Chapter Thirty

Becca

"I can't believe you're moving in with that guy," Mike says as I'm packing my stuff.

I stop and turn to him. "You told me to!"

"I know." He laughs. "I'm just giving you shit."

Last week I made the decision to move in with Ethan. For years I told myself I wouldn't move in with a guy until we'd dated for at least six months, but with Ethan, I didn't see the need to wait. I love him and I'm at his place so much it's like we already live together.

"So what do you and Ethan talk about?" I ask.

"I'm not telling you," Mike says. "That's between Ethan and me."

"But if he ever told you something I need to know, you'd tell me, right?"

"What would you need to know?"

"I don't know...like if he was planning something."

"Like what?"

I don't want to say it. It'll freak Mike out and then he'll lecture me about how I shouldn't even be thinking about that yet. But I'm only thinking about it because Ethan brought it up.

"Like if he ever...I mean, not that he would but...if he was ever considering proposing, you'd tell me right?"

"Ethan wants to marry you?" he asks, surprise in his voice.

"Why did you say it like that? Are you implying it'd never happen?"

"It's possible, but you're totally against the idea so I don't know why he'd even try. It's an uphill battle."

"I'm not completely against it. I would maybe consider it, way off in the future."

"Oh, really?" He cocks his head, smiling. "And what changed your mind?"

"I didn't say I changed my mind. I said I was maybe open to the possibility, but that's not the point. The point is, if he ever mentions it to you, you need to tell me."

"That would ruin the surprise."

"I don't want to be surprised. I want to be prepared, and able to stop him from something I don't want, like some big, showy, elaborate proposal."

"That's definitely Ethan's style. The bigger, the better. If he ever proposes, he'll probably do it at a game. A televised game. In front of millions of people. And it'll be recorded so people will be watching it over and over for years to come."

I stare at him. "You're mean."

He laughs. "I can't wait. This is gonna be awesome."

Actually, I think it would be awesome. Not the proposal part, but being married to Ethan. I'm just too afraid to actually do it. But maybe, years from now, I could get past my fears.

"You think you'll get married someday?" I ask Mike.

A few months ago, I'd never ask him that question. He was still too upset over his broken engagement to Tricia. But he's over that now. And I think he's finally over HER. She still calls him now and then but he hasn't called her back.

Mike's still dating Heather. That's another reason I'm moving out. Mike and Heather are always hanging out here and I feel like a third wheel. Plus, with me gone, Mike can use my bedroom as an office. His podcast has really taken off and he's starting to make money with ads. That, combined with his military checks, gives him enough money to pay the rent on his own, along with his other expenses. His podcast has also been getting him some speaking gigs. They don't pay much but they might in the future if his podcast continues to get more popular.

"I'll definitely get married someday," he says. "I want a wife, kids, the whole thing. You know that."

"I just wasn't sure if you'd changed your mind."

"Because of Tricia?"

"Well, yeah."

"Like I told you before, you can't give up on love just because a relationship doesn't work out. If a relationship ends, it just opens the door for someone else to come into your life. And that may be the very person you're meant to be with."

"Like Heather?" I smile.

He smiles back. "Maybe."

"You're so in love with her," I tease.

He just shrugs.

"Wait, are you saying you really are? You're in love with Heather?"

"I thought you already knew." He's still smiling.

"I suspected it, but I wasn't sure. You said you two aren't serious."

"I said that when we first met. So did she. But we both knew it was a lie. We only said it to keep from getting hurt again. We were afraid to admit how much we liked each other."

"And now you love each other."

He nods. "We do."

"You love her as much as—" I cringe. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"It's a different type of love. I loved Tricia but it was more...I don't know...immature, maybe? It's hard to describe. My love for Heather is different. We understand each other. We don't try to change each other. We support each other. It's a deeper type of love. The kind that will last."

"So when's the wedding?" I kid, but I'd really like it to happen. I think Heather's awesome. I'd love for Mike to marry her. She'd be a great sister-in-law.

He chuckles. "Not anytime soon. We've talked about it but—"

"Hey." Heather appears at the door to my room, a big smile on her face. She's always smiling. I thought that was just her personality but now I know it's because she's in love. I'm always smiling like that too.

"Hey," Mike says, going up to her and giving her a kiss.

"Sorry to just drop by but I need to talk to you."

"Is something wrong?" he asks with concern in his voice.

She bites her lip. "I hope not."

He steps back. "What does that mean?"

She grabs his hand. "Let's go in your room."

They take off and I continue packing. A few minutes later, there's a knock on the front door. It's probably Ethan. As I'm leaving my room he knocks again.

"Yeah, I'm coming."

When I open the door, I stand there in shock. It's not Ethan.

"Hi," Tricia says. She looks different. Her hair is at least six inches longer and it looks like she had a boob job. She used to have a really flat chest but she definitely doesn't now. And she's wearing more makeup than I've ever seen her wear. It's like she's had a total makeover.

Is that why she showed up here? Does she think long hair, lipstick, and fake boobs will convince Mike to take her back?

"Can I come in?" she asks.

"Um, no. Wait here." I consider just telling her to go away, but if I do, I know she'll show up again. Mike needs to be the one to tell her to get lost. I call back to his room. "Mike! Get out here. You have a visitor."

"So how have you been?" Tricia asks.

"Fine," I say, not wanting to make small talk with her. "Mike!" I yell again.

"Yeah, I'm coming."

I hear him behind me, then turn and see him stop abruptly when he reaches the door.

"Tricia." I hear the shock in his voice.

"Hi, Mike." She smiles. "I've been trying to reach you. You wouldn't call me back."

He sighs. "Tricia. You shouldn't have come here."

"But I wanted to see you." She puts her hand on her hip and sticks her fake boobs out. She looks desperate, almost pathetic, to the point that I almost feel sorry for her. "I've missed you, Mike."

"Tricia, it's over," he says. "It was over the day you left."

"But it doesn't have to be. We could try again." She reaches for him but he backs away.

"I'm with someone else now." He turns back and motions for Heather to step up beside him. When she does, he puts his arm around her. "This is Heather. My fiancé."

I look back at Tricia, who looks both hurt and stunned, as if she can't believe Mike could ever find someone else. But he has. He found a girl a thousand times better than Tricia. A girl he's going to marry.

Wait...did he just call Heather his fiancé?

"Your fiancé?" Tricia says, sounding breathless.

I stare back at Mike, completely confused.

"Yeah." He smiles at Heather. "My fiancé."

"You're getting—" I stop, because maybe Mike is lying. Maybe he's only saying that to get Tricia to go away. But then why doesn't Heather look surprised? She couldn't have known Mike was going to say that.

"When's the wedding?" Tricia asks, now sounding angry as she adjusts her purse on her shoulder.

Mike's eyes are still on Heather. "We haven't decided yet. But probably before this little one arrives." He puts his hand over Heather's stomach.

My jaw drops. Heather's pregnant?

"Or maybe after." Heather smiles at Mike. "We'll see how big I get."

"You're having a baby?" I squeal in excitement.

Mike's beaming. "Well, technically Heather is, but yes, we're having a baby. You're going to be an aunt."

"Oh my God, congratulations!" I hug Mike and then Heather.

When I pull away, I see Heather wiping her eyes.

"They're happy tears," she assures me. She looks up at Mike. "We didn't plan this, but now that it's happened, we couldn't be happier."

He kisses her. "I love you."

"I love you too," she says back.

I glance over and see that Tricia is gone. After witnessing Mike's big announcement, I have a feeling she won't be back.

I close the door. Mike and Heather are hugging and don't even notice that Tricia left.

This is a special moment for them and I know they have a lot to talk about so I give them privacy and go back to my room.

I'm so excited! I'm going to be an aunt! And Mike's face just now? I've never seen him look that happy. He's going to be such a great dad. And he's finally with a woman who truly loves him. Just Iike I'm with a guy who truly loves me.

I call him up.

"Hey, beautiful," he says when he answers.

"Hey." I smile. "I got some good news."

I tell him about Mike and Heather.

"That's great," Ethan says. "You sound really happy."

"I am."

And it's not just because of Mike and Heather. It's because of Ethan and me. And the thought that someday, years from now, we might be making a similar announcement.

I can't believe I'm even thinking about that. A year ago I couldn't even imagine being married. And now I'm thinking about marriage and kids?

"I wrote you a song," Ethan says.

"You did?"

"Becca, Becca, my little chickadee. Hurry packing your stuff and move in with me."

I laugh. "That was horrible."

"Yeah, well, I'm no Max but I tried."

"I love that you tried."

"I wasn't kidding. Finish packing so we can get you moved. I'm heading over there in a few minutes."

"Okay, see you soon."

I toss my phone aside and get back to work, filling up boxes.

I'm really doing this. I'm moving in with Ethan. We're starting our future together.

So when Ethan said I sound really happy? It's because I am. I really am.