Page 32 of The Interception (Southern Sports Sweethearts #2)

Epilogue

Ender

Six months later…

I haven’t been afraid of Andrew Rossi since the first day I met him six months ago.

His final game was phenomenal, proving that he’s still got it even if it causes him pain.

Charlotte is due any day now, which prompted Layne to want to head back down to Savannah for a couple of weeks to help out.

However, my nerves are standing on end today as I wait for Andrew to meet me at a local Savannah coffee shop.

I’ve already asked their father for permission to propose to Layne, but I can’t shake the feeling that I need to talk to Andrew too. I arrived a few minutes early to give myself a chance to calm my racing heart.

Layne’s restaurant turned into something completely different.

She and Sarah Beth opened a food truck instead, and its popularity in Charleston has skyrocketed them both to near star status.

When we go out, people recognize them before they even see me.

Which is fine by me. I never started playing football to become famous anyway.

Besides, the ladies worked hard to earn their name, and in only a few months, they’ve exceeded their own expectations.

True to her word, Layne named our signature sandwich after me.

She even kicked the heat up a notch so it could truly earn its name as The Ender.

It’s put a few people out of commission with its spice.

They named all of their dishes after the people we love…

The Andrew, The Lottie, The Lula, The Sarah Beth, and even The Leo when he pitched in one day and babysat for Lula so Sarah Beth could go to work when the sitter couldn’t make it.

I no sooner sit down with my coffee and Andrew opens the shop door and nods at me. He acknowledges a few fans and settles in across from me at a corner table. The waitress waves at him.

“The usual?” she asks.

“You know it. Thanks, Evalina.”

She gets to work and Andrew gives me his full, unfiltered, intimidating attention. “So, when are you going to ask her?”

“I…wha…huh?”

Andrew chuckles. “I’m not a fool. I knew when Layne decided to open her truck in Charleston that she was staying because of you and not, what did she say?” He looks toward the ceiling and grins. “Because the Charleston historic district offered more opportunity.”

“She said that?” I say with a chuckle, knowing well that Savannah is as bustling and rich in history as Charleston.

“I’m not even mad you managed to get her to stay down there.” He shrugs. “Already feels like I’ve gained a brother, so accepting you as a permanent part of the family makes me happy.”

“Yeah?” I ask, my nerves settling a little.

“Yeah. Also, I’ve got some goods for you.” He slides a ring box across the table.

“This sounds like a drug deal.”

Andrew snickers. “I’m not saying you have to propose with this, but Layne has loved this ring ever since she was a kid. Lottie got my Nonnie’s ring, but Nonnie’s sister left this one for Layne when she passed. Aunt Marie never had kids, but she was like another grandmother to Layne and me.”

I open the box to find a dainty, delicate diamond ring.

It’s simple but elegant, and if I searched for a decade I would never find one more perfect for Layne.

I swallow a lump in my throat. This is really real.

I’m, hopefully, about to have a wife. Maybe kids in the future.

A whole mess of them if I’m lucky, and my sister will have Layne in her life as a sister-in-law.

Not that the two aren’t already connected at the hip.

“This is amazing. It’s so beautiful.” I admire the ring a little longer before addressing Andrew again.

My thoughts fast forward to what my house will be like with Layne in it, adding her special touches to everything.

I envision filling all of those extra bedrooms with children, a house full of sweet, angelic voices.

I’m so ready for all of it, I can hardly contain my excitement.

“You look like you’re about to burst. I love that you love my sister that much. I know the feeling.” Andrew gets that faraway look he always gets when he’s thinking about Charlotte.

“I love her more than I ever imagined I could love anyone. To think I almost didn’t enter the cook-off. If I hadn’t…I don’t even want to think about that. I’m glad my sister pushed me to do it, and that Lottie signed Layne up without asking her.”

Andrew smiles. “Yeah, a lot of that going around in our family. Speaking of which, Lottie is convinced we should have dinner at our place this weekend.”

I’m surprised by his statement, considering how close their baby’s due date is. “She knows she’s about to have a baby, right?”

“I reminded her and she threw an empty carton of ice cream at my head. At this point, whatever she wants, she gets.” Andrew accepts the order Evalina brings him.

“Can’t argue with that.” I chuckle and sip my coffee again. Life has been so sweet since Layne decided to stay in Charleston, and it’s going to get so much better.

Layne walks beside me as we stroll down River Street, listening to music and taking in the sights. I love Savannah, and with spending weekends here every so often, it feels like a second home. The moon is high in the sky and the stars twinkle, reminding everyone it’s spring again already.

“It’s so beautiful here this time of year, even if it is ridiculously hot.” Layne grasps the railing and breathes in the air. The Savannah River offers a striking backdrop to just about anything, and I pray it’s the right time and place for what I’m about to do.

I reach inside my pocket and grasp the ring box her brother gave me this morning, ready to dive into the rest of my life with Layne.

My heart races even faster than it did the first day I met her.

Kneeling beside her gets the attention of passersby, but I don’t care.

I’d propose to her in front of a stadium full of people.

This is it. The moment I’ve waited for since I chased her down and begged her to stay. I clear my throat…and her phone emits a loud screech.

I’ve never seen a woman leap away from a railing so fast and fish a phone from her pocket. Her eyes go wide, her mouth opens, and she shrieks, “Lottie is in labor!”

Oh…no. I manage to pull myself onto my feet and shove the ring box back in my pocket in time. Or so I thought. When I give my attention back to Layne, she’s staring at me with her phone in front of her, her eyes still wide, and a wrinkled brow.

“Layne?”

“Were…were you just about to…propose?”

My mouth, completely out of my control, flops open and closed several times without words. I’m kind of in a tight spot here. I don’t want to lie to her, but I know she’s going to want to race to the hospital since she is her sister-in-law’s emotional support…something.

“Ender Langley, don’t you lie to me right now.” Her expression morphs to one of determination and, frankly, it’s a bit scary.

“I was, yes, but then you got the message, and I thought maybe later would be better. I’m sorry, I didn’t know what—”

“Yes! Oh my gosh, Ender. Yes!” She launches into my arms and the people around us cheer. It’s probably the most hilarious proposal they have ever seen, but it fits us. Our moments always seem to be marked by interruption or misunderstanding. Good thing we’ve gotten good at ignoring most of them.

“I love you.” Burying my face in her shoulder has always been my favorite thing to do, and I murmur the words at her ear.

“I love you, too. As much as I can’t wait to be Mrs. Langley, we should probably get to the hospital. I promise we’ll celebrate tomorrow, okay?”

Crazy proposal? Check. Mad dash to the hospital? Check. A surprise no one but Lottie and Andrew expected? Double-check.

I’m pacing in the waiting room when a nurse comes out to tell the waiting family they are welcome to head to the nursery to see the babies.

Wait…babies?

“Did she say babies?” Mrs. Clarke, Lottie’s mother, asks. “Babies? More than one?” She’s frantic at this, but Nonnie Rossi calms her down as easily as if Mrs. Clarke were her daughter.

“What a joy!” she says, hugging Charlotte’s mom. “More love to go around.”

We’re led by the nurse to the waiting room at the nursery. When we enter, Andrew beams and showcases two bundles of joy—a boy and a girl. I thought when Layne said yes to marrying me, my heart couldn’t grow any more, but I was wrong. Our family grew, and we’re only getting started.

A side door opens and Layne exits. Exhaustion pulls at her features, but when her eyes land on me, her smile widens. “That was insane.”

“Twins!” I accept her in my arms and squeeze her tight. “Congratulations, Aunt Layne.”

Peering up at me she beams even wider. “And Uncle Ender…again, I guess.” She offers a half-shrug. “Take me somewhere, just us.”

“You don’t want to stay here and celebrate?”

“Charlotte is tired and visiting hours will end soon. Let them enjoy some peace, and we’ll see them again tomorrow. Come on, take your fiancée somewhere.”

“Where would my fiancée like to go?” I kiss her forehead and let her scent wash over me.

“Literally anywhere that does not smell like a hospital. Let’s head back to their house and let the dogs outside. We can chill on the porch for a bit, talk, plan.”

“Planning the wedding already?” I ask, secretly over the moon that she’s ready to move full steam ahead.

“Since the moment I decided to stay in Charleston, I’ve been thinking about this. I love you, Ender. I can’t wait to be your wife.”

“What did you say?” Mrs. Rossi leans in, suddenly very interested in our conversation. Even with twins just on the other side of the glass, she’s locked on to whatever we say next. “Are you two engaged?”

“Well, we were trying not to steal Charlotte’s moment, but yes. Ender proposed to me literally just as we got the call to come here. I said yes.”

“But…I didn’t get to give you this.” I pull the ring box from my pocket and open it to reveal her Aunt Marie’s ring. Her mother and Lottie’s mother gasp, but Nonnie Rossi merely hums her approval and comes in for a big hug. I’m in a Rossi sandwich, but I could not be happier.

I manage to slip free from the family hug long enough to slip it on Layne’s finger, sealing our agreement.

For me, it was sealed a long time ago. About the time our eyes locked in line at the cook-off registration; I just didn’t know it then.

I didn’t know those flutters meant I was looking into the soulful eyes of my future.

My friend. My partner in everything to come.

I know it now, and I’ll never question God’s plan for me or my family again.