Cocktales

by The Cocky Collective

  Up until thirty seconds ago, everything had been perfect.

  Up until thirty seconds ago, I was so happy that I almost felt embarrassed. My smiles were easy, my laughter was given freely to almost anyone who approached me among those gathered in our backyard.

  The sun was bright and warm, only a few puffy white clouds breaking up the sky. There was just enough of a breeze pushing through the branches of the aspen trees along the back of our property that I could hear the leaves through the happy chatter.

  And the sprawling branches of the tree where Anna and I would get married looked like something out of a fairy tale, just as she’d said. White lights dripped down like strips of sunlight, were wound around the branches and the trunk so that even when the sun went down, the whole area would be lit.

  It was impossible to believe that our yard had been transformed into something so magical.

  Then again, it was also impossible to believe that my brother Michael just walked up to me with a chicken under his arm and a nervous look on his face.

  “Why are you carrying Petunia?” I asked.

  “She has a name?”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “Of course, she has a name. They all do. Anna likes to talk to them when she pulls the eggs out.”

  He swallowed. “Just hear me out.”

  My eyebrows lifted slowly.

  Behind him, my three-year-old niece Piper poked her head out and gave me a wide-eyed look that roughly translated to uh-oh.

  “What happened?” I asked when he didn’t speak.

  “I was showing the kids the chicken coop.”

  “Okay.”

  “The rooster is big,” Piper said in a dramatic whisper.

  I made sure I was smiling when I looked down at her. “He is, kiddo. His name is Wentworth.”

  She blinked.

  Michael cleared his throat, not interested in the Jane Austen hero that Anna named our rooster after.

  “So, uhh, Wentworth or whatever the hell his name is, came charging at me and I got a little freaked out.” He licked his lips and shifted Petunia under his arm. Her brown speckled feathers looked out of place against the navy blue of Michael’s suit, which matched mine. He was the only person standing up for me, and Rory, Anna’s sister-in-law would be the only person standing up for her. Or maybe I’d have an empty spot next to me depending on what was about to come out of his mouth next.

  “And…” I said slowly.

  He sucked in a quick breath. “And I thought he was going to like, eat my children or something, so I picked them up because they were screaming and scaring the chickens and that damn cock was flapping his wings and I wasn’t really paying attention, and Piper got her foot stuck in my jacket pocket.”

  I narrowed my eyes. Piper blinked again.

  “I sorry, Uncle Tristan,” she whispered.

  Michael’s eyes pinched shut. “It’s not your fault, sweet pea. It’s daddy’s fault.”

  She nodded solemnly and then ducked behind his legs again. Petunia clucked unhappily.

  “What happened?”

  “Petunia ate Anna’s ring,” he blurted.

  “What?” I yelled.

  He cringed. Then I cringed, because a couple guests looked over at us. Slowly, I inhaled, imagining the pristine gold circle that we’d picked to curve around her vintage engagement ring.

  I pointed at the chicken. “That chicken ate her ring.”

  “Yes,” he said quietly.

  “Michael,” I warned. I didn’t even know what I was warning him about, but it felt like something I needed to do.

  His face was turning a sickly shade of green.

  “I … I think it got caught on the edge of Piper’s shoe, and when I pulled it out of my pocket, it fell on the ground. I didn’t notice the ring was down there until Petunia got this crazy look in her beady little eyes. What kind of chicken eats jewelry? You got some psycho birds here, brother. Rooster attacking my children, a ring-eating chicken,” he muttered. “Why couldn’t you guys just get a dog like normal people?”

  I pinched the bridge of my nose. In about fifteen minutes, the guests would take their seats, and I’d take my place next to the minister underneath the tree, where I’d wait for the love of my life to walk to me.

  And her ring was inside Petunia the chicken.

  “Why is Michael holding a chicken?” my friend, and soon to be brother-in-law Garrett asked as he walked up to us. Behind him were our friends Cole and Dylan.

  I gestured at my brother. “Please, Michael, feel free to explain.”

  In tandem, all three guys turned to Michael, who got even greener. Piper stuck her head out again.

  “The chicken eated the ring,” she cried with a big smile on her face.

  Dylan’s mouth popped open. Cole tipped his head back and muttered something under his breath. Garrett’s head swung between me, Michael and the chicken.

  He pointed. “It’s in there? My sister’s wedding ring is in there?”

  I nodded slowly.

  “In the chicken?” he clarified.

  Michael squared his shoulders. “Tell Tristan to keep his stupid rooster under control and maybe this wouldn’t have happened.”

  Garrett burst out laughing. Dylan fought a smile. Michael looked like he was going to pass out, but probably because I was giving him a glare so potent that his balls probably shriveled up. Cole put a consoling hand on my shoulder.

  He took charge. “Okay, this is what we’re going to do. Michael, go put the chicken in the smaller coop by herself. That way when she shits, you get to be the lucky guy to sift through it. Tristan, you go take a walk for a couple minutes and get your head right again. Garrett,” he pointed, “shut up, this isn’t helping.”

  Garrett held up his hands but did as Cole said. Michael gave me one last look over his shoulder before heading back to the chicken coops I’d built a few months ago when Anna said she thought she might like to have some.

  Oh, how I regretted that now.

  Dylan slugged me on the shoulder. “It’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

  I nodded. “Thanks.”

  “Good luck.” He went to find his seat next to his wife Kat, who was waiting with a happy smile on her face. She waved at me, and I lifted a hand in return.

  Garrett gave me a back-thumping hug. “Sorry I laughed.”

  “I expect nothing less from you,” I told him with utmost sincerity.

  He grinned and wandered toward the lines of chairs facing the tree.

  Cole gave me a serious look. “You okay?”

  I took a deep breath and nodded. “I will be. I know it’s just a piece of jewelry. It’s replaceable, but…” I shrugged helplessly. “I wanted everything to be perfect.”

  “No reason it still can’t be,” he said. He looked around at the yard full of people who loved me and Anna, who wanted nothing but happiness for us. “This looks like as perfect a day as I can imagine for you two. Ring or no ring.”

  He nodded and walked away, leaving me alone for what seemed like the first time all day. Making sure I had time, I glanced at my watch before I walked beyond the chairs and past the tree so I could take a couple minutes to just breathe.

  This wasn’t what I wanted to be thinking about less than ten minutes before I needed to take my spot.

  I wanted to be thinking about Anna.

  I wanted to be thinking about what she’d look like.

  I wanted to be thinking about the sheer enormity of the fact that tonight, when I pulled her into my arms, she’d be my wife.

  My wife.

  The woman I’d loved for so long, so impossibly, hopelessly long, was going to be my wife. And I was going to be her husband.

  For some reason, it surprised me that those labels might make it feel so different. But it did. Writing my vows to her had been far more difficult than I’d ever imagined. How was I supposed to put into words what I wanted to promise Anna? How was I supposed to sum it up into a few lines, said out loud in front of a
hundred people, when she was the only one who needed to hear them?

  If I could’ve gotten away with two lines, I knew what I’d say.

  Whatever may come, Anna, I will be there. That is my vow to you.

  But that wasn’t enough. It felt like I’d never be able to articulate my love for her properly. She often said the same thing to me. We were so equally yoked in how we felt.

  I leaned back against the tree and took a deep breath, practicing the words in my head for the thousandth time.

  * * *

  Nothing in my life is clearer than you.

  You are my vow. My love for you will never wane, will never waver, will never dim.

  Every moment that I draw breath, I will support you, respect you, fight for you and for the things that matter to us.

  Whatever may come, Anna, I will be there. It’s a promise that I’ll never break, will never go back on, will never regret.

  I love you, and I choose you, today and every day.

  The ring didn’t matter.

  I took a long breath and knew that she’d feel the same way.

  Carefully, I leaned down and plucked three of the longest strands of grass I could find. My fingers were steady as I wound them together in a tight braid and wrapped the edges in an impossibly tight knot.

  The minister poked his head around the edge of the tree and gave me a kind smile. “Are you ready?”

  My chest expanded on a deep, steadying inhale and I nodded. I followed him around the tree and carefully tucked the grass ring into the pocket of my navy suit, then straightened the burgundy tie that Anna had chosen.

  Feeling generous and far more centered, I gave Michael a rueful smile and he returned it as he joined me.

  From beyond the line of chairs filled with smiling people, I saw Rory start her slow walk down the aisle. She grinned at me, then winked at Garrett where he was sitting next to his and Anna’s mother, Kathleen, in the front row.

  Kathleen was already dabbing at her eyes.

  My heart was seconds away from exploding in my chest from the complete, mind-numbing torture of waiting to see her. I had to force myself to breathe evenly, and my fingers started tingling when the minister motioned for the guests to rise from their seats.

  This is it, this is it, this is it, I chanted silently.

  My head lifted and there she was.

  Any air I’d had filling my lungs was gone. Poof.

  She’d taken it.

  Her lips spread into a wide smile and my vision blurred instantly, the press of tears hot and insistent, but I breathed slowly as she started in my direction.

  She was holding flowers and wearing a dress in ivory, something I’d pay attention to later, but all I could see was her face.

  Her perfect, smiling face, tears spilling unchecked down her cheeks.

  I sniffed as one of my own fell.

  Her hair was down, and my heart was hers, and the moment was perfect.

  No, the ring didn’t matter.

  Anna stopped to hug and kiss her mom, who was weeping audibly. It registered finally that about half the guests were already crying.

  She took her place in front of me, mouthing, I love you.

  I love you too, I mouthed back.

  “Dearly beloved,” the minister started, and with those two words, our forever began.

  The End

  About the Author

  Karla Sorensen is a wife, mother, writer and life-long hater of folding laundry. She lives with her husband, two sons and big, shaggy rescue dog in Michigan.

  Website

  Facebook

  Instagram

  Also by Karla Sorensen

  The Three Little Words series

  By Your Side

  Light Me Up

  Tell Them Lies

  * * *

  The Bachelors of the Ridge series

  Dylan

  Garrett

  Cole

  Michael

  Tristan – www.karlasorensen.com/tristan

  * * *

  Standalone

  Hooked (cowritten with Whitney Barbetti)

  * * *

  Coming on June 14, 2018

  The Bombshell Effect – Add to Goodreads

  Cocky Mafia

  Rachel Van Dyken

  Chase Abandonato loses his cockiness as his wife goes into labor reminding him of everything he's lost...

  Copyright © 2018 by Rachel Van Dyken

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Extra Epilogue Eulogy

  Chase

  I gasped awake, sweat dripped down my chest as I reached across the bed. Empty, it was empty. And it happened, faster than I could imagine, the pain, the agony, the thought that maybe it was a combination of the worst nightmare of my life followed by my greatest dream.

  “Chase!” Luc yelled my name.

  It jolted me out of my pity party though my adrenaline was still pumping loud as my brain told me lies that my heart wanted to burn to the ground.

  Not good enough.

  She’ll leave too.

  I squeezed my eyes shut and ran in the general direction of her voice, she was in the bathroom, holding her very swollen belly. Fear gripped every part of my body until black spots appeared in my line of vision.

  Fear had always been my friend because I’d never recognized it for what it was, because I’d never truly experienced its truth until I was forced to relinquish control to the universe, to a God who would send me to Hell given the chance, to a darkness that was ready to welcome me with every stolen breath.

  Fear was putting my trust in the untrustworthy — it was watching my wife nurture a soul I didn’t deserve — it was praying that the ones I forced to leave this earth wouldn’t be counted against me — against my offspring.

  Because it was what I deserved.

  But them.

  Never them.

  “What’s wrong?” I appeared calm, but my heart was slamming so hard against my chest you’d think it was trying to break through my skin. “Is it the baby?”

  Luc wiped a tear, “Uh I think? I don’t know, maybe it’s just my imagination but, I keep getting weird contractions, like stretching across my stomach.”

  I was fucking out of my element for once in my life.

  I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to think, then opened them when I heard her sniffle again and wrap her arms around her middle in the protective stance I knew she wasn’t even aware she was doing. God she was going to be an incredible mom.

  Singing our baby lullabies and making chocolate chip cookies while I slit people’s throats.

  I gave my head a shake. “Do you want me to call Sergio?”

  She chewed her bottom lip.

  “You’re hesitating, you’re not sure, I’m making the call—”

  “—but,” She grabbed my arm. “What if it’s a false alarm.”

  I pulled her into my embrace and kissed her forehead. “Then I’ll rub your feet until you fall asleep.”

  “You’ve gone soft you know,” She winked.

  I didn’t laugh.

  I was too freaked out.

  I stared into her trusting gaze. Unbelievable that she’d look to me out of all the people on the planet. My fears weren’t unfounded, I didn’t deserve her—but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to do everything in my power to keep her.

  “Our secret.” I finally whispered as she wrapped her arms around me as best she could. I rolled my eyes and picked her up like she weighed nothing, she’d gained weight but if you looked at her from behind you’d think she was this tiny little waif, almost like the baby was stealing every ounce of water and fat her body possessed in order to sustain itself. I asked if it was normal at least once a week, and then the doctor would say something like, she
’s gained fifty pounds, I think she’s going to be okay.

  I didn’t see it.

  All I saw was beauty.

  My baby.

  Both of them.

  Shit, I wouldn’t survive this again.

  And she wanted kids, plural, not singular.

  My heart sped up a little faster as I deposited her on our bed and made a quick phone call to Sergio.

  “Not again” He yawned, “Could you at least keep your midnight killing sprees to once a week? People need to sleep! I’m people by the way and swear on Tex’s life if you’re just worried about the baby because you heard hiccups I’m changing my number.”

  I growled into the phone.

  He sighed. “Fine, what’s going on?”

  “Contractions,” I hissed, “She says they’re different than before and she’s embarrassed to go all the way to the hospital and have it be—”

  “—I’ll be there in five.”

  Thank God he lived down the street.

  “Thanks, man.” Yup, still felt weird to say thank you but there I was, ready to slit my own wrists just so he could make a house call.

  Things change.

  They have no choice but to change, I just didn’t realize how much I’d be a part of the change. I still battled, I battled like hell with the demons in my head and the love that tried to surge into my heart.

  And I knew without a doubt if I was on my own.

  If I didn’t have her.

  I wouldn’t have made it another day.

  Possibly another ten minutes.

  I ended the conversation and went downstairs to open the door right when Vic rounded the corner and handed me a newspaper then started making coffee.

  I groaned, took the newspaper and then checked the time. It was six in the morning, too early for me, but right on time for the vampire who refused to leave our family’s side like we actually wanted him around when we had more important things to do.