Dad's best friend secret baby

Chapter 45

Ethan

One Month Later

"I've been looking for you."

I turned to see James standing beside me. When did he enter?

He rolled his eyes. "Don't give me that face. You were obviously too deep in your thoughts."

I shook my head. "I just... needed a break from the..."

"From the anxiety building downstairs?"

A sigh followed my nod.

"I'm not the one proposing and I can feel it too," he spoke.

I breathed. It wasn't the anxiety that really bothered me. It was the pinch of nervousness in my head.

"Do you remember when I wanted to propose to Rachael?"

I nodded. The memories were fresh in my head. "I couldn't get you to sit still."

He nodded. "But here you are, standing strong."

A wave of silence settled between us.

I wouldn't lie, my relationship with James hadn't gotten back to normal yet but like everything in my life, it was improving.

It had been one month since I got her back.

Shortly after she told me about our baby, she agreed to return with me to New York, and since then it had been a joy ride for every one of us— me, Evie, and Sophie.

I woke up in the morning to her warmth. I looked forward to coming home at night and I never... never let anything other than family consume a healthy amount of my time.

My growth journey was also another astonishing thing I'd accomplished. Somehow what I struggled to do with Olivia, came easy with Evie. I never struggled to balance my time.

I was convinced that all it took was the right person. All it took to kickstart my growth had been Evie.

I wasn't there yet. I probably wasn't even halfway there yet. But I was happy that I was finally becoming a better man for myself— and the man Evie deserved.

"Thank you." James's voice was a low whisper. If I hadn't listened closely, I'd have thought I imagined it.

He saw the surprised expression on my face.

"I never thought I'd say this, but thank you for bringing my daughter happiness."

I was plunged to recall his words when I told him I wanted to propose to his daughter. He'd looked me in the eyes and said, "I'm not going to stop a love story, Ethan. You have my go-ahead."

He wrapped his arms around me in a hug, slapping my back firmly.

"We both know what Evie's answer will be. She loves you. Rest your nerves, buddy. Everything will work out fine."

He pulled back with a smile. There was something about James's smile, when he smiled— genuinely— it was contagious.

I couldn't help my smile. When he was out the door, my smile grew even wider.

Along the line on my journey for success, it had always seemed like a one-for-one. Success in exchange for an important aspect of your life. You couldn't just have it all.

But me, I could proudly say I had it all— Evie brought it all.

I had a loving girlfriend—well soon-to-be wife, and a baby on the way and Sophie's improvement was consistently a quantum leap. I was satisfied.

I checked my wristwatch and saw that it was almost time; instead of the opposite, my nervousness simmered away.

With a smile, I headed out. I could see them all as I descended the stairs. Mother, Gwendolyn, Henry, James, Joseph, Virginia, and my daughter.