My Best Friend’s Sister Ran Up Beside Me… Then Grinned, “You Always Make Girls Chase You?”
Chapter 8
Wedding planning revealed how different Ethan and Olivia were.
Olivia wanted details.
Ethan wanted simplicity.
She wanted twelve kinds of flowers.
He wanted six.
She wanted a three-page schedule.
He wanted “arrive, marry, eat.”
Ryan became the mediator.
“You’re both exhausting.”
Olivia laughed.
“You love us.”
“Unfortunately.”
The wedding was beautiful.
Small enough to feel personal.
Large enough to include both families.
During the ceremony, Ethan looked at Olivia and remembered the first time she had teased him.
“You always make girls chase you?”
He smiled.
She had been joking then.
Now she stood in front of him as his future wife.
Their vows were simple.
Ethan promised to support her dreams.
Olivia promised never to let him hide behind jokes when something mattered.
Everyone laughed.
After the wedding, they traveled to Europe.
It was their first real vacation.
No work.
No family.
No schedules.
They walked through old streets.
Ate too much.
Missed trains.
Laughed.
One evening, Olivia looked at him.
“Do you ever think about how strange this is?”
“What?”
“You were afraid to date me.”
“I was terrified.”
“And now?”
“Now I’m married to you.”
She smiled.
“You survived.”
“Mostly.”
They kissed.
Their marriage became stronger.
But Olivia soon received a major opportunity.
A global events company wanted her to lead its North American division.
It would mean travel.
Pressure.
Responsibility.
Ethan immediately said:
“Take it.”
She smiled.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“You won’t resent the travel?”
“I’ll miss you.”
“That’s different.”
“Exactly.”
She took the job.
Their relationship changed again.
They learned to protect time.
Sunday breakfasts.
Monthly weekend trips.
No phones during dinner.
They built rituals.
When work became overwhelming, they returned to them.
Years passed.
Their careers flourished.
They became financially comfortable.
But they stayed grounded.
One evening, Ryan called.
“You two busy?”
“Always.”
“Come over.”
They did.
Ryan announced his wife was pregnant.
Olivia screamed.
Ethan hugged him.
Their family was expanding.
The news changed something.
Ethan wanted children.
Olivia did too.
They talked.
Then waited.
When their daughter, Grace, was born, everything changed.
Ethan became a father.
Olivia became a mother.
They were exhausted.
Happy.
Terrified.
In love.
Ryan joked:
“Welcome to my world.”
Ethan laughed.
“You have two kids.”
“Exactly.”
Olivia looked at Ethan holding Grace.
She smiled.
“You’re good at this.”
“I’m scared.”
“Me too.”
He kissed her forehead.
They learned together.
Night feedings.
Doctor visits.
First smiles.
First steps.
Their marriage deepened.
It wasn’t about romance anymore.
It was partnership.
They chose each other every day.
