Dear Ethan: A Second Chance Romance

Chapter 37: Epilogue

[Say You Won't Let Go - James Arthur]

~Three months later~

*Jodie*

We kept our vows short but I still teared up a bit hearing Ethan's words. Thank god for waterproof mascara.

We had a small backyard wedding since distancing measures were still in place but Ethan promised we would have a bigger one later. With everyone.

I sniffled and tried to keep it together as I read out my vows. Tyler stood next to Ethan as his best man and Sam stood behind me holding my bouquet as my maid of honor.

Ethan's mom beamed in the front row and Mason peered at us intently. He had managed to fly out just in time for the ceremony. Andie sat in the front, recording on her camera while Marsha sat next to her along with Sam's mom.

Her familiar red hair and kind face had greeted me in the morning as if I was her own daughter getting married which made me tear up before the makeup artist could finish airbrushing. She had laughed good-naturedly though and started over while I blotted my eyes. It was impossible not to feel overwhelmed on a day like today.

Ethan and I shared our first kiss as husband and wife and broke away laughing as everyone cheered loudly and Tyler whistled. Ethan smiled sheepishly before taking my hand in his. It was official.

We cut the cake that Sam had made. Red velvet with buttercream frosting and little pink rose buds and pearls lining the tiers. It was much too big for ten guests but she couldn't resist going all out.

Ethan and I twined our arms together as we drank ginger ale in champagne glasses. Our wedding rings were simple. A gold band with an engraving on the inside.

One that no one could read. 

A secret just between the two of us.

We seated our guests on a long wooden table we rented out and decorated with flowers and candles. The caterers came by with a three-course meal and topped off glasses periodically, stepping forward. It was a small crowd but I still felt overwhelmed as everyone around us chatted away happily. For a second I felt almost dizzy with emotions and gripped the table.

I turned to Ethan who looked at me concerned. We were seated in the middle of the table and I felt like I had been on display the whole day. I needed a moment.

Want me to come with you? He mouthed but I shook my head. I just needed a minute alone. Sam squeezed my arm as I passed by.

I went upstairs and shut myself away in my old guest room. Sam and I had turned this into our getting ready room earlier and there were still robes all over the place, tubes of lipstick, and compacts littered all over the desk.

I slipped out of my six-inch heels and took off my heavy earrings to give my earlobes a break. The whole day was wonderful. Absolutely perfect. But it almost felt too good to be true. I needed just a moment to collect myself.

In the silence, I could feel myself relaxing a bit. I glanced over at the desk. There was nothing on the surface except for a creamy white envelope.

Tyler had given it to me while I was getting my makeup ready in the morning but I had been too busy to open it.

On the front, it read: To my future wife. Ethan's handwriting. I took a breath and broke the seal. Trying to get more oxygen into my lungs.

I take in every word, every sentence. Feeling like my heart was about to burst.

My vision blurred as I grabbed a Kleenex to keep my makeup from melting off. But I couldn't stop the swell of emotion rising from my chest as I read his letter.

Sam was probably going to come inside any minute now and find me sobbing hysterically. But I couldn't help the intense outpour of feelings wracking through my heaving body.

Because this letter held all the answers I had been waiting for all these years.

There were no longer any mysteries, any secrets, and little white lies. He had laid it all out. All his vulnerabilities. All the missteps. So it was all there for me to see.

In his own way, these were his vows.

I wiped away the hot tears, my hands shaking.

Dear Jodie,

We met during a time of my life when I didn't really know how to talk to girls. I was an awkward guy in high school and I dreaded going to another school where I didn't know anyone. But I always looked back at that time in Jolene with fond memories.

I'll never forget the first day I saw you standing by your locker. You had your hair up in a ponytail and wore a gray hoodie. And when you turned I thought you had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. But you also looked like you could beat someone up. You seemed way too cool for me.

When we started talking it felt like I was talking to my best friend. When we walked home after school, I never wanted our conversations to end.

Whenever I had a bad day or something bothered me, I always thought about our slow walks after school talking about everything under the sun. Your face would light up when you talked about the things you liked. And when you talked about stuff you hated you would grimace and stick out your bottom lip.

When you finally waved goodbye it always felt disappointing. It almost made me want to walk backward so our time together would last longer. But you probably would have thought that was weird. I was still the new kid. And you talking to me felt like I had won the lottery.

When our paths diverged after high school it made me realize that I never wanted that to happen again. I wanted to continue walking side by side for the rest of our lives. Seeing you at the bakery that day felt like fate.

I wasn't supposed to be there but luckily I did or maybe you would have ended up marrying someone else. You caught my eye again for a different reason. It took me a minute to piece together who you were but then I felt like I was seventeen again wanting to get your attention.

We miss a hundred percent of the shots we don't take. So I'm happy that you took a chance on me and we ended up here again. Our time together when the world felt like it was caving in made me realize how short life is and how I want to spend it with the person I care most about.

Through all the good times and bad. I want to be there for you in all those moments. To comfort you when you are feeling down. And to celebrate with you. Hopefully with lots and lots of cake. Made by you and not me.

I can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together arguing about board games rules and pizza toppings. You are my best friend, and soon-to-be wife, and my everything.

I know if Landon was still here today he would be proud of the woman you became. Because I sure am. And I'm so happy that now I'll never have to let you go ever again. That we can continue to walk side by side for the rest of our lives. And I get to be the lucky guy that gets to hold your hand.

Forever yours, Ethan

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Thank you, thank you, thank you for reading and supporting this story! Writing Jodie and Ethan's love story has been such a rewarding and emotional ride. 

It would mean so much to me if you take a few seconds to vote, share, and comment. 

Make sure to check out my other stories The End Game (if you want more Jodie and Ethan),  and That Summer in Italy if you want a spicy slow burn read. 

I'll be updating my newest novel When Everything Ends very soon so check out the first chapter and let me know what you think :)