10. Fast-er
Fast-er
Amity
“H oly fuck balls! I’m engaged to playboy, Blake Holdings!” I whisper under my breath, staring at my bottle of water, letting the waves of emotion crash over me. Blake must hear me because he lets out his sinister laugh before picking me up at the waist and swinging me around.
“You are. But it’s me with all the bragging rights,” he cackles, followed by his Cheshire grin.
Shaking my head and laughing, I look back up to him, “So do we call our friends and family now?”
“No, first I need to go pick up your ring, then we will stop by my parents for lunch and friends for dinner?”
“That works for me. That means I need to ignore everyone all day. Don’t forget we need to pick up Hamlet from Tilly and Lana’s today.”
Kissing me on the nose, he murmurs, “I’m going to hop in the shower, care to join me?”
“When do you ever ask?”
“I was trying to be a gentleman to my fiancé, but you’re right. I don’t ask.” In one swoop, I am heaved over Blake’s shoulder and carried into the shower. Our laughter soon turns to seriousness as he kisses and caresses my body under the hot waterfall shower. This man, this now fiancé of mine, turns me completely inside out in the most sensual way.
* * *
I slipped into one of four sundresses I actually own that stay in Blake’s closet. The dress is white with blue and gold threading for an outline. Leaving my hair down, I do full makeup, even a light gold eyeshadow to pop with the dress. I love his parents, but I always feel out of my comfy zone when we’re with them. Especially at their home, which is a mansion for the mansions.
“Deep breaths, Amity. They already love you, and now with the past behind us, we only have our future to look forward to.”
I sigh, shaking my head. “I know, but still. My nerves are sporadically firing off through my body with all the excitement from this morning. I’m just trying to wrap my hand around the fact this morning I was convinced I was going to lose you, and now, we are engaged, then everything in between. Plus, I always feel like I’m going to break something at your parents’ house.”
He laughs at me. “Baby,” Laying his palms on my upper arms in support, he murmurs, “You do always break something.”
My jaw drops. “You are such an ass!”
“I’m just speaking the truth. Besides, Mother has plastic dishes to use today, and all breakable art has been put away.”
My eyes go wide. “Please tell me you are fuckin’ joking, Blake.”
He deadpans me, then waltzes off to the front door. “Let’s go, my love. Our next adventure awaits.” Huffing, I follow behind, still trying to figure out if he is messing with me or not.
I’m silent in the car and don’t pay much attention to the four stops we seem to make on the way to his parents’ house. He never gets back in the car with anything, nor does he put stuff in the trunk of his Corvette. Not like much would fit. I feel like I am only six inches off the ground in this sports car, but I will admit, this fancy car is fast as hell, and I love it when the top is down on a back road with Blake flooring the gas. When we finally drive up the windy driveway to the front of the house, I begin to take deep breaths. “We need to call my parents as soon as we leave here, Blake. I can’t let them think they were the last to know.”
“Understood.” Placing a kiss on my cheek, he gets out of the car, jogging to my side and opening my door. Taking my hand in his, he pulls out of the seat. “I got you, Amity. You and me.” I wrap my hands around his forearms and lean my head into his chest. Even with heels on, I don’t make the height to his face.
“Thank you.”
Before we even make it to the front porch, the door swings open with his mom rushing to Blake and me for a tight hug. “I am so happy you two are back together.” Then turning directly to me, she sniffles. “My beautiful darling, Amity. The daughter I never had.”
“Mother! As much as I love your favoritism, don’t say it so loud where others can hear. You do have a daughter-in-law.”
Her carefree laugh echoes through the openness. “Oh honey, I love Willa, but I see so much of myself in Amity and the feisty-ness.”
Now Blake laughs. “Shit. I should have thought about that beforehand.” I punch him in his upper arm. “Ow, that actually hurt.”
“Well good, next time I’ll punch you even lower,” I say with a smirk. Walking off arm and arm with his mother, we leave him there in exasperation. Soon, he is nipping at my heels, tugging my hair just enough to annoy me. Such a damn kid.
We stroll into the foyer, and Mrs. Holdings pulls me straight into the kitchen and then the back porch. I am shocked to find all my people gathered in the backyard. My mom and deddy are here next to Mr. Holdings. Willa, Nash, even her parents and brother, Dirks. I don’t miss the fact that Dirks is standing close to Tilly. Then Lana and the third Holdings brother, Clint. Around the corner comes a running Hamlet, followed by Blake. I bend down to give him cuddles when I notice his blue collar has been switched out to a silver ribbon tied in a bow around his neck. Adorning a huge sparkling oval diamond ring. I gasp, putting my hand over my mouth in shock. This opens up the space for Hamlet to topple me over, and I go falling backwards on my ass, knocking over one of the Holdings’ large flower cement planters.
Blake's dad shouts, “I win!” and with the commotion, I realize they were betting how long it would take for me to break something.
Tilly spills out, “I still think I am going to win the bet on her getting lost.”
“Seriously, y’all!” Blake rushes to my side and bends down next to me. “Just ignore them.” Untying the bow from Hamlet, he slides the ring off the ribbon into his hand. “This is not how I pictured this going, but what can I say? This is us.” He pauses, palms sweaty. “This was so much easier this morning with just us. But in front of our friends and family, I ask you, Amity Jean Mercer, to be my wife. Again .” His face when he says it sends me into a schoolgirl giggle, while the others laugh too. He reaches over to help pull me up, so we are standing facing each other. “I know I don’t deserve you, but I will spend my entire life trying to be worthy of you.” I swear only this man can make me cry.
Tears streaming down my face, I nod my head yes and fly into his arms to hold and kiss him. “I love you,” I whisper in his ear, before he pushes me back a little so he can place the ring on my finger. “Um, Blake, this is way too much.”
Nash shouts out, “Tell him, Amity. He didn’t think it was big enough.” Everyone goes into a fit of laughter. Blake shakes his head in annoyance but loves the attention.
“Because I know you so well, I also have this one for you.” He presents me with a platinum band with a single small diamond embedded in the middle. “When you are riding, bar fighting, swimming, whatever trouble you are getting into, feel free to wear either or both.” Before he places the second ring on my hand, he holds the ring up to my eyes, so I can see the engraving. I open my mouth to say the words, but he beats me to it. “You and Me. Always to Infinity.”
“It’s perfect,” I say in awe, and he slips this one in front of the giant rock. Squeezing his face in between my hands, I pull him down to kiss me. Stepping back from him, I raise a brow. “Seriously though, how the hell did you plan all this in such a short notice?”
Willa walks up to me with a snort. “Short notice for you, not for the rest of us.” She gives me her perfect smile and pulls me in for a hug. “I am so happy for you, and we are officially going to be a family. How exciting!” she squeals.
My eyes are wide, still in shock that this was planned before this morning. When I thought he was going off a whim. This means so much more, because this proves no matter my past, he always wanted to be with me.
“Mark this in the calendar, Amity is speechless!” Tilly shouts, running over to hug me, causing everyone to laugh. Then I am hugging a crying Lana, followed by my parents, Willa’s family, then Blake's. I seriously need to get my shit together and stop crying. This is ridiculous.
“Alright you two, let me grab an engagement picture to share the news with,” Mrs. Holdings tells us. Blake and I pose for a few underneath the large oak that resides in their backyard surrounded by colorful flowers. I think my favorite is Blake holding me piggy-back with my hand out in front showing off my new rings, because we are both laughing so hard, and the picture is genuine. Looks like us. After we do a few together, Mrs. Holdings insists on family photos, including Hamlet of course.
Once we have finished photos, and my soon to be mother in law has all the shots she can imagine, we finally sit down at the large wooden patio table for lunch with actual plastic dishes. Lunch was loud and delicious with juicy brisket and all the BBQ sides of potato salad, deviled eggs, garlic Texas toast, green beans, and hushpuppies. I’m stuffed and content. If this is what true happiness feels like, I never want to lose this feeling. I’m honestly not sure if I would survive losing any of this.
Blake leans over to kiss my cheek. “You look blissful.”
“Because I am.” Nudging his shoulder with my own, I grin. “Thanks to you.” I’m then gifted with his sultry smile that makes my lower inside burn and ache.
Tilly interrupts my wicked thoughts over Blake with, “So, now for the most important question. When is the wedding?”
My mama claps her hands in excitement. “Yes, do tell!”
“Y’all! This just went down a few hours ago. I have no clue.” I turn to look at Blake, sensing his overexcitement.
“I say next month,” he spits out, making every gasp in surprise and me looking at him dumbfounded.
“You can’t plan a wedding in a month, Blake,” his mother says in shock.
“You aren’t even home, man. Don’t forget you have Brazil for the next three months. The deal was Clint would step in once you deliver on the deals,” Nash states to Blake, and he nods in understanding.
Turning to me, his lips turn down in a frown. “Sorry, babe,” he whispers quietly, and I can feel the disappointment he exudes of still having to travel.
Looking out to everyone, I throw my hands up. “Can’t we just elope, then have a big party?”
“Certainly not!” both of our mom’s shout.
“You are my only daughter, Amity. And don’t you play the card we have been here before, because we haven’t. Not like this. Not with your person. You can go all Annie Oakley you want, but I’ll be damned if you don’t put on a white dress and walk down that aisle with us there for you.”
“Exactly. Blake is my youngest son. My little boy. Surely you two would not deprive a mother of watching her baby boy get married to the daughter I can’t wait to call my own.” All I can do is shrug my shoulders, knowing I was beaten down with a Thor’s mallet on that option.
Blake speaks up again. “Okay, December. That gives you women four months to plan. I’ll be back in the states full time by then and can help. The weather should be warm and all extended family is in and out of town anyhow that month, so it just makes sense.” Everyone agrees and realizes this wedding is for all of them. My people, my family. For Blake, who I already know is going to be a Groom-zilla and make sure all wedding related things are over the top. I am just going to sit back and let them all do all the planning, and they can tell me when and where to show up.
By the time Blake and I leave, the date is picked, venue signed off on, wedding party selected, along with colors and theme. Lana has been assigned as my wedding planner, splitting her role as a bridesmaid with Tilly as my maid of honor, and Willa as my matron of honor. Plus, I was told I will be given a spreadsheet and calendar tomorrow of dates for upcoming wedding festivities.
Blake and I slide into the car, we both take a deep breath. “You sure you are ready for all this?” I ask without turning to him.
He quickly curls his fingers around my chin, pulling me to face him. “Marrying you, fuck yes. What just transpired there… I was honestly not prepared.” We laugh then sweetly kiss. “Mmmmm,” he groans against my lips. “Can’t wait to get you home.”
“Don’t forget Lana is following us back to drop Hamlet off. He sighs with a sad puppy face which sends me into a fit of laughter. “Don’t worry, she won’t stay long. She has a wedding to plan in four months.”
“Good. Because I’m going to devour you as soon as we walk through the door.” He takes off down the driveway and onto the main road, us holding hands with him staring at the road and me looking to a future I never thought was possible.