Not only are Mia and Max right next door but Kim is down the street. It’s not about how pretty the home is, I know it’s going to be that, but that my family will be close. That’s what I consider all of them, my family. I may not have had a steady one growing up, but I do now. In a sense I’m lucky because I actually got to pick my family, unlike when you’re born into one.
Mia tries to pull from Max’s hold but he doesn't let her. I’m sure she planned on rushing over and opening the car door to get me out faster. Ethan opens the door for me, holding his hand out to help me.
“What took you so long?” Mia’s face makes an adorable pout. I get it. She is excited, too. She might have known her parents growing up, but they have nothing to do with her life now. She left that toxic part of her life in the past. All they did was try and dim that happy light that comes from her.
“I said we’d be here in five minutes.” I laugh. I didn't give her a solid time because Ethan and I have had a very hard time leaving my place. If it wasn't for takeout, we might have starved to death.
“Yeah, but it could have been five minutes yesterday.”
“I think I recall a best friend of mine fell off the map for a while when she met her soulmate.”
“So you admitted it to him finally!”
Yeah, I didn't have much time to talk to anyone either. Ethan and I were trying to make up for lost time. It might have been only months but we needed those few days to be only him and me before we ventured back out into the world.
Plus the gossip around town is running wild. Ethan King has a mistress and everyone wants to know who it is. They have been digging up everything they can on me. There isn't much to find. Rags to riches, they are calling it. I wanted to roll my eyes. I wasn't living on the streets or something. Those magazines are way more dramatic than I ever thought they could be.
Ethan wraps an arm around me, holding me close to him. He kisses the top of my head.
“Yes, we’re in love, having babies, moving in together and all that.” I bat my hand like it’s not a big deal. I notice Mia’s eyes go to my bare finger. I’ve been wondering about that, too. I know we’ll get married but I am finding myself wanting it sooner rather than later. I also want a ring on his ring finger, too. I want to see my mark on him. To claim him as my own.
“Here is the key, but remember you can change anything.” Mia holds her hand out to give me the key.
“Mia, I’m staying. I don’t care what it looks like inside.”
“Why don’t we let them see the place, angel?” Max gives his wife a small squeeze. “Alone.”
“But—” She looks from him back to us, getting it. “Okay.”
“Thank you.” I wrap my hand around the key. “It will be like old times, us living next door to each other.”
“New times,” Mia corrects.
“Yeah. New,” I agree. She kisses my cheek. Max gives us a nod as he ushers Mia toward a black SUV.
“Where are we going?”
“Out for dinner or you’ll have no self-control.”
“Italian?” she declares, forgetting about everything now that food has been brought up. I watch them pull away.
“You going to be okay with this? My friends can be—” I can’t find the right word for them but they are always all up in my life.
“They are your family. Of course I’m okay with it. Besides, you have to deal with my brother and mom.” We walk up the steps of the townhouse. I hand the key to Ethan.
I haven't met either of them but I have a feeling it is going to be fine. Ethan says his mom is going to be excited and his brother is just happy he’s not moping around anymore. I can’t picture Ethan moping, but I find it adorable that he’d done it over me.
“When are you going to tell your mom about us?” I know she knows. Ethan talked to her on the phone but he didn't give her much. Only told her that he found his one and that we are moving in together. He didn’t bring up the baby or talk about marriage. He mentioned me being his wife but he’s never asked.
“I didn't want to overwhelm you.” He puts the key into the lock, turning it. He pushes open one of the double doors, revealing a grand entryway. I step inside.
“Our kids will destroy this place.” Everything is clean and white. Really a blank canvas for us, which is nice. I want this place to be ours. My place had nothing special to it. I’d only ever gotten things that I needed. I’d never actually put my own personal touch on it. I’d grown up moving so much I thought it was pointless. I think now it’s because deep down I knew it wasn't home. But this place with Ethan and our baby is going to be home.