess, it was Mav and Silas?” I ask.

“Those two and Beck,” Lorelai says. “My sister has ruined him.”

“I love your family. Honestly, they were so much fun while I was there, but I’m glad to be here.” Delilah gives Jacob a side hug and looks up at him. There’s no doubt about it. For her, he hung the moon and then some.

“Well, I hate to cut this short, but we have to report. I’ve got the contract and the keys. You ladies can settle in, and Jacob and I will be there this afternoon.” Of course, Jacob will have to head back to the barracks at some point, but at least he can chill at our place for a little while.

Lorelai tilts her head and narrows her eyes. “Um, excuse me?”

I blink a few times and wait for her to clarify. There’s no doubt I’ve done something wrong, but I can’t figure out what it is as I stand here with my hand extended, offering the very thing she’s here to retrieve.

“Uh, I have yet to get a kiss from my husband, and it’s been ten minutes.”

“Uh oh,” Jacob teases and tugs on Delilah’s hand. The two disappear from my line of sight while I lean in to kiss my wife.

Her hands slink up my arms to settle behind my neck and she tugs me close…but she doesn’t kiss me yet. Instead, she pauses and whispers, “Best decision I’ve ever made.”

“Yeah?”

She nods. “Yeah. Everything else is easy now that I have you to share it with. I love you.” Her eyelids go heavy and I lift her enough to hold her while I kiss her.

My wife.

My everything, even if I didn’t know it until my world flipped on its axis.

I’ve missed her more than I can ever put into words, but now she’s here and our life together can begin. I’m ready for it, excited for it, and I know that no matter what happens with my Ranger application, she’ll always be my sweet girl, my safe place, my home.