Part 37 ( Ellie )

3 years later

The bass hums through the floor, a steady pulse beneath my feet as I lean back into the plush VIP seating. The club is packed, bodies moving in sync with the music, neon lights casting streaks of color across the sleek interior. The energy is electric, the kind of atmosphere that used to fuel me on nights like these.

But right now, I'm exactly where I want to be, sitting with my favorite people, a drink in my hand, and my beautiful fiancé, Juliet beside me.

I take a sip of my drink, the ice clinking softly against the glass. but my mind drifts, pulled back to that night. The night I asked Juliet to marry me. 2 years ago.

It wasn't anything over-the-top. No grand, flashy spectacle, no crowded restaurant or extravagant display. That wasn't us. It had to be something real, something that mattered.

It was just us.

I had planned it for weeks, carrying the ring around like a secret that burned in my pocket. I wanted it to be perfect, but nothing ever felt good enough for her. How do you capture forever in a single moment? How do you put into words something that already feels inevitable?

In the end, I took her back to where it all started. The mini golf date. I told her Edd wants me back home so we can go back together. She was hesitant at first but she came regardless.

We had another competition. Although this time i let her win. I wanted her to feel amazing the whole day. I would never tell her that though.

After the loss. We went to the beach. The same beach where we had stood beneath the stars, nothing between us but the ocean breeze and the weight of unspoken promises.

It was late. Quiet. The waves rolling lazily onto the shore, the night sky endless above us. I had set up a small fire, blankets spread out on the sand. Juliet eyed me suspiciously the whole walk down, like she knew something was up but wasn't sure what.

We sat together, the fire flickering between us, and for a while, I just listened to her talk. About work, about Mia's latest antics, about the book she had been reading. Her new art gallery. I let her voice wrap around me.

Then, after a moment of silence, I reached into my pocket, pulling out the small velvet box.

Juliet's eyes flicked to it immediately, but she didn't say anything.

I exhaled, turning the box over between my fingers before finally meeting her gaze. "You know," I started, my voice lower than usual, "I used to think love was something that faded. That no matter how strong it started, eventually, it would wear down, crack at the edges, lose its shine."

Juliet watched me carefully.

I swallowed. "But you—" I shook my head, my throat tightening. "You proved me wrong. Every damn day." I huffed a quiet laugh, shaking my head. "And I think... maybe I've known for a long time that it would always be you. That no matter what happened, we'd always find our way back to each other."

Her breath hitched, her fingers curling slightly against the blanket.

I opened the box, revealing the ring inside, huge, elegant, timeless, just like her.

"Marry me," I said, voice steady, certain. "Not because it's the next step, not because it's expected. But because I love you. And I don't want another day to go by where you're not my wife."

Juliet stared at me, and for a moment, I thought maybe I had broken her. Then she exhaled sharply, blinking hard, and let out something between a laugh and a choked breath.

"You idiot," she murmured, shaking her head.

I grinned. "Not exactly a yes."

She huffed, rolling her eyes, but I saw the way her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the ring, slipping it onto her finger like it already belonged there.

She looked at me, her expression soft, and whispered, "Of course, it's a yes."

I barely had time to react before she was kissing me, knocking me back against the sand, her hands tangled in my hair, her lips urgent, almost desperate. I laughed into her mouth, wrapping my arms around her, anchoring myself to the only thing that had ever truly felt like home.

Just like that, she was mine.

The memory fades as Luke nudges my arm, dragging me back to the present.

"Damn, you're grinning like an idiot," he teases. "What's going on in that head of yours?"

I shake my head, glancing at Juliet beside me, my beautiful, sharp, impossible-to-love fiancé. She looks at me.

"Nothing," I say, taking another sip of my drink. "Just thinking about how lucky I am."

I shift my attention back to the group. Mia's mid-sentence, gesturing wildly as she tells a story that has Aiden howling.

"I swear to God, he was this close to getting kicked out," she says, holding her fingers barely an inch apart. "I had to physically drag him away before security got involved."

Luke scoffs, tipping his beer toward her. "First of all, I had it under control."

"You absolutely did not," Aiden interjects, shaking his head. "You were arguing with a guy twice your size about the 'principles of line etiquette.'"

Luke grins. "And I was making some valid points."

Juliet snorts beside me, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her wine glass. "You're an idiot."

Luke places a dramatic hand over his heart. "Hurtful."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "He sure is."

Luke glares at me but takes another sip of his drink instead of arguing.

Juliet shifts beside me, pressing a subtle hand against my thigh beneath the table. I glance at her, my fingers finding hers and squeezing lightly. She meets my gaze, lips twitching in amusement, but there's something else in her eyes too, knowing.

I clear my throat, leaning forward slightly. "So," I start, setting my glass down. "We actually have something to tell you guys."

Mia immediately perks up. "Oh, God. You're moving? Please don't say you're moving."

Luke tilts his head. "Or wait—are you expanding the club? New location?"

Aiden smirks. "If it's not that, then you finally bought that yacht, didn't you?"

Juliet exhales, shaking her head. "No, it's none of that."

Mia frowns. "Then what?"

Juliet glances at me, before she says, calm but firm, "I'm pregnant."

Silence.

Mia lets out a sharp gasp, Luke's drink nearly slips from his hand, and Aiden's brows shoot up so high they almost disappear into his hairline.

"You're what?" Mia's voice is practically a squeak.

I smirk, draping an arm over the back of Juliet's seat. "You heard her."

Luke blinks. "Like... actually pregnant? With a baby?"

Juliet levels him with a deadpan stare. "No, Luke, with a golden retriever."

Mia gasps even louder I think she might break something. "WHAT?!"

Juliet just sips her water, looking far too pleased with herself.

Mia is the first to recover. "YOU'RE HAVING A BABY?!"

I laugh, nodding. "Yeah. We are."

Mia's hands fly to her mouth before she lets out a shriek and practically launches herself at Juliet. "Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!"

Juliet groans, trying to fend off Mia's overly enthusiastic hug. "Miaaa—"

"This is huge!" Mia pulls back just enough to grab Juliet's shoulders. "You're gonna be a mom!" She turns to me, eyes wide with excitement. "And you, oh my God, you're gonna be a mom!"

Luke finally finds his voice. "Holy shit." He stares at me, then at Juliet, then back at me. "Holy. Shit."

Aiden just grins, shaking his head. "Damn. Congrats, guys."

Mia still looks like she might combust from excitement. "Wait, wait, how far along? When did you find out? Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

Juliet sighs but there's a soft smile on her lips. "I'm fine, Mia. And I'm about twelve weeks in."

Luke lets out a low whistle. "Damn. You guys really just... dropped that on us like that."

I smirk. "Wanted to see your reactions."

Aiden laughs. "Mission accomplished."

Mia practically vibrates with excitement. "Oh, I am going to spoil this kid rotten."

Juliet groans. "I knew this would happen."

Luke grins. "Oh, absolutely. You guys are screwed."

I chuckle, squeezing Juliet's hand under the table. "Yeah," I murmur, glancing at her, feeling the weight of it settle in a way that's both terrifying and exhilarating.

"But in the best way possible."

-

Juliet's fingers rest lightly against mine on the center console, her thumb tracing absentminded circles over my knuckles. Every now and then, she glances at me, a soft sort of amusement in her eyes, like she still can't believe what we just told our friends.

Pregnant.

It still feels surreal.

When we finally pull into the driveway, Juliet lets out a small sigh, stretching as she unbuckles her seatbelt. "I still can't believe I let you talk me into this house."

I smirk, shutting off the engine. "Talked you into? More like saved you from making a bad decision."

She scoffs, stepping out of the car. "A bad decision? My penthouse was perfect."

I follow her up the walkway, unlocking the door with ease. "Yeah, for you. But you really wanted to raise a kid in a glass box a hundred floors up?"

She steps inside, flicking on the lights, before turning to face me with a slow smirk. "Oh, so you were already planning for a baby back then?"

I roll my eyes, nudging the door shut behind me. "You know what I mean."

Juliet hums, unfastening her earrings as she walks toward the bedroom. "Mmhmm. You wanted to have kids with me way before I even said yes to marrying you."

I follow after her, kicking off my shoes. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

She pauses, just long enough to toss me a glance over her shoulder, eyes warm. "It's not."

That's the thing about Juliet, she'll tease me relentlessly, challenge me at every turn, but underneath all of that, I know exactly how much she loves this, loves us. Even when she pretended to put up a fight about the house, I knew she'd give in.

Because at the end of the day, she just wanted a home with me.

I lean against the doorway, watching as she unzips her dress, the fabric slipping effortlessly from her shoulders. "Besides," I add, my voice smug, "you love it here."

She steps out of the dress, tossing it onto the chair before shooting me a dry look. "Debatable."

I smirk. "Liar."

She rolls her eyes but doesn't argue, which is as close to an admission as I'm going to get.

Juliet rubs her hands over her arms. "I need to get out of this dress."

I smirk, shutting the door behind us. "Not even gonna ask me for help?"

She shoots me a dry look. "If you help, we won't be sleeping tonight."

I chuckle, lifting my hands in mock surrender. "Fair enough."

She disappears into the bedroom, and I follow a few seconds later, already reaching for my drawer. The second I pull out my Batman pajamas, Juliet lets out a dramatic groan from the other side of the room.

I glance over at her. "What?"

She tugs on her own Batgirl pajama top, arching a brow at me. "You're really committed to this matching thing, huh?"

I grin, slipping my shirt over my head. "I love matching with you."

Juliet just shakes her head as she pulls on her pajama pants.

I watch her for a second, amused. "Admit it. You like it."

She sighs, exasperated. "It's fine."

I smirk. "Fine?"

Juliet walks past me, flicking my arm lightly. "Don't push your luck, Batman."

I chuckle, following her to the bed. As soon as she climbs in, I do the same, tugging the blanket up over both of us. The moment my body sinks into the mattress, a deep sigh escapes me, exhaustion settling into my limbs.

Juliet shifts, curling into my side like she always does, her head resting against my shoulder. Without thinking, I slide my arm around her, pulling her in closer.

Juliet's fingers toying lazily with the hem of my shirt. She does that sometimes when she's lost in thought, fidgeting with whatever's closest, usually me.

I press a kiss to the top of her head. "You thinking about something?"

She hums softly, her breath warm against my skin. "Just... everything."

I glance down at her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Everything is kind of vague, baby. Care to narrow it down?"

She tilts her head, resting her chin on my chest as her eyes meet mine. "We're having a baby."

I smile. "We are."

Her lips curve slightly. "It's crazy."

I run my fingers gently along her spine. "Yeah?"

Juliet exhales, her voice quieter now. "I never thought I'd be here, you know? With you. In this house. In matching Batman pajamas. Pregnant."

I chuckle at that last part, tightening my arm around her. "Well, you can thank me for the pajamas."

She rolls her eyes, but there's warmth behind it. "You know what I mean."

I do.

She wasn't the girl who dreamed about fairytales and happily-ever-afters. She never needed someone to complete her, never wanted to feel tied down. Love, for her, had always been sharp.

I shift, cupping her face, my thumb tracing the curve of her cheek. "You scared?"

Juliet exhales, pressing her cheek into my palm. "No. Not really." She pauses, choosing her words. "More like... it just feels big. Like we're stepping into something we can't take back."

I nod, because I get it. "We are."

She searches my face, her fingers tightening slightly against my shirt. "Are you scared?"

I think about it for a second before shaking my head. "No. I'm excited."

She watches me carefully, like she's waiting for me to second-guess it, to show some hesitation. But I don't. Because there isn't any.

Juliet exhales a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Of course, you're excited. You're already acting like a mom."

I smirk. "I take offense to that. I haven't even started baby-proofing the house yet."

She groans, burying her face in my neck. "Oh God, you're going to be one of those parents, aren't you?"

"Absolutely," I say without hesitation. "I'm gonna be the cool, responsible mom, and you're gonna be the scary one that people are afraid of."

Juliet snickers against my skin. "Damn right."

I laugh, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "But in all seriousness, Jules... you know we're gonna be okay, right?"

She's quiet for a second, then she nods. "Yeah. I know."

I brush my nose against hers. "Good."

She tilts her head slightly, pressing a kiss to my jaw, then another to the corner of my mouth. "And if we mess up?"

I grin, pulling her even closer. "Then we figure it out together."

Juliet hums, like she's letting that sink in, and then, after a moment, she exhales, her body relaxing fully into mine.

She's not just accepting it. She's letting herself believe it.

I tighten my grip on her, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. "I love you," I whisper.

Juliet sighs softly, her lips brushing against my collarbone as she whispers back, "I love you too."

I lift her chin with my hand and give her a kiss. "Now sleep my beautiful fiancée. Big day tomorrow."

She groans. "Why did we book a cabin for the weekend with the group again?"

I chuckle, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Because Mia wouldn't shut up about it, Luke somehow convinced everyone it was a great idea, and Aiden made it sound like an exclusive getaway when really, it's just a fancy house in the woods with no cell service. Without kids."

Juliet exhales, shifting onto her back and staring at the ceiling. "You know, we could just fake an emergency and bail."

I raise a brow, propping myself up on my elbow. "An emergency?"

She turns her head to me, completely serious. "Yeah. You own a whole-ass club. Just say something went wrong, and you have to handle it."

I smirk, brushing my fingers over her stomach. "You want me to use my business as an excuse to get out of a trip with our best friends?"

"Yes." Wow. No hesitation.

I chuckle, shaking my head. "You do realize Mia and Aiden are married, right? She'll just make him guilt-trip us into staying. And Luke? He'll never let us live it down."

Juliet groans, rubbing her hands over her face. "God, I forgot they're legally bound to each other. That means double the emotional blackmail."

I nod. "Exactly. And Luke will probably show up at our house demanding an explanation if we ditch."

She throws an arm over her eyes. "We should've booked a private vacation instead."

I grin, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek. "I promise, it'll be fun."

Juliet peeks at me from under her arm, eyes suspicious. "Fun how?"

I hum, trailing my fingers up her arm. "Well, for starters, it'll be a good chance to watch Luke embarrass himself. You know that always makes for quality entertainment."

She snorts. "Okay, fair."

"And," I continue, dipping my head to kiss her collarbone, "I plan on stealing you away every chance I get."

She arches a brow. "Oh?"

"Mhmm." My lips ghost over her skin. "Middle of the night walks, sneaking away from whatever stupid game Aiden makes us play, locking ourselves in a room—"

Juliet hums, amused. "That last one sounds promising."

I grin. "I knew you'd like that part."

She shakes her head but doesn't fight the smirk tugging at her lips. "Fine. I'll survive this trip."

"That's the spirit." I nuzzle into her neck. "Besides, it's only three days. How bad could it be?"

Juliet groans again. "You just cursed us."

I laugh, tightening my hold on her. "We'll be fine, baby. Worst case, we spend the whole time making fun of them."

She sighs, finally relaxing into me. "Okay, I like that plan."

I kiss her temple. "I thought you might."

"Alright. We'll go."

I grin, victorious. "That's my girl."

She side-eyes me. "You're the worst."

I smirk, pulling her in closer. Kissing her lips.

She sighs against me, but there's no real fight left in her. "Three days, Ellie."

I press a kiss to her forehead. "Three days."

And with that, she finally lets herself drift off, her body warm and relaxed against mine.

I don't tell her that I think this trip is going to be absolute chaos.

Because it is.

And I can't wait.