Chapter 141: Just Come Back to Me…

**Chapter 141: Just Come Back to Me…**

ETHAN

Ben was the first to approach me, wearing an expression that screamed I was the biggest bastard in the world for not telling him sooner.

“You bastard, I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” he said, pulling me into a tight hug as I watched the girls gather around Ellie, ecstatic. “Is this what your older brother gets for putting up with you all these years? Not even a little credit?” he grumbled, trying to mask the emotion in his voice.

“And here I thought all this was just because you two had finally set a wedding date…” Jack said, right behind Ben, waiting for him to let go of me.

“Move it!” Will said, nearly mowing Jack down to yank Ben off my neck and pull me into an exaggerated, almost suffocating hug. “Hope you’re proud of yourself… you didn’t just get the girl, even after all the shit you pulled. You’ve got no idea how lucky you are. I could’ve simply kicked your ass back then,” he warned, patting my back—though his tone was clearly joking.

“Is that really all you have to say to me now?” I asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion as he stepped back, still gripping my shoulders.

“Of course not. I’m just messing with you! Come here! Welcome to the daddy club!” He hugged me again, this time lifting me slightly off the ground, which, by the way, wasn’t an easy task. “But now, more than ever, I’m going to keep an eye on you,” he continued, releasing me. “So you’d better stay in line, because if you hurt her, even a little, know that I’ll kill you,” he threatened with a smile on his face, making it even more intimidating.

“Believe me, that’s the last thing I want,” I reassured him, even though I was the one who felt more at ease every time I saw him showing concern and care for my girl.

“I know… and you know I couldn’t be happier for you two.”

“That’s enough, Will… I think you’ve threatened him enough,” Jack interrupted, forcing Will to step aside so he could hug me too. “As I told you once before, I have no doubt she’ll be a great mother… As for you…” He stepped back to look me in the eyes. “Well, as the veteran in this fatherhood thing… I want you to know you can count on me whenever you need… Sometimes it’ll be tough, and you’ll wonder what you were thinking, but at some point… Actually, in many small moments, when you see that little one running around and causing mischief at home, or just sleeping peacefully beside you… you’ll see that it was all worth it and that nothing else matters.”

“Thanks, Jack. I’m glad at least someone here isn’t just waiting for my next mistake to want my head on a platter.”

“Don’t be fooled, I’ll be watching you too,” he teased, squeezing my shoulder.

“So, is that why you’re in such a hurry to get back to London?” Ben teased, standing a bit ahead, reminding me that my flight would be leaving soon. “Already running away before it even starts.”

“It’s exactly the opposite, you jackass,” I retorted.

If everything went as I hoped, this trip to London would be my last for the next nine months or so, because now the most important thing was to be by her side, fulfilling my promise.

That had been another decision we made together, of course, just like the one to have this gathering to announce the baby and the wedding date, and so far, everything seemed to be going better than we expected.

Her beautiful smile and slightly teary eyes in the center of the room confirmed it. She seemed more radiant every day now, as if there was something about the pregnancy that made it even harder to keep my hands off her, making me wish everyone would leave soon.

Unfortunately, that thought was destroyed by the sight of Zoe coming toward me with a threatening expression, like she was going to rip my balls off for not telling her sooner, which easily explained why she was my brother’s wife.

✽

ELLIE

Fortunately, I had managed to get Anna to forgive me before leaving, for having kept the news from her for a week. Although I suspected she was just too exhausted to be truly angry.

I had never seen her look so tired, and I admit that worried me a bit, after all, she had given birth just a week ago. However, she had Will by her side, and that was enough to reassure me.

And just like her, I also wanted to have my man by my side all the time in the coming months. And that’s the only reason I had agreed to this stupid trip that would take him away from me for the next two days, just a week after he had returned.

Just two days, and after that, he’d be all mine, with no more damn work trips for at least a year, as he promised. That is, if he managed to resolve everything he needed in just two days.

Wearing only a towel around his waist, he finally emerged from the bathroom, catching my attention as I waited for him lying on the bed.

Smelling of soap and aftershave, he climbed on top of me, his hair and skin still slightly damp, dripping onto me and making me laugh.

“We still have twenty minutes…” he whispered, grabbing my wrists and pinning them above my head.

“You mean we have twenty minutes for this, or ten minutes before you have to get dressed?” I asked, rationalizing as always.

“I can get dressed in two.”

“You can?” I teased, knowing it usually took him much longer than that.

“Shhh, how about you stop being a smartass for a second and let me do my job?”

“Please, then, do your job, sir,” I whispered teasingly, wrapping my legs around him.

✽

“Hey… I’m leaving now,” he whispered, making me open my eyes.

I blinked, trying to adjust to the yellow light of his bedroom lamp, the only one on.

“I’m sorry… I think I dozed off,” I said, yawning.

“Yeah, looks like I really did my job,” he teased with a satisfied smile, brushing some strands of hair from my face.

“You did,” I agreed with a sleepy smile, admiring his perfect face.

“I already miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

“Don’t hesitate to call me, okay? Whatever it is—”

“I’ll be fine. Just come back to me, okay?” I reassured him, though my heart felt a bit heavier than usual seeing him leave this time.

“I will, I promise. As fast as I can.”

“I love you,” I whispered, lazily caressing his face.

“Not more than I love you,” he murmured back, leaning in to place a kiss on my forehead. “Bye.”

“Bye, love. Don’t take too long,” I murmured as he walked away, falling asleep shortly after watching him exit the bedroom door.