Page 102 of Frankie and the Fed
The door opens.
I look only at her eyes, looking for that blue sparkle, for the love in her eyes that gives me strength every day.
I see the initial shock, her mouth falling open, and the glimmer of tears when she sees me kneeling. Then her gaze leaves me, and she sees everyone who came for her. So many people who have come to love and care about her in such a short time.
“Ayala Beckett,” I say as she approaches. “You appeared in my life like a tropical storm. A storm that changed my life. You poured champagne on me, hit me in the head, and knocked me to the floor. Literally.” I hear laughter in the background. “But no matter what you do, you won’t be able to keep me away from you. Because from the moment I saw you for the first time, I knew you had to be mine. You changed me and brought me back to life. Now I understand what it is to truly live.” I stop and take the box out of my pocket.
Tears run down her cheeks, and she inhales deeply as her eyes land on the blue box.
“Ayala, I don’t want to go through another day without you. I don’t want to fear that you won’t be mine. I love you like I didn’t know it was possible to love. You broke me and rebuilt me. I’m yours forever. Will you agree to be mine?”
I open the box and extend my hand to her.
She’s crying and doesn’t answer, and for a moment, my soul sinks. She falls to her knees in front of me, nodding, tears flowing down her cheeks. “Yes, Ethan. I’m yours. Always have been.”
I take out the ring, and it sparkles under the lights, just like the sparkle in her eyes, and I put it on her finger.
I stand, and she falls into my arms, kissing me. Everything and everyone around us disappears. I don’t even notice the applause of those around us as I turn to them and scream, “She said yes!”
They come from everywhere to hug us, to hug her.
“You deserve to be happy,” Dana says as she also gives Ayala a big hug. “When I saw you for the first time, I knew you were special and strong, and you proved it in a big way.” She turns to me. “Take care of her.”
I nod.
Nicky is next to congratulate Ayala. “I can’t believe you’re going to get married! All the dates I arranged for you, and in the end, you marry this guy.” She looks at me and winks.
“Hey,” I protest with a smile. “I’m one of the most wanted bachelors. I’m quite a bargain.”
Ayala and Nicky laugh. The band plays another song, and I pull Ayala to me and spin her around in my arms. We dance, surrounded by our loved ones. That’s all I ever wanted.
CHAPTER41
Ayala
“He’s not mine.” Ethan turns to me, a big smile on his face after he hangs up the phone.
“What?” I look away from the TV, where I’ve been sitting curled up for the last half hour. I don’t feel so good.
“Lena’s baby. It’s not mine. I got the test results. Her lawyer sent the papers. There’s no match. I told you it wasn’t mine. That woman is going to have to crawl back into the hole she came out of.”
I can’t help but release a sigh of relief. I’m glad that woman will be out of our lives forever.
“How terrible am I that I’m happy?” I ask him.
“Of course, you’re happy. I’m happy too. I don’t want a child from a one-time mistake I made.” He sits down next to me on the couch, and I curl up under his arm, lifting my hand to take his, the blue stone on my finger shimmering. Reminding me of what I agreed to do just a few days ago.
I never would have believed that I would get married again so soon after what happened, but when I look at Ethan next to me, and my heart expands with happiness, I know I’m in the right place. With him, I feel safe. Loved.
A wave of nausea rises in my throat, and I gag.
“What’s wrong?” Ethan looks worried. “Again?”
I raise a finger and run to the bathroom, just in time to reach the toilet and throw up. Ethan comes after me and holds up my hair. I groan as the spasms in my stomach subside, then I sit on the floor. “This virus has been bugging me for two days.”
Ethan’s eyes widen. He opens his mouth to speak and closes it again without saying a word.
“What?”
