Ethan paced the length of his living room, his phone pressed to his ear as he spoke to Victor. The excitement in his voice was unmistakable, a stark contrast to the turmoil that had defined his life in recent months.
“She’s giving me a chance, Victor!” Ethan said, his grin wide enough to be heard in his tone.
“Wait, what?” Victor exclaimed, clearly caught off guard. “She said yes?”
“Well, kind of,” Ethan admitted, still grinning. “She said we could take things slow and see where it goes. But, man, that’s more than I could’ve hoped for!”
Victor chuckled on the other end. “I told you, Ethan. I knew she still had feelings for you. You just had to show her you’re serious.”
Ethan nodded, even though Victor couldn’t see him. “Yeah, and I’m going to prove it to her. I won’t mess this up, Victor. Not this time.”
“Good,” Victor said firmly. “Because if you do, I swear, Ethan, I’ll kick your ass myself.”
Ethan laughed, a sound that felt foreign to him after everything he had been through. “Trust me, I don’t plan on messing this up. I’m going to make her and the kids so happy, Victor. Just watch.”
After hanging up with Victor, Ethan sat down at the kitchen table, already sketching out ideas for his next move. He wanted to show Ella that he was serious about starting fresh, about building something new together. And what better way to start than with a proper date?
He grabbed his phone again, dialing Ella’s number.
“Hello?” Ella’s voice came through, calm and curious.
“Hey, it’s me,” Ethan said, suddenly feeling nervous. “I was wondering… are you free tomorrow evening?”
Ella hesitated. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, I’d like to take you out,” Ethan said. “Just the two of us. Nothing too fancy, I promise. I just thought it’d be nice to spend some time together.”
There was a pause on the line, and Ethan held his breath, his heart pounding.
“Okay,” Ella said finally, a hint of a smile in her voice. “I think I’d like that.”
Relief washed over Ethan, and he couldn’t stop himself from grinning. “Great. I’ll pick you up at seven?”
“Sounds good,” Ella said. “Goodnight, Ethan.”
“Goodnight, Ella.”
The moment Ethan hung up, he called Victor again.
“hey, you’re on uncle duty tomorrow,” Ethan said as soon as Victor answered.
“What? Uncle duty? Why?” Victor asked, clearly amused.
“Because I’m going on a date with Ella,” Ethan said, his excitement spilling over.
“Wait, already? Man, you don’t waste time, do you?” Victor laughed.
Ethan grinned. “I’m not taking any chances, Victor. She agreed, and I’m not going to mess this up.”
Victor sighed dramatically. “Fine, fine. Bring the twins over tomorrow, and I’ll handle them. But you owe me, Ethan.”
“Anything you want,” Ethan promised. “Just keep them alive and entertained for a few hours.”
Victor chuckled. “Don’t worry. Uncle Victor’s got this. You just focus on making Ella fall for you all over again.”
The next morning, Ethan woke up early, his mind buzzing with plans. He wanted the date to be special but not overwhelming. Something simple yet meaningful, where they could talk and reconnect without distractions.
After dropping off the twins at Victor’s house, Ethan spent the afternoon making arrangements. He reserved a table at a cozy little restaurant Ella used to love, one that served her favorite dishes and had just the right ambiance.
He also picked up a bouquet of Ella’s favorite flowers-white lilies and soft pink roses-carefully selecting each stem to make sure it was perfect.
At precisely seven o’clock, Ethan pulled up to Ella’s house. He stepped out of the car, bouquet in hand, and rang the doorbell.
When Ella opened the door, Ethan’s breath caught in his throat. She looked stunning, her outfit simple yet elegant, her hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders.
“These are for you,” Ethan said, holding out the flowers.
Ella smiled, her cheeks tinged with a light blush. “Thank you, Ethan. They’re beautiful.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, his voice soft. “Shall we?”
Ella nodded, grabbing her purse and stepping out to join him.
The drive to the restaurant was filled with light conversation, the tension between them slowly melting away. By the time they arrived, they were laughing over an old memory Ethan had brought up, the sound filling the car like a balm to their hearts.
The restaurant was just as Ella remembered it-warm and inviting, with soft lighting and the faint hum of classical music in the background. Their table was tucked into a quiet corner, offering them privacy as they talked and ate.
Ethan couldn’t take his eyes off Ella, marveling at how easily she slipped back into her role as his confidante and partner. He listened intently as she spoke about the twins, her work, and her hopes for the future.
“I have to admit,” Ella said at one point, setting her fork down. “I didn’t think I’d ever be sitting across from you like this again.”
“Neither did I,” Ethan said, his voice tinged with emotion. “But I’m glad we are. Ella, I know I’ve made mistakes-big ones-but I want you to know that I’m not that man anymore. I’ve changed, and I want to prove that to you.”
Ella studied him, her eyes searching his face for any sign of insincerity. “I believe you, Ethan,” she said finally. “But actions speak louder than words. If we’re going to make this work, it has to be different this time.”
“It will be,” Ethan promised, reaching across the table to take her hand. “I’ll make sure of it.”
As the evening drew to a close, Ethan walked Ella to her door, the bouquet of flowers still in her hand.
“Thank you for tonight,” Ella said, her voice soft. “It was… nice.”
“Nice?” Ethan teased, a playful grin on his face.
Ella laughed, a sound that sent a warmth through Ethan’s chest. “Okay, it was more than nice. It was wonderful.”
“I’m glad,” Ethan said, his tone growing serious. “Ella, I meant what I said. I’m going to do everything I can to make this work. Not just for me, but for you and the kids.”
Ella nodded, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I hope so, Ethan. Because I’m trusting you with my heart again.”
“You won’t regret it,” Ethan said, his voice filled with determination.
As Ella stepped inside and closed the door, Ethan stood there for a moment, a smile on his face. He felt like the luckiest man in the world, and he vowed not to take this second chance for granted.
Tomorrow was a new day, and for the first time in years, it felt like the future was full of promise.