Page 57 of Runaway Girl
I bit hard into Ethan’s neck, my shriek getting caught in his flesh as he wrung out every last drop of pleasure by rocking his knee back and forth over my sensitive clit.
“I love you,” I mumbled, my body slumped on him for support so I didn’t collapse to the floor.
Ethan palmed my cheek until my face was lifted to his. He kissed me, eyes open and gleaming with genuine happiness. “I love—”
“—and the Most Valuable Player is Ethan Harris!!” The speakers boomed, followed by enthusiastic applause.
I smoothed my hands down his suit jacket, entirely sated and happy. “Congratulations, Superstar. You won.”
“I already did.”
Epilogue 2
ETHAN
Shit. I was nervous.
The Thorne women had ventured out for an afternoon of shopping, which left me alone with Phil and Owen.
“You alright, bro?” Owen asked, pitching an eyebrow. “You look jittery.”
We sat in lawn chairs in Phil’s backyard, watching Austin play pretend pirates as we chilled with a beer.
Well,theychilled. I was overheating by the millisecond. That’s when Phil pivoted his attention my way, eyes scanning my bouncing knee.
“Got something to say, Harris?”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out besides a husky cough that morphed into a choke.
Alicia and I had been together for two years, and in that time, her parents had slowly warmed to me. They loved my dad and regularly met up with us in the city, but I could feel that lingering hesitation. Like they were waiting and watching to see if I would continue to show up for their daughter. And I did, every single time.
Officially, I was in my last year of football, ready to settle down and find a new normal with my girl.
With Alicia, everything felt easy. That connection had always been there, but with each passing day, it became more potent, raw and unyielding.
After our tragic separation and having a glimpse of what my life could be like without her. I never wanted to experience that again, so I never stopped trying.
I strived to do better and constantly worked on improving myself.For her.
And now I had come to the crossroads that every respectable man had to take. It was intimidating, that one question playing on repeat in my mind the whole four hours we drove to Acacia Falls from the city.
What if he says no?
I couldn’t let that happen. Alicia loved her father and respected his opinion. I needed his approval and craved it desperately.
“Ethan?” Phil asked, clinking his beer against mine.
That’s when anxiety took over, and I blurted, “Phil. I want to formally ask you for permission to marry your daughter…” It was rushed, not at all how I had rehearsed it.
One beat turned into two as Phil just stared at me, his gaze tracking down my frame as if cataloguing each imperfection.
I gulped but rallied with fake confidence. My expression was earnest, portraying that it is what I wanted, above all else on earth. And just to sweeten the deal, I pulled the offering from my pocket, extending his favourite chocolate bar between us.
Phil’s mask cracked before a wide grin took over. He snatched the candy, then pulled me upright into a tight bear hug.
I sagged with relief. “For a second there, I thought you were going to say no.”
Phil retreated. “I was never going to say no, Ethan. You’re my son. Have been for a while now. As soon as Alicia accepted you into the fold, so did we. She loves you, so we love you.”
