"Whoa, baby, whoa. Slow day. Sit with me. Tell me what?" He says and pats the chair.
"Don't play with me. If you already know, then just be honest."
"Sweetheart, I have no earthly idea what you are talking about or why me asking you to be my wife is making you angry." Zach says and laughs.
Something about his laugh calms me down, so I sit down. He pulls the chair over and takes my hands as he sits down across from me.
"Now, Josie. Please, tell me whatever it is so important that you told Andy before you old me." He teases.
"I didn't tell him. He figured it out. I made him promise not to tell you because I wanted to tell you, but not until the doctor confirmed it."
"Oh god, baby. What's wrong. Are you sick?" His face goes ghostly white, and it's my turn to laugh.
"No, Mr. Verona. I'm not sick. You're going to be a daddy." I say and smile hopefully at him.
"No fucking way." He yells and jumps up out of his chair. "That is the most awesome thing ever." Zach does a goofy victory dance that makes me laugh harder.
"I'm sorry I got angry. I've been a bit temperamental and hungry lately."
"It's okay. I am a little sad that you think they only reason I'd marry you is that you're knocked up." He says and gets back on his knee. "Makes no difference now, though, because you're going to be my wife."
"That doesn't sound like much of a proposal."
"That's because I'm not asking, baby. You're mine."
He takes out the ring, and it's a seven-carat yellow diamond set in platinum. I roll my eyes at the gigantic rock, but I don't hesitate to stick my hand out. He puts the ring on my finger and kisses me.
"I saw you roll your eyes." He says and smiles.
"That ring is all you. I can't believe you bought something that big. Wait, yes I can." I say and stare at the huge diamond weighing down my ring finger. “It’s breathtaking, Zach. Is it a yellow diamond? I’ve heard of these, but I’ve never seen one in person before.”
“Yes, it’s a yellow diamond. The color comes from imperfections in the stone. I wanted you to remember every time you look at it that sometimes the most beautiful treasures break the rules.” He says and I can’t hold back the happy tears for another second.
Epilogue
Josie
Our wedding broke the internet. Okay, not really, but I'm sure it stressed a few servers to the max. It was also in every magazine and plastered across every celebrity gossip site in existence. Any money I made selling the details of our big day I gave to charity, and I made a lot of money.
Rock star weddings were big news back when I was a kid, and I made sure this one got as much attention as possible. I know that doesn't sound like me, but the money went to help kids displaced by war. I made sure that the world was looking at us for our big day, and then used the attention to raise money for refugees and their children.
I only had a few months to plan the ceremony and reception because I decided I wanted Zach and I to be man and wife before our little boy is born. The Verona name carries weight around here, as I've said before, and I got almost everything I wanted even on short notice.
It was a lot of work since for most of the wedding planning I still had school, but my mom pitched in. Turns out, she's a sucker for weddings and babies. My dad hired an assistant for me as well. I was originally going to refuse to work with an assistant for planning a wedding, but when I met her, I couldn't let her go. She had just graduated from college and wanted to go into event management. Lana reminded me so much of myself that we became fast friends. I've hooked her up with several of my best industry contacts, and soon she'll be planning parties and events for some of the biggest names in music.
Our wedding was beautiful. It was at night, and I went for a galaxy theme. My dress was black with tons of swirling galaxies and planets embroidered into the fabric. As tribute to the night Zach declared that I was going to become his wife, we had the wedding on the back lawn of our estate. The reception was held in a massive tent decorated with thousands of twinkling lights.
I was in the easiest part of my pregnancy when we got hitched, so I was able to stay up half the night dancing and having fun with all of our family and friends. I probably ate too much cake, but it was delicious. All seven tiers were different flavors, and of course I had to try at least one bite of each.
When we retired to the house, Zach and I made love all night. As long as he's not on tour, he doesn't crash on me after anymore. We wake up the next day as man and wife and start planning the summer stadium tour. The baby will be old enough by next summer that I'm going to go on the road with Zach. I don't regret the way I grew up one bit, so I'm taking our little boy on tour at least until he starts school or Zach retires from being a rock god and starts producing.
The stadium tour is already sold out, and I couldn't be more proud of my husband. He's proud of me as well because I plan on getting another semester of my degree finished before we hit the road. After that, the college has agreed to let me finish my studies independently, and I'll graduate with my Master's degree in about another eighteen months.
Zach wants me to take over managing Troubled Kids once I'm done with school, but I tell him he'll have to negotiate with my father.
"How are you going to manage any other band, my love, if you're on tour with us?" He asks me over bacon and eggs.
"I can't, but I just want to watch you try and negotiate with my dad." I say and wink at him.
I snatch a piece of bacon from his plate and he pretends to be angry.
"Sorry, Mr. Verona. We're very hungry today." I say and eat the whole thing in two bites.
"Mrs. Verona, you've always known that I’ll give you anything and everything you want."
Fifteen Years Later
Zach
I walk into Michael’s room and he's writing furiously at his laptop. His guitar is sitting next to the desk, and I can tell he's in full on song writing mode. He's only fourteen, almost fifteen, but Michael already fronts a band called Out to Lunch. They play gigs in front of some pretty big crowds, and they already have a record deal in the making. He's my son for sure.
Michael was our only boy, and after him came his younger sister Alisa. Then the twins Megan and Millie. There are so many females living in this house that Michael and I have to stick together to stay sane.
"What are you doing?" I hate to interrupt him, but he's got my curiosity turning.
"Lenore says she's not sure if we're right for each other. She says she likes me, but she's afraid to commit to a relationship with a musician."
"Oh, I see. So, what are you doing on the computer there. Are you guys talking about this in chat, because that's a discussion you should have in person." I say.
"Nope. She told me after school today. Then, she said she needed time to think. I asked her if we could go out tomorrow night and talk about it some more after she's had a chance to sleep on it."
"Alright, so then, what are you doing? I don't mean to pry, I'm just curious."
"You're not prying, dad. I'm writing a song for her. I figure if I get the words and music just right, she'll know that I'm the one for her."
Like father like son.
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Minx Hardbringer
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