Page 34 of Rumor Has It

And that’s exactly what I intend to do.

EPILOGUE

THEO

For the five months since Ellie and I officially started dating, all our friends have done is ask repeatedly when we’re getting married.

And while I know I will marry Ellie just as sure as I know the sun will rise tomorrow, I’m also not insane. Sure, we’ve been friends for a long time. Sure, we have a solid foundation. And sure, it makes perfect sense. But the reality is, it’s only been five months of romance and romantic love, and this isn’t the olden days.

But I did ask her to move in together three days ago. Of course, she asked me what took me so long, but I remain diligent in my desire to not rush anything with her. Not ever again.

We agreed her place made more sense, since she’s the one with the house. My apartment is fine, but it’s not big enough for the two of us. And after picking and choosing what furniture to keep, what to swap out, and pretty much exactly how I’d fit in, it’s moving day.

I don’t know if our friends are here to actually help or if they’re here for the free beer and pizza, but either way, it’s a move-in party at this point.

There are boxes strewn about, furniture moved and shoved to make room, and an embarrassing amount of dirty clothes I simply chucked into a trash bag, but the point is that it’s all here. And all this shit around me now is future Theo’s problem. Byfuture, I mean tomorrow, of course.

“A toast,” Wade says, raising his beer bottle into the air.

Emma follows suit, then Kelly Ann, Garrett, and Parker.

“To our lovely friends, made lovelier by their love for each other,” Wade says.

“Wow,” Emma says with a laugh. “Smooth.”

“Hey,” Wade says. “I think that’s a lovely sentiment.”

“If you say love or lovely or any other derivative, I will smack your balls,” Garrett says.

“Jesus, Garrett,” Kelly Ann says, rolling her eyes.

“Can I drink yet, or…?” Parker asks, his beer still suspended in the air with everyone else’s.

“Cheers!” Ellie shouts before taking a sip of her beer and squashing the ridiculous conversation going on.

Everyone breaks into different conversations as I wrap my arm around Ellie’s waist. It’s at this moment I realize just how lucky I am for this room of friends. And just how lucky I am that one of them happens to be the love of my life.

I kiss the top of Ellie’s head, breathing in her scent. I think I’m going to ask her to marry me soon. I have the ring. Maybe I’ll do it tomorrow. Maybe I’ll wait until next week. It doesn’t really matter. I know it’s coming, though.

For the first time in my life, I know exactly what my future holds. I know exactly what I want and who I want it with.

How lucky am I to love and be loved by my best friend.

---