Page 58 of Big Bad Single Wolf Dad

It takes me a while to realize that Mia and Ethan are gone, but as the guests arrive at our engagement party, I understand why.

Lisa is the first to enter the events room where we’ve set up the party, and attached to her are Mia and Ethan.

“Lisa, Lisa!” the kids are yelling, despite literally dragging her along by the arms. “This is our new dad!”

The kids present Greg proudly, and I know I’m going to cry all over again if I don’t get it together. To my surprise, Lisa is tearing up at the words.

“Congratulations, Greg,” she says, pulling Greg into a hug. “It sounds like you’re the right man for the job.”

“I’ll do my very best,” he says, hugging her back.

When she makes her way to me, she clasps my face in her hands for a second, looking into my eyes with pure joy.

“I’m so happy for you, hon,” she says.

“Thank you,” I say, holding her hands as she drops them from my face. “I’m happy too.”

At this Lisa grins and pulls me into a long, tight hug, both of us laughing with joy and relief at how this all turned out.

There is more of this sentiment throughout the evening, plenty of hugs and kisses, laughter and congratulations, as our loved ones gather around us to celebrate our new lives together.

But there’s one person who hangs back, and when I catch Eric’s eye, he gives me a sheepish grin. To his credit, though, he does approach me and I can see he’s still feeling guilty for all that happened.

“Congratulations, Sarah,” he says kindly. “And I’m sorry again for everything.”

I shake my head, just happy that everything has been cleared up and I no longer have to worry about Eric whispering in either of our ears.

“You already apologized,” I tell him. “Don’t beat yourself up about it.”

He nods, and I can see he appreciates the sentiment.

“You know,” he says, looking between me and Greg, who’s busy chatting with guests on the other side of the room. “Not many people would still want to give me the time of day, let alone invite me to their engagement party after I tried to break them up. You two are special, and I’m glad you ended up together.”

I smile, looking over at Greg and counting my lucky stars for what feels like the hundredth time just today.

“I’m glad too, Eric,” I say warmly. “And thank you, that means a lot.”

He shoots me a smile before leaving me to chat with other guests. As the kids run around the room, laughing and playing with each other and some of the other children at the party, I feel like my life is finally taking the shape I always wanted.

My kids have new friends, not to mention new siblings. I have a loving husband-to-be who I know I can rely on. And not only does he love me, but he also loves Mia and Ethan, too. I can tell he’s going to be an amazing step dad to them, and I only hope I can be as wonderful with his kids as he is with mine.

This has been such a rollercoaster of a journey, but I know that, underneath it all, we always loved and cared for each other. I’m so excited to keep growing in love together, as a couple and as a family.

“Sarah! There you are!” comes Lisa’s voice from behind me. “I almost forgot, I wanted to give you something. And Greg!” she calls, gesturing for Greg to join us and moving to a quiet corner of the room, away from the other guests.

He excuses himself from the conversation he’s having and comes over, wrapping his arm around my waist the way I love so much.

“What’s going on?” he asks, glancing between us with a smile.

“I wanted to give you this as your engagement present,” Lisa says, pulling out a crystal ball.

I look at her blankly for a second before turning to Greg, who seems equally confused.

“Uh, thanks?” I say, reaching out to take it even though I’m not sure what a human and a werewolf would do with a magical apparatus like this.

But Lisa just laughs, stopping me from hefting the thing out of her hands.

“No, not the ball,” she says. “A reading. A look into your future.”

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