Chapter 57 Patience/Jett #2
My gaze never faltered from my wife. We may have been saying our vows for a second time, but she had already been mine in every way: body, heart, and soul.
When she stood in front of me, I rose to my feet and stared into her dreamy, chocolate-brown eyes that were shimmering with tears. Both Griffin and I stopped singing, our fingers stilled, and for a moment, there was silence.
Until Patience unhooked her arm from Gramps and threw herself at me, her beautiful daisy scent filling my nose, and her body making mine vibrate with awareness. With my guitar still in one hand, I wrapped my other arm around her to hold her against me.
And just like that, it wasn’t quiet anymore.
Everyone was making some sort of noise or laughing. Griffin giggled and threw his arms around our legs.
“Guess she didn’t change her mind,” I heard Kace say.
“Ouch,” came next.
“That’s what happens when you act like a dumb—”
Patience giggled into my chest as Gyth caught himself before finishing that sentence. Wedding or not, I’m sure Embry and her bionic ears would have heard and marched right up to collect her payment.
“You ready to get married, brother?” Lyric asked from beside us. “Again, that is.”
“More than ever,” I told him, reaching over to hand him my guitar.
Patience pulled back but kept her hands on my chest. “I can’t believe you sang to me.” Then she looked down at Griffin. “You did so good, sweet boy.”
Our son beamed back at his mom. “We’ve been practicing.”
She smiled at him with so much motherly love in her gaze that it made more tears push at the back of my eyes. When she looked at me, I expected her to be ready to start the ceremony, but just as I surprised her, she shocked me.
“I didn’t have a true family growing up. It wasn’t until the day I met you and you shared yours with me that I finally felt loved. You were my savior, my best friend, and the man of my dreams.”
My sister sniffled next to us, and I heard Gyth say something to Kace about not knowing we were starting; I almost laughed, but then Patience's mouth was on mine.
“We aren’t at that part yet,” Kace teased.
Of course, I ignored him, and tuned everyone else out.
It was our wedding day; my girl could do whatever she damn well wanted.
PATIENCE - RECEPTION
I melted further into my husband’s arms as we swayed to the music.
It had been the best darn wedding a girl could dream of. Sure, some may have thought it was simple and not extravagant enough, but after the lonely life I’d lived before meeting Jett and his family, to me, it was perfect.
In high school, I’d sought out the wrong kind of attention because my home life was less than stellar. I could never call it a mistake, though, because it brought me my son and also put me in Jett’s path.
Since that day, I had never looked back.
My husband, his family, and our friends were all I needed to make every day as special as my walk down the aisle had been. And after I’d been serenaded, the vows were said, cake was cut, gifts were opened, and our first dance was over, we were all still having the time of our lives.
A wrinkled, scarred hand slapped down on Jett’s shoulder, and I pulled my head from my husband’s chest to see Gramps. “Move out of the way, boy.” He was staring at Jett. “It’s time I got to dance with my granddaughter.”
Heart bursting, I smiled at the old man. Jett would tell you time and time again how much he owed his grandpa, along with his sister Ruby. I had to agree with him on both accounts. Not only had they made a huge impact on Jett’s life, but they had on mine too.
Not going to deny his gramps anything, he released me—but not before he laid a smacking kiss on my lips. Gramps chuckled and moved in, snatching me up, and without wasting any time, he was spinning me around the makeshift dance floor that had been installed in the backyard.
I giggled as I twirled, my eyes taking in the scene that passed by in somewhat of a blur—Gramps could still move when he wanted to.
Some of our friends were on the dance floor with their spouses, the kids were bouncing around together, and my heart flipped over at Dusty dancing with Griffin. It was the cutest thing in the world to see my new bestie and my son together.
Having her there with all our other friends meant the world. I just wished she’d bite the bullet and move close, permanently. For now, it was enough that she was just thinking about it; that offer to join No Surrender was still on the table.
As I spun around again, my eyes landed on my husband, and my heart fluttered. He was listening to something that a few of the guys were saying, but his gaze was glued to me. I could stare into those piercing blue eyes all day long and never tire of it.
Then I noticed Harland in the group, his niece clinging to his leg, and my happiness dipped a bit.
I was so glad they were with us, but not under the circumstances they were having to endure.
The loss of his sister and brother-in-law, along with taking on guardianship of Willa—a four-year-old who was sad, scared, and wanted her parents back—was taking a toll on the carefree man I’d met previously.
The song ended, and Gramps brought me to a stop. His gaze followed mine, still trained on the group my husband was standing in. But wise beyond his years, Gramps seemed to zero right in on where my thoughts were right then.
“Losing those we love isn’t easy. It takes time to heal.
” I brought my eyes to his, and he met mine.
Those intelligent eyes shimmered with tears, and I was sure he was thinking of his wife.
“We never forget, but it does get easier. That young man and his niece will get through this because he now has all of you.”
My eyes began to water, but I knew he was right. This group that had rallied around me when I needed them had been my saving grace.
“And you,” I told him, my breath hitching with emotion. “You are right; everyone will help them. I just want you to know that I don’t know what I would have ever done without you too, not just Jett.”
I watched Gramps’s throat work as he swallowed whatever feelings were building up before he said, “Grams would have loved you. I have no doubt she would feel the same as I do. You are perfect for our boy.”
He kissed me on the check and then left as I fought not to sob right there on the dance floor. I saw Jett take a step toward me, concern lining his handsome face, but then I was rushed by a mob of screaming ladies, and he froze. His eyes stayed on me, though, watching to see that I was okay.
My husband was a keeper.
The ladies’ hoots, hollers, and laughter as the song changed to “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge had my tears drying. They all began to bounce around, shimmy, and dance with so much freedom. Not joining them was impossible, as always.
They were all family.
Every once in a while, my gaze snagged on my husband during the song. His mega-watt smile as he watched me and the fire in his eyes, like he wanted to peel my dress off right then and there, made my breath catch.
And my lady bits, as the ladies liked to call them, tingle.
The funny thing was, every man there was looking at my friends the same way. Even the hottie doctor had his eyes on Val every second, and I was sure they were headed down the aisle one day, too. Heck, Jurnee's parents—who were here as well—were just as much in love now as they were when they met.
It was obvious that all of them couldn’t wait to get their women home either. When the song ended, we all stood still, gathered in a cluster, breathing hard, Dusty’s arm looped through mine.
I wanted her to be as happy as the rest of us. She had joined in, but it wasn’t lost on me that she still struggled with her leg, had to take things slower than the rest of us, and every once in a while, you could see the sadness in her eyes.
Something struck me then.
Looking at her, I then glanced at Harland, and my mind started to spin.
“Nope,” Alley said, grabbing my attention.
Turning back to the group, I looked at her curiously.
“He’s not the right one for our girl here.” Alley pointed at Dusty, whose eyes widened. “Our friend here needs her walking wet dream when it comes to her man.”
Leave it to Alley to pull the laughing snort right out of me.
Everyone started to catch on and add their two cents. We all knew Alley was talking about our sleepover conversation with Dusty and what her fantasy would be.
“Excuse me?” Dusty asked, pulling her arm from mine and placing both fists on her hips. “What in the ever-loving hell are you talking about? I don’t need a man at all.”
Some of the ladies scoffed.
“Sure you do,” Alley told her. “Just not that one. I have a feeling that Harland will have his hands full in the very near future.”
“Oh, I see where you’re going with this,” Teal said.
Jurnee clapped her hands together. “I think you’re right.”
Alley rolled her eyes. “Of course I am.”
“So modest,” Summer said, nudging her friend's shoulder.
“Seriously though,” Jurnee began again. “You know Harland and Willa are staying with us for a couple of weeks before heading to the mountains.”
All the ladies nodded.
“Well, I heard him talking to Braxton last night, and it broke my heart.” She placed her small hands over her chest. “He is so lost over the accident and worried about his niece. And she is the sweetest thing, just so sad.”
We all turned toward the guys automatically at her words and then huddled back together.
“It sucks that they’re going to be a few hours away and we won’t be able to see the whole thing unfold,” Brinley pouted, adorably.
Something struck me then. “How would that work? Won’t she leave on tour again later, and isn’t he way older than her?”
Shit.
The moment the words were out of my mouth, my head snapped toward Gemma. Now her stance mimicked Dusty’s, fists on hips as she glared at me, playfully.
“Oops, sorry,” I giggled.
She laughed. “You better be because Bodie and I would still have those two beat in the age gap category.”
“Love knows no bounds,” Ruby said on the other side of me.
Dusty sighed. “You guys are a bunch of lovesick fools.” She shook her head and gave an exaggerated eye roll, much like Alley had.
“Girl, it’s going to happen to you one day too,” London told her.
Dusty was shaking her head, but her eyes told a little bit of a different story. There was longing there. I’d seen it when she watched all of us at times.
“Don’t shake your head, girl. I didn’t think it would happen to me, and look.” River pointed at her growing belly. “I found Lennon and Bre, Huntley, and now I’m having a baby. And I found my sister. Sometimes happiness just finds us.”
Lake hugged her sister. “That it does. I never imagined I would get my second chance with Bronson.”
“Or that I’d ever fall for a man again, but then I couldn’t resist Paxton and those damn dimples.” Capri smiled, looking at me. “I know you know what I’m talking about.”
It was as if his dimpled smile summoned me up at her words, and I turned to see my husband flashing me his signature grin. I turned back to Capri.
“Oh, I know exactly what you’re talking about.”
Those dimples and his smile could get my husband just about anything he wanted.
“We will all just have to visit the mountains to make sure that Harland gets his fairytale ending with the beautiful pop princess,” Alley announced.
As we jumped up and down, clearly excited about that idea, our men had snuck up on us.
“What about me?” a deep voice asked, breaking up our giggle spree.
I was sure we all turned toward Harland with guilty looks on our faces, nothing dripping from our lips in reply.
Kace chuckled. “Our wives are up to something.”
“My wife is always up to something,” Landon said with nothing but affection in his voice, earning him a quick kiss from Alley, who stood at his side.
Harland looked around the group, Willa now in his arms. “Who is up to what, and what does it have to do with me?”
“Yeah, what exactly are we talking about here?” Gyth questioned.
“Dude,” Kace exaggerated, shaking his head. “Where have you been over the last few years, every time one of us falls in love?”
After a few seconds, Gyth smiled. “Oh, the ladies are meddling again.”
“Glad you could finally catch on,” Kace teased. “Our girls always know when someone is going to get bitten by love.”
All the guys roared with laughter, but Harland remained silent, staring at everyone with unease in his gaze.
“He’s not going to know what hit him, is he?” Jett said in my ear as he wrapped his arms around me from behind.
His warm breath tickled my ear, and I sank back into his embrace, needing to be as close as possible.
“I highly doubt it,” I answered.
My gaze took in Harland and his adorable niece. “They deserve a happily ever after.”
I turned in Jett’s arms. “I definitely got mine,” I whispered.
Jett brought his hand up to my face, cupping my cheek. “I love you so much, Mrs. Adams.”
As my husband's mouth descended toward mine, I murmured, “I love you more.”
“Not possible,” he said, his lips latching onto mine.
Everyone should be this blissfully happy, I thought, sinking into the kiss.
I get to do this with the man of my dreams for the rest of my life.