Page 72 of Mess With Me
Lauren hugged him, enveloping him in soft feminine affection. “We all love you, Eth.”
“Enough hugging,” Alex barked when the hug went on too long for him.
Ethan pulled away from Lauren and wiped his eyes. Anyone would be worked up after finding out their foster mom had adopted them in spirit. Peggy was his mom in every way that counted.
“What’s with all the mushy stuff?” Alex asked.
His dad answered for him. “He and Zach just went through Peggy’s things. She left them everything. And Ethan just realized how much she loved them.”
Alex bowed his head. “She was a good woman.”
Fuck, he was gonna lose it. His throat constricted, his eyes hot. “I gotta go.”
He left, walking at a brisk pace and then running. He took to heart the hard lesson he’d learned today. He would tell the people in his life that he loved them, and that included Ally. Would it make a difference? Would she want to stay to build a life with him?
When he got home, he pulled the antique engagement ring from the drawer and stared at it. Did he want a committed future with Ally because he wanted to get married now or just to keep her from leaving?
If he hadn’t been given this ring, would he have proposed?
He closed his eyes.Yes. He wanted a home with Ally, a family of his own, his blood.
His plan was simple. Tell Ally he loved her. Propose.
He had everything he needed now.
He just had to reach out and take it.
Ethan wanted to tell Ally the love words in person, but he had to wait. No choice but to wait because he broke down, a delayed response to grief and loss. Honestly, he was a complete wreck for three whole days and had to take the week off work. He’d never grieved his parents, couldn’t remember them, and some part of him had held back really grieving Peggy. Maybe his heart hadn’t been ready despite his intellectual decision back when she’d first died to be more open. Now he knew what it felt like to really have an open heart, every emotion so much more intense.
Today he and Zach had met with a real estate agent about selling the house and then cleared it out. That had helped, actually, because once they finished, Zach held an impromptu memorial service, where they each shared their memories of Peggy and said goodbye. She hadn’t wanted a funeral, so he’d never really said goodbye before. Today’s simple ceremony with Zach had been so much better.
Now he was feeling more like his old self again, only better. He showed up at Garner’s that night for the Halloween costume party, bursting with his newfound capacity for love. He was a little late because he’d left Thor’s hammer back at his place and didn’t realize it until he’d parked, and he had to go back and get it. Without the hammer, he just looked like a muscled guy with a red cape and boots with a long blond wig. At least it was sleeveless, so he could show he had the real muscles under the padded muscle chest top.
“Thor!” the guys hollered. The women weren’t here yet. Probably still getting ready.
He bounded forward and swung his hammer. “Fortunately, I am mighty,” he said, quoting the movie.
The guys laughed. Zach snatched his hammer and twirled it around.
He approached the bar, where Josh, the bartender and his honorary brother, stood dressed in a black hat and eye mask. “Who’re you supposed to be? Zorro?”
“Lone Ranger.”
“Clarissa your Tonto?” Ethan quipped.
Josh responded in a serious tone. “No, she’s an angel. Fitting, I guess. She’s a good person.” Josh blew out a breath. “Really good.”
“Too good for you,” Ethan joked, not sure what the problem was.
“Yeah,” Josh said halfheartedly, seeming lost in thought.
Ethan tapped the bar, and Josh snapped to attention. “Mead, please, and I love you, bro.”
Josh’s jaw dropped. “Are you dying, man?”
“No.”
Logan, the youngest Campbell brother, approached and elbowed Ethan in the gut. “Move over, Thor.”
