Writing On The Wall (The King Brothers Duology #2)

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

IVY

Hot Jean-Claude Van Damme , my husband is fine. I’ve got quite a lovely view from my perch on the front-porch swing. Ethan has his hat turned backward as he packs his tools into his truck. The man sure can rock a tool belt.

After we got back from Vegas and broke the news to our families, who were incredibly happy for us, we spent two days hibernating before the real world called us back. With the school year still going and Ethan’s job, we can’t take a honeymoon just yet. But I’m so grateful for Ethan’s parents’ response to the news of our elopement. I think on some level they expected something like this from him. Not that he ever took risks in relationships before, but he’s always been pretty spontaneous. I’m just so glad he picked me to test his courage in the long-term relationships department. I truly lucked out. We didn’t say a word about the original plan being for Ember and Colton to tie the knot. I think that might have broken Jeanie’s heart. In the end, Ember made the right decision. Her wedding is just another opportunity for her to practice her communication skills and setting boundaries with her mom, and she gets the big, family wedding she really wanted. And Colton gets a happy wife and a mother who won’t disown him. My parents took a bit more convincing when we broke the news to them over a Facetime call. But I opened with telling them how Ethan has helped Ross, so it set him up well, and I know they’ll grow to trust him more over time as they see how he loves me.

Ethan does his usual stomping up the steps, catching me staring at the ring that glitters obscenely on my finger. We bought them just before heading to the chapel in Vegas. The pink morganite stone is framed by a tiny row of diamonds on a yellow gold band. When we walked into the jewelry store, I told Ethan I wanted him to pick the ring for me. It only took him two minutes of perusing before he pointed to this beauty.

“Got something for you,” he announces as he sits beside me, pulling my legs over his lap.

“Wh—what? Why? I didn’t get you anything. Is this a married people tradition I’ve screwed up?”

He throws his head back, cackling at my expense. This man. “Relax, Mrs. King. It’s a just-because gift.”

“Oh.”

“I plan to shower you with plenty more of these, too. But I never want this to turn into a competition or for us to start keeping score. I love you, and I want to show it in every possible way, for the rest of our lives. You don’t have to earn my love. I’ve chosen you, and I’ll keep choosing you every day.”

My heart is a puddle while an even soppier pool forms in my eyes. How is he real? And how has he chosen me? For as much growth as I’ve had when it comes to my own self-worth, it still amazes me that this book-loving, sexy-as-fudge man wants to love me for the rest of our lives.

“I don’t know what to say to that.” I gulp. I’m a newlywed, okay, and my husband still makes me weak in the knees. And I think he will until we’re both old and wrinkly and have no filters like Opal and Gail.

“You don’t have to say anything. But I’ll take a kiss.” He lifts one side of his mouth in that cocky way that once drove me nuts when we first met. Except now it drives me wild in a different way…although, now that I think about it, it probably drove me wild for the same reason, but now I’m choosing to embrace the fact that his smirk makes me want to kiss him.

Yup, definitely not mad about that anymore, I think as I lean forward with my own smug little smile, only too happy to oblige.

Our kiss heats up quickly, and if we weren’t currently on the front porch giving the neighbors a show they hadn’t bought tickets to see, it might have progressed to another level. But thankfully, Ethan has the presence of mind to calm things down before we make any old ladies faint or clutch their pearls. When I reluctantly pull back, he’s holding a small, flat box in his hand.

“What is this?” I ask as he places the box in my palm.

“Open it,” he grins.

The little box snaps open, revealing a delicate gold chain attached to the sides of a small, diamond-studded wreath. The elegance of its simple design is enhanced by the tiny light that shines on it from the roof of the box.

“Eth…” My voice comes out breathy as I stare at the necklace in awe. “It’s so beautiful.”

“In ancient Greece, newlyweds wore ivy wreaths to show their loyalty and devotion to one another.” He says as his eyes sweep over my face, a gentle smile on his lips.

My mouth splits into an elated grin at the information. “I love it! Will you fasten it?” I hand him the box, turning to lift my hair out of the way. He removes the necklace and drapes it in front of me before fastening the clasp, and then I feel a gentle kiss being pressed right below my hairline, sending a shiver down to my toes. I’m so glad this man is my husband.

“Where’s your wreath? If newlyweds both wore them, shouldn’t you have one, too?” I ask, dropping my hair and turning around to find a heated look smoldering in Ethan’s eyes.

“Well…that scratch I told you I got yesterday when Marco and I were moving your things…It’s not really a scratch.” He grins cheekily as he begins to lift the bandage on the inside of his forearm.

“Oh, ” I gasp, covering my mouth with my hands. My eyes bounce back and forth between his arm and his stormy gray eyes. On the area between his wrist and the crease of his elbow is the most beautiful ivy vine tattoo. It’s simple and masculine, and I can’t believe this man got a tattoo because of me . “okay, that is ridiculously cool,” I sigh, grabbing his shirt to pull him closer for another brain-fogging kiss.

Before Ethan came into my life, I never thought I’d find someone who could love me through all my chaos and mess. But the real difference now is that I’ve learned to love myself, and now I know I’m worthy of being loved so wildly and freely. The adventure I once feared would take him away from me has only brought us closer, because he’s chosen me to share his adventures with—and I’ve realized I quite like the idea of being spontaneous and adventurous with Ethan.

THE END