Page 130 of Return To You

“Course!”

She runs to my car and sits in her bolster seat. “This is exciting,” she declares as she wiggles her little body so I can fasten her seatbelt. “Is this a surprise for Uncle Ethan?”

“Not really, but kinda.”

“I like him. He’s big.”

I have to laugh at that.

“I hope he proposes. Daddy is going to propose to Alex.”

Warmth and excitement courses through my veins. “Oh, honey! Are you happy?”

“Sooo happy. But you can’t tell Alex. I’m helping him organize it.”

“Of course not.” My smile won’t go away.

After we pull into my driveway, I open the door to the guys who are unloading my new furniture. Then I give my cousin a big hug. “I’m so happy for you,” I whisper. He deserves this happiness so much. He never gave up on Alex.

He squeezes me back. “Happy for you, too, Gracie. You’ll get there too.”

We all forge our paths our own way. One step at a time.

Two hours later, my house looks fantastic. Colton, Justin, and Chris brought everything in, in no time, set it up, and moved everything around until I was satisfied. Now the girls are showing up with food, and we’re setting up to have a proper barbecue. Skye and Alex give me a set of linen napkins. Autumn brings yet another vase ‘for all the flowers you’re going to get.’

Haley hugs me when she sees the house and says, “I had the feeling you might want to wait until Ethan’s back to throw a housewarming party. So the gifts’ll wait.”

I look at Justin throwing flank steaks on the barbecue and Chris slicing breads. Chloe sets a salad in the center of the outdoor table. Alex lights a few candles to keep the mosquitos away, then helps Autumn arrange a string of bistro lights on the deck’s perimeter. Colton is setting the table under Skye’s directions, while Kiara is arranging a display of mini cakes on a three-tiered dish she bought at the Grange. “This turned into way more than I expected,” I whisper, moved to tears.

forty

Ethan

It’s been twenty-four hours since I’ve touched my phone. Twenty-four hours of non-stop work with just a handful of stolen minutes to doze off in a chair, no phones allowed.

The first thing I do when I’m done isn’t going out into the sun and drinking a beer with the other guys before collapsing on my bed. It’s retrieving my phone and turning it on.

Grace

I love you

Grace

Thinking of you

Grace

He misses you!

Did I leave my dirty laundry at Grace’s?

Grace

Good morning my love

Justin

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