Chapter 7: Happily Trending Ever After

For a second, I didn’t know if I was acting or not.

I just clung to his neck, kissing back without thinking.

Just as it was ending, Ethan suddenly said, “Ow.”

He pulled away, touching his lips, annoyed. "Think I bit myself." Yeah, right.

Martin nodded, unfazed.

“No problem, let’s go again. Places, everyone!”

I stared at Ethan, stunned.

I knew I hadn’t bitten him. He did it on purpose! Unbelievable.

Thanks to repeated ‘accidents,’ it took eight takes to get it right.

My lips were swollen.

Ethan still looked dissatisfied, like he was searching for another excuse for a retake.

I pinched his waist, not caring who saw.

“Ethan Marshall, behave.”

He winced, then caught my hand, whispering in my ear:

“You’re killing your ex-husband.”

I was mortified, but he held me tight and wouldn’t let go.

“What husband? We’re divorced!”

He calmly adjusted his shirt. Like nothing happened.

“Still counts as ex-husband.”

…Is that a thing?

He leaned in, eyes twinkling. Dangerous.

“Besides, just because we’re divorced doesn’t mean we can’t get married again.”

I was startled by how close he was.

“Hey, you, you—”

He smiled, let go, and patted my head.

“Almost wrapped. Hang in there.”

Thanks to everyone’s hard work, shooting went smoothly.

Sometimes, behind-the-scenes photos leaked online. Some people trashed me, some cheered.

A small group of shippers even popped up.

They started a Twitter tag. Shipped us every day. Wild.

After the movie wrapped, Martin threw a party.

Ethan and I ended up seated together.

He looked around, took away my glass of wine, and replaced it with hot cocoa. Classic Ethan.

I frowned: “What’s this about?”

He answered like it was obvious:

“You shouldn’t drink cold stuff.”

I froze, almost stammered:

“You… how do you know?”

Even if he knew my cycle before, it had shifted by a week.

He looked a little smug. Of course he did.

“After all this time together on set, I noticed.”

My face went red.

“Why do you notice these things?”

He frowned:

“These things? I notice everything about you. How can I not?”

He didn’t bother lowering his voice. People at the table were definitely listening.

I quickly covered his mouth:

“Please, not so loud.”

He finally shut up, mumbling under his breath.

Martin finished greeting others and sat with us, telling everyone to dig in.

Then came round after round of toasts.

The older crowd loved to toast; the younger ones wanted to play games.

Lucas, sitting with us, suggested: “Why not a drinking game?”

Everyone was in.

I was all smiles—until I drew the chopsticks and got picked. Figures.

Lucas cheered: “Reese! Reese!”

Me: …Thanks, buddy.

My question: “Most unforgettable romantic experience.”

I played dumb. "Never dated, so I got nothing."

Everyone thought about it. They wanted the dirt, but had to admit I’d never had a public relationship.

Ethan shot me a look. I pinched his thigh under the table. Subtle, right?

Lucas whispered: “Didn’t you marry Ethan? How’d you never date?”

I answered honestly: “It was a family arrangement. We just got married, never dated.”

Lucas’s eyes widened. "Whoa, married before love!"

Me: ??

Soon it was Ethan’s turn.

He sat up, all serious. "I won’t hide anything."

Lucas grinned, clearing his throat:

“Then… Ethan, tell us about your first love?”

Ethan looked up, thinking.

“First love? Not sure it counts, but I only had one.”

“The first time I saw her, she was arguing with three old men who cut in line—standing up for a kid who got knocked down, and got chewed out for it at home.”

“She was beautiful, had plenty of admirers. I always watched her, but she never noticed me.”

Lucas was hooked.

“What about later? Did she notice you?”

He smiled: “Later, I used family connections to marry her.”

The table erupted.

Ethan sighed.

“But she thought I was too restless in my sleep and divorced me.”

“Whether we get back together depends on her.”

When he said that, he stared straight at me. Hope in his eyes. I couldn’t breathe.

He was speaking in code, but everyone knew who he meant.

The table exploded.

“Pass the chopsticks to Reese! I want to be a love bodyguard!”

Total chaos.

I was terrified.

The game became a showcase for me and Ethan.

To dodge questions, I chugged cocoa. Anything to avoid another round.

After the party, I could barely walk.

Ethan said nothing, made a call, then carried me out. No arguments.

“I told Denise, I’m taking you home.”

I kept my head down, not arguing.

He put me in his SUV, dismissed the assistant and driver. Just the two of us.

I shrank into the seat.

“My place is in Westwood…”

He interrupted, voice low:

“I know.”

I hesitated.

“Oh, sorry for the trouble.”

The car was silent.

Ethan was quiet a long time, then asked, voice rough:

“Don’t you know why I’m taking you home?”

I tried to lean away.

He looked at me in the streetlight glow. I couldn’t meet his eyes.

“Do you really not miss me at all?”

I bit my lip.

Actually, I did—a little.

Every homemade breakfast, every bouquet of morning flowers, every holiday surprise.

He was always busy, but always made time for me.

Someone like him—if he didn’t care, he wouldn’t be so persistent.

But back then, I just thought he was meddling. Shows what I knew.

Without realizing it, he’d become part of my life.

When I didn’t answer, Ethan buried his face in his hands.

“These three hundred days, I missed you every single one.”

“I know you’re a free spirit, always chasing your own thing.”

“But after two years together, did I really mean nothing?”

“I kept telling myself not to look back, but it’s you—how could I not?”

His voice shook.

“Reese, can’t you give me another chance?”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I hugged him. Hard.

“I can.”

He sniffed: “What?”

I threw myself into his arms.

“I said, let’s start over.”

On the day ‘Radiance’ premiered, Ethan couldn’t wait to post. Not even a little.

“@EthanMarshall: Been planning this a long time. It ends with Reese. Dream come true.”

Some who accused me of clout-chasing went quiet. About time.

“What? You’re really together? Weren’t you divorced?”

Ethan replied himself:

“That doesn’t stop me from loving her.”

A small army of shippers went wild.

“Told you they were real! Haters, where you at? I’ll guard their love all night!”

Career fans hustled:

“Everyone, ‘Radiance’ is out today! If you love real couples, don’t miss it! Bring your friends and cry for Carter and Scarlett!”

Martin even reposted. Guy’s a romantic.

“Cutest couple ever! Investing in ‘Radiance’ was worth it!”

Thanks to the buzz, the box office smashed our goal on opening day.

With the crew’s hard work, the movie was a hit, and the drama only brought us more fans.

And while all this was happening, I was vacationing in Maui with Ethan. Living the dream.

I teased him: “Why the sudden announcement?”

He wrapped his arms around me, chin on my head. Safe.

“Not sudden. I just couldn’t wait anymore.”

“For anyone who says you’re riding my coattails, I want them to see—how could my wife ever be called that?”

I laughed.

“But your caption was perfect.”

“It really was planned for a long time.”

He stared at me: “You knew?”

I lifted my chin, smug:

“Lucas told me. Exposing Blake was your plan, so everything before—from inviting me to the livestream to Martin reaching out—was all you, wasn’t it?”

Ethan ruffled my hair, smiling like I was the only person in the world.

“My Reese is too sharp—nothing gets by you.”

Just then, the hotel butler knocked, bringing drinks and…

My face turned red. I looked at Ethan:

“You, you—”

He took the tray, thanked the butler. Smooth as ever.

Then set everything down, raising an eyebrow at me:

“What’s wrong?”

I covered my face: “You…”

He wrapped his arms around me, grinning. Like he’d won something.

“It’s our honeymoon, babe. What’s there to be shy about?”

Me: …

Outside, waves crashed, moonlight glimmered on the water.

Inside, he and I held each other close.

Making wishes on the ocean breeze, promising to meet again by the mountains and the sea.

And for once, the only thing trending was how happy we looked.