Page 100 of Sliding Into Love
“Tomorrow, at the game, they’re honoring dad, and…” he paused for a breath, “I did an interview, a whole reveal thing. The League is okay with it, so I’m going to be using my real name for the first time.”
“But this istiny,” Ivy said, holding up the jersey for inspection.
“That one’s for Janna. I got one for each of you.”
“You— but— for all of us?” She looked like she might cry again.
“Of course. Jase’s going to flip his shit.” Ethan chuckled at the thought. “You should try yours on, though.”
Ivy unfolded the other jersey before finally getting to hers. Ethan’s heart was pounding out of his chest, and his breath caught as he watched and waited.
Because it was Ivy, she flapped her jersey out in front of her rather than unfolding it, so she didn't hear the small thud of the velvet box hitting the carpet. Ethan bit back his laugh and retrieved the box to hold it out in front of her, waiting while she pulled the jersey over her head rather than fiddling with all the buttons.
“It’s more comfortable than I expected,” she said, smoothing her hands over the fabric. “I love it!” And then shefinallylooked back at him after an eternity and gasped.
“Ivy?” Ethan had thought his hands would shake when he proposed to her. He’d thought he’d be nervous or awkward, but it wasIvy, so how could he be? “I want the name on that jersey to be your name too.”
Ivy gaped at him.
“I never imagined that sliding into you that day at the stadium really meant I was sliding into love.” He took a slow deep breath, gazed into the eyes he couldn’t live without, and said, “Ivy, will you be my wife?”
Ivy’s hand shook when Ethan slid the ring over her finger, but then her hands were in his hair, and she threw herself on him so hard, he fell backward on the carpet. She kissed him hard, her hands tugging at the hem of his shirt, then sliding beneath it when he didn't remove it fast enough. Her hips rocked into his, and she moaned against his mouth before trailing her lips over his jaw and down his neck. When she finally succeeded in getting them both undressed, Ivy hovered over Ethan, pressing just the head inside her, and he groaned, resisting the urge to push her down further. Ivy pulled on his hands, threading their fingers together. Ethan watched the muscles of her thighs tighten as she held herself above him, sliding back and forth, using him to spread her arousal over them both. Her hands gripped his tightly as she lowered herself, fully sheathing him inside her. Ivy’s head tipped back as she rode him, flexing her thighs and rolling her hips.
The ring glinted on her finger, and the caveman part of his brain crowedmine forever.
Ethan jerked his hips up to meet her, and Ivy pushed his hands over his head and leaned down, bringing their chests together. Their skin burned where it met, and Ethan had to fight not to flip her over and pound her into the floor.
Ivy’s thighs tightened over his hips, and her internal muscles gripped him tighter when she climaxed. She was so undone, it sent Ethan over the edge with her. They collapsed back to the carpet in a sweaty heap, panting and spent. He loved seeing her disheveled and undone knowing he’d been the cause of it.
“Ivy?”
“Hmm?” It sounded as though she might already be asleep.
“You never actually said yes.”
Ivy let out an enormous sigh and rolled her eyes theatrically.
“Yes,fine, I’ll be your wife.” She pulled his head down and pressed her forehead to his.
“The jerseys weren’t just for this, you know.” Ethan sat up to look at her properly.
“You mean you want to—” Emotion caught in her throat.
“Of course, I do. I know we haven’t talked about it, but I know you wanted to adopt them, and they’re my family now, too.”
Cars were backed up for blocks in all directions when Ivy and the others arrived at the stadium, and tensions were high as they all trooped out of the car and through the lot. Jimmy and Laura met them at the gate with no mention of the engagement or the ring. So silent were they that Ivy suspected Ethan hadn’t told his parents. Despite her developing relationship with Laura and Jimmy over the past few months, Ivy was nervous about announcing she and Ethan were now engaged. They hadn’t had time to discuss anything the previous night, so Ivy wasn't sure if Ethan wanted to be the one to tell them, or if he wanted to talk to them together.
As they picked their way through the rapidly filling stadium, Ivy decided to remain silent, although, with Laura’s attention to detail, she doubted the ring would go unnoticed for long. Probably because Ivy couldn't stop herself from looking at it. The antique marquise cut diamond was surrounded by smaller stones and set in a scrolling halo with a delicately scalloped pavè band. It wasexactlywhat she would have picked for herself if she’d ever allowed herself to dream about such things.
But she neverhaddreamt about it. On the rare occasion the thought of marriage or evenpermanenceentered her mind in any other semblance of a relationship, she had promptly shut the thoughts down.
Nothing had been permanent. Not her parents. Not Maya. Not even her foster children would have been permanent. They likely would have been transferred to new families, or taken in by relatives, leaving her like everyone else. She hadn’t loved any of them any less for it, but she just…expected everyone to leave.
But now that big, beautiful,amazingEthan Fisher had crashed his tight-pants-wearing ass into her life, everything had changed. Their broken pieces fit together in ways she’d never considered, and they were gettingmarried.
And he wanted to adopt Jase and Janna.
All those things meant forever, and Ivy was still reeling.
