VOTE OF THANKS

           In a few minutes, the news of their engagement went viral, and some bloggers who knew who Ethan was used his name to publish the news. Noah was using his phone when the news popped up. He tapped on it and was taken aback by what he saw.  Some video clips were also attached to it, he clicked on those videos and watched the epic proposal and he hauled his phone away, it crashed on the wall. 

        He had been drinking and taking drugs for quite some time now, because he was filled with thoughts of revenge he had not given thoughts to work and he has been suspended. He knew they might likely not call him back and he had blamed it on Ethan and Faith. He kept telling himself that he was the one that deserves Faith. He found her when she was still shallow, he had shown her love, and it was him who had given her the taste of love. 

        He stood up from the couch and paced around.  "I have laid too low," he said then remembered he shouldn't be seen near Faith to avoid the restraining order she had threatened to get against him. He kicked the ottoman severally. "Shit! Shit! Shit!" he yelled.  No one was understanding him, he had called all his friends that knew Faith, all the ones that knew him and Faith and they all said the same thing. To move on. 

       How was he going to move on? They don't understand what Faith had done to him. She left him when he needed her the most. He was not going to let that happen, he was not going to let her find happiness with another man, her happiness lies with him. He went to a drawer in his room and took out his revolver. He stared at it for a while and started to leave his house, but he stopped and crashed down on the sofa again in frustration. He poured himself another glass of drink and downed it. 

       Faith was so overwhelmed by the proposal that she did not sleep on the night of the proposal. She kept looking at the ring and kept smiling to herself. She just wanted to show the ring off to her mother. She wished her mother was there. She had called her mother that night after they were done having fun at the beach, her mother had been very excited and had showered prayers on her. She had kept looking at the ring until Ethan came inside. She turned to lie on her back, and Ethan smiled down at her. 

      "Why didn't you tell me you went to get me a ring earlier and you watched me get angry with you for coming late?" 

     Ethan went and laid down on top of her and planted a kiss on her lips. "If I had told you, it won't be a surprise anymore." 

       "I was quite surprised." 

       "I was scared you were not going to take the ring." 

        "Why?" 

        "You know, after everything and I thought you were going to be reasonable." 

       "Reasonable?"

     "Yeah, you know. Some people would say we just met and don't know each other very well, besides, I was thinking you are going to need more time to recover from these all."

      "Well, to me, one day is enough to know someone enough to decide if you want to marry them or not." 

       "Joshua dropped by today." 

     Faith's face looked surprised.  "He did? What does he want?" 

      "Nothing, he was just looking out for you and he gave his approval to me today." 

       "What approval?" 

      "He approved of us, he said I can go ahead and get married to you." 

      Faith was silent for a moment.  "I don't get it. Did you think you needed his approval to make me your wife?" 

        "Yes, I needed approval from your family, you know. At least I decided to try." 

      "Just tell me why you would need Josh's approval, is not like he cares anyway." 

      "He does care and I needed his approval because he was the first man that ever loved you." 

       "He had to love me, he is my brother." 

     "No, you don't get it. The kind of love he had for you then, if he had found himself in a position to give up his life for you, I'm sure he would have done that." 

       Faith chuckled.  "Now you are exaggerating it." 

        "No, I'm not. I'm serious. From every story, you have told me and everything I have heard, his love for you was sacrificial." 

      Faith was quiet. She thought about what he said and realised it was true. Joshua was the first man to show her unconditional love, although it was different. She looked into Ethan's eyes. 

      "I never got a chance to say this, but thank you," she said. 

       "For what?" 

       "For everything. For coming into my life, for loving me unconditionally too. Do you know what you did for me? You didn't only love me, but you helped me find myself. All those times you went everywhere with me, to the psychiatrist, to my doctor, to the mall, you were always there with me, even when I tried to push you away, some people would have thought that you were just, you know, forcing yourself on me, but those times gave me strength, courage and a reason to live again. 

       "I don't know what would have happened if you didn't come into my life, maybe I would still be sulking and wallowing in self-pity. I'm really grateful from the bottom of my heart. I'm really, really grateful. I don't know how else I'm going to repay you if not loving you back, thank you."  Ethan was smiling when she was done talking, he didn't say anything, she frowned at him.  "Well?" 

       "That was the most...most funniest thank you speech I have ever heard," he teased. 

      She pushed him away from her body chuckling.  "Get out!" He fell on her side.  "You are such a killjoy!" Faith turned and backed him. 

     He snuggled up to Faith and wrapped his arm around her.  He inhaled her wonderful scent.  "Don't mind me, that was the most beautiful thing anyone has said to me regarding love. I will like to thank you too." 

       Faith smiled at herself and turned to face him. "Why?" 

      He stared into her eyes.  "You made me realise I was capable of loving another woman apart from my mom and sisters. Those other girls, I liked them quite alright, but I never felt this way, this beautiful, this special and this happy to be with them. They were not bad, we had fun times, we had great sex but I didn't feel this connection, you know..."

     "It's enough now, seems like you are exaggerating," Faith said, trying to get back at him. 

     He smiled at her and kissed her lips.  "Thank you for understanding what I was trying to say. Come here, come lie on me." He laid on his back.

      Faith jumped at that, she climbed on top of him and lay on his huge, perfect body. He wrapped his arms around her, covering her up. 

       "I feel so small in your arms," she muttered. 

      He stroked her hair and closed his eyes. "That's because I am built to protect you. So when do you think we should walk down the aisle? I'm ready to marry you tomorrow, next week, whenever just pick a date." 

      Her heart fluttered and she smiled and raised her face to look at him.  "I feel we should let Danny and Nora get married first. Let's wed immediately after them." 

      "Do you have a reason for that?" Ethan asked his eyes still closed. 

      Faith became thoughtful for a while and then shrugged. "Nothing, in particular, I just feel they should get married first... I mean, not that I am attaching our happiness to them, but I feel, it was almost their day before the incident happened, I don't want them to look at us that day and feel it could have been them. It's devastating enough for them that they have shifted their wedding twice and I know Danny wouldn't want to waste time anymore, he can't wait to make Nora his wife."

      Ethan opened his eyes and stared right into her eyes.     "You are the most considerate person I know. I thought about it too and I'm glad we thought the same thing." 

        "Well, you've called me selfish before," Faith said and rolled her eyes. 

         "That was out of frustration, my love. Do you know how frustrating it is when something is in front of you, yet you can't grab it? I take that back, alright. It wasn't from my heart." 

      Faith pouted, he reached up and took her lips with his, and she responded. They kissed for a while and he left her as easily as he had taken her. 

     "What do you think about the trip to my Miami beach house? Do you think it should be just us or should we take friends to spice it up?" Ethan asked. 

      Faith's eyes glittered with excitement and she rolled up her eyes in thought.  "I am so confused right now, both options are tempting." 

       "Take your time." 

      "Alright, I have come to a conclusion. Let's go on a pre-honeymoon, with friends." 

        "I knew you would choose tha t option. I want it too." 

    Faith shut him up with a deep and passionate kiss that took his breath away.