Parker’s face falls, and he looks down to his beer. “Sam I...” He’s about to apologize for mentioning black flowers. He knows how her mother passed and how hard it was on her. But his apology is cut off by her cell phone ringing.
I go to walk out of the kitchen when I catch sight of a picture of a cake sitting on the counter. “What’s this for?” I ask Holly since Angel is now on her phone.
“Oh, she has decided to make your wedding cake.” She claps her hands excitedly.
“Really?” I ask surprised. I look up to Angel as she speaks on her phone. She catches me watching and mouths your mother as if I was wondering who she was talking to.
I smile walking out of the kitchen.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
SAMANTHA
Two weeks goes by a lot faster than you can imagine. Slade finally started going to the firm a few days a week. Tate is starting to stay at his own house again. He is even bringing girls around. The only thing I still can’t figure out is Missy. She has been ignoring all of us. I’ve tried calling her and texting. She never answers her phone, and her texts are short. Slade just keeps telling me that it has to do with her school.
She finally answered me yesterday and sounded like she had a bad cold. I invited her to my wedding shower, but she sadly declined saying she didn’t feel like getting out, but promised she would be at the wedding. I’m pretty sure the only reason she’s coming is because she’s in it.
It’s the night before my wedding day, and we are all gathered in the Long’s living room with the exception of Missy, as I open all of my gifts. I hold up a box that says from Courtney A.K.A. Kitten on it. I rip off the white wrapping paper and silver bow to reveal a white box. I look up at her, and she smiles as she rubs her growing belly.
Opening it up, I uncover a white lace teddy. “For your wedding night,” she says with a little laugh.
I hold it up to my body and smile. “Thank you, Courtney.”
“Is there any way I can see that tonight?”
I spin around and shove it back into the box when I see Slade standing at the end of the living room with a smile on his face. He’s wearing a gray t-shirt that has black scribble across his chest and a pair of dark blue jeans on. His leather jacket hangs loose on his broad shoulders as he slumps against the doorframe.
“What are you doing here?” I ask surprised.
“I thought I would come by and say hello.” He pushes away and starts to walk toward me.
“Liar,” I say with a smile.
As he reaches me I realize his hands are behind his back. “What are you doing?” I repeat trying to see his hands.
“I had a gift to deliver,” he says bringing his hands around to his front. He is holding a small box that is wrapped in light yellow wrapping paper.
“A gift?” I ask raising an eyebrow.
He clears his throat, and I look up at him. His face is expressionless, but I can see the apprehension in his eyes.
I look around at everyone in the now silent room as they watch us. Courtney already has tears rolling down her face, but that’s not unusual. Her pregnancy hormones had her bawling yesterday when we watched a commercial for Walmart.She said that there was just something so heartwarming about a little boy riding a bicycle. It practically had her in sobs. Poor thing. What does make me pause are the tears running down Vivian’s face.
What is going on?
Does she know what’s in this box? And why is that thought making me hesitate to open it?
I bring my eyes back to Slade as he places his hand in mine. He leads me back over to the couch and sits down, pulling me beside him. He places the box on my lap and guides my chin to look over at him.
“Since you have entered my life, I have wanted to give you everything you have ever wanted.” He releases a sigh. “But there are things in life that are out of my reach, Angel. And those things tear me apart. I once told you I was going to give you the world but sometimes the world is a cruel place,” he says softly.
When he doesn’t say anything else I look down at the box, and I feel that whatever is in this box means a lot to him. And it’s going to mean a lot to me.
Everyone in the room is silent as they watch me slowly untie the beautiful off-white ribbon and carefully tear the tape holding the paper together on the sides. I take a deep breath and lift the lid off the box. Letting the breath out, I pull back the tissue paper to reveal a thin silver anklet chain that has a small silver heart locket.
Lifting it up I open the locket and see a picture of my mother. I feel a knot form in my throat and tears fill my eyes. I run my finger down the small picture. It’s of her on her wedding day. The same one I have sitting on our fireplace mantel. She is smiling and looks so happy.
I look at the other side of the locket to see it holds the other half of the picture; my father dressed in his tux with the biggest smile on his face.
I can’t hold back the sob that escapes my lips. I can’t explain the emotions that are running through me. All I know is that I can’t pull my eyes away from them.
“Angel?”
“Yes?” I croak still looking at my parents’ pictures.
“Will you look at me?” The desperation in his voice has my eyes slowly looking over at him.
His baby blue eyes are locked on mine, and he reaches up placing a hand on either side of my face. He gently runs his thumbs along my cheeks as he wipes the tears away. “I know you would give anything for them to be here with you on our wedding day. For your mother to see how beautiful you look and for your father to walk you down the aisle.”
Another sob wracks my body. “And they will be, Angel.” He looks down at the ankle bracelet and then his eyes move back to mine “Every step of the way. They will be right here with you as I vow to always love you and take care of you. My Angel.”
I close my eyes as new tears slide down my cheeks. “Thank you, Slade.” I try to sound as thankful as I truly am but it comes out forced. The lump in my throat is making it hard for me to form words.
He wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest. One arm holding onto me tightly while the other rubs my hair down my back. “I love you,” he says before he kisses my hair.
I can’t speak. I nod my head quickly into his shirt as I sniff. He holds me like that for several minutes until I can calm myself down. When I finally pull away he gives me a soft smile. “You okay?” he asks helping me rub the tears off of my face.
I nod. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
He leans over again and kisses my forehead before he stands and looks around the room. “I won’t keep you ladies,” he says somewhat shyly like he just realized a room full of my girlfriends and his mother were watching our exchange.
Courtney gives him an evil look as she tries to control her tears, and Vivian stands to give him a hug goodbye.
“I’ll walk you out,” I say standing. He takes my hand, and he says one last goodbye to everyone before I walk him out to his car.
“I love you,” I say as he opens his car door.
He looks down at me and smiles. “I should have waited and done it privately,” he says frowning. “But I don’t get to see you tomorrow.”
“No. I loved that you did it in front of the girls.” I love when he shows others how much I mean to him.
He looks unsure but gives me a small smile before he kisses me one last time and gets in his car to drive off.
I walk back into the house to see everyone using tissues and it makes me laugh.
“This is not funny,” Courtney says placing her hands on her hips. I laugh harder. It’s hard to take a pregnant woman serious when she looks so adorable.
“It was very sweet.” I sigh, going to pick up the box off of the couch.
Her mouth drops. “Sweet? That’s like torture in its best form. He literally broke my heart while stitching it back together.”
I smirk as she starts to tear up again. She takes the anklet from my hand and smiles through her tears. �
�He was right,” she says continuing to look down at the pictures. “They will be with you every step of the way.” Then her eyes lift to mine. “They would be so proud of you, Sam.”
I huff as I feel the stinging sensation in my eyes again. “I think being around you is making me emotional,” I admit.
She smiles. “It’s that baby in your belly that’s doing it, so get used to it.” Then she pulls me in for a hug. And we let the waterworks flow.
*****
SLADE
I stand in my kitchen with Micah talking about work when I hear the front door open and close.
“You’re an ass,” Josh says entering my kitchen.
“Well hello to you too. I didn’t hear you knock,” I say with a smile.
“That’s because I didn’t,” he says flatly.
“What’s wrong with you?” I chuckle.
“The pregnant sex must not be good,” Micah chimes in from beside me.
I snort, trying to hold in my laughter, and Josh scowls at him. “No, for your information, the pregnancy sex is just as good as the everyday sex.” Then his eyes turn to me. “You gave Sam that anklet, and Courtney keeps calling my cell while she cries her eyes out.”
I frown. “Why does that make me an ass?” I thought that was a sentimental gift.
“Because she keeps saying you’re the sweetest thing ever…” He waves his hands in the air rolling his eyes. “Suck ass.”
“Maybe you need to up your game, Josh?” I tease.
He sighs. “It’s hard on her. You know she’s still trying to find her father.”
Angel and I have known this since the fight they had outside of the bar one night. Her and Josh came over afterwards and Courtney apologized saying she had been trying to find her father, and it was messing with her emotions.
“She still hasn’t found out anything yet?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “But speaking of fathers.” He pauses. “Can you guys keep a secret?”
That makes me and Micah stand up straighter, and we nod quickly. Josh sets a brown paper bag on the kitchen island and pulls out one bottle of Crown and another bottle of rum.
“Shit.” That is a ton of alcohol.
“We are celebrating, my friends.” Josh claps his hands together.
“It’s not official yet,” Micah says pointing a finger at him.
“Get used to it. We lost.” He smiles to Micah.
I look between them a few times wondering what they are talking about before Josh waves him off. “We are celebrating my best friend getting married. Thank God that he finally found the girl for him.” I smile. “And then we are celebrating the secret,” he says happily.
“Which is?” I prompt.
He gets a big smile on his face. “Courtney and I are having twins,” he says throwing his hands out to his side with a big shit-eating grin on his face.
“Holy shit.” Micah’s jaw drops to the floor.
I stand up and pull Josh into a tight hug. “That’s awesome, man. Congratulations.”
“I couldn’t believe it.” Josh shakes his head. “Two. I’m having two babies,” he says still smiling.
I turn around and get us some glasses down and pull the pop out of the fridge before filling the cups with ice.
“When did you find this out?” I ask.
“We’ve known for a while but she wanted to keep it a secret. Afraid that something would happen to one of the babies.”
I can respect that. We had done the same thing about Angel being pregnant.
“Where’s dipshit?” Josh asks looking as if he just realizes Parker’s not here.
“He’s running late,” I say.
“You don’t think he’s going to show up with strippers do you?” Micah asks.
“He better fucking not. Parker will never here the end of it,” I say pouring us some drinks.
“Never here the end of what?” Parker asks walking into the kitchen with Tate by his side.
Micah answers, “We were about to take bets if you were going to show up with strippers.”
Parker snorts as he grabs his dick through his jeans. “No thanks. I value my cock and balls too much. The devil would have them removed if I showed up at her house with strippers.” He cringes as Tate laughs out loud.
“She will have your dick and balls if she hears you call her that,” I say making his and Tate’s drink.
“What can I say? I like to live dangerously,” he states before he takes a sip. “But not too dangerously.” He cups himself again.
Parker strikes up a conversation about his brunette hottie that had him running late while I pull my cell out of my pocket and text my soon to be wife.
Me: I hope you have a great night with the girls. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
People say you have last minute jitters that make you want to run off and do something stupid before you get married. Before you ‘sign your life away’ as Parker puts it. I have none of that. I can’t wait to see her tomorrow dressed in her wedding gown and ready to take what I’ve wanted to give her since I first realized I was in love with her.
My last name.
Angel: Hey baby. How are things going with the guys? I can’t wait for tomorrow. I love you, Slade. Xoxo
Me: Everything is going great. I hate not being able to see you. Love you too.
Whoever invented this ‘can’t see your bride before the wedding’ is for the fucking birds. Who cares if I see her? I want to see her beautiful face when I wake up in the morning. I want to run my hands over her perfect body and soft skin.
Angel: It’s just one night, then we have the rest of our lives.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Parker asks from behind me.
I turn around, and he sighs once he reads the messages on my phone.
“Fuck, I swear there is something in the water in this town. These chicks have poisoned it.” He shakes his head. “And all of you sorry bastards have drank from it as if you’re in the middle of the Sahara Desert.”
“I haven’t.” Tate lifts his drink.
“Thank God for that. Someone in this room besides me still has his balls,” Parker quips. Then adds, “That brunette I was with last night said her friend would like you.”
Tate nods. “Call her up. I am free tomorrow night after the wedding,” he says before taking a drink.
“Do you know her?” I ask curiously.
“No.” He shakes his head “When has that ever mattered?”
“I just…” I quit talking when I realize I sound like an idiot.
Parker looks at me as if I have two heads with his drink paused midway to his mouth. “Who are you?” Parker asks as if I’m a stranger, still staring at me.
Micah and Josh laugh. It is at that very moment I realize just how much I have changed.
I shake my head at myself as I pocket my phone and take a drink from my rum and Coke with a smile. Angel is right. It’s just one night. After one o’clock tomorrow she is mine forever.
Later that evening, after all of us had played some pool, along with many drinking games, I crawl into our cold and lonely bed and glance to her empty side when I hear Peaches whining. I turn and look over my shoulder at our bedroom door and there she sits, giving me her sad puppy eyes, and I crack.
“Come on.” I pat the covers over my leg.
She comes running and jumps up in the bed and lies down right in Angel’s spot. I close my eyes only to open them again when she whines.
I look up at her pretty blue eyes, and I sigh. “I know.” I reach out and pet her. “I miss Mommy too.”
She blinks a few times and then closes her eyes. I let out long breath and try to get some sleep. It’s already way past midnight. It is officially the day of our wedding. And sleep is the last thing on my mind I can do.
*****
“We have to go,” I say kicking Parker as he lies sprawled out on my living room floor in his Batman boxers. The drunk bastard didn’t even make it to one of the spare bedrooms.
“Get the fuck up Parker, or I’m leaving your ass here.”
He gives a little moan before rolling back over to his side; eyes still closed.
“Okay. We will play this like we used to,” I say running into the kitchen.
I fill a pitcher full of cold water as Micah walks in. “What are you doing?”
“Parker won’t wake the fuck up.” I smile holding up the now filled pitcher.
“Oh please let me do it,” Micah begs like a little kid.
I shrug and hand him the full pitcher. I could care less who does it. As long as he wakes up. Micah walks out laughing, and I run off to my room to make sure and grab my luggage. As soon as I enter the closet I hear Parker scream like a little bitch and then laughter from the others.
“Where is my luggage?” I ask myself looking for my bag. We are going from the church straight to the hotel. Our plane for the honeymoon leaves first thing in the morning.
“Slade?” I hear Tate call out.
“In here,” I holler.
“What are you looking for?” he asks entering the closet.
“My luggage.” I look again as if it would just appear in front of me. “I only have the one bag.”
“Sam has it.”
I turn to face him and frown. “How do you know that?”
“She called me this morning and said that she had texted you last night to remind you that she took everything with her yesterday to your parents’ house. She didn’t want you to have to worry about anything.” He frowns. “She said she texted you last night about it but you didn’t respond.”
Shit. I run out of the closet and grab my phone off of the charger. I have two messages from her last night.
Angel: Love you. Have fun.
Angel: Don’t forget I took everything with me. All you have to bring is yourself and the guys. The tuxes will be at the church waiting for you. Xoxo
I smile. She just thought I was going to forget something important. That’s why she has everything. Probably the smartest thing.
The UN Series Complete Box Set Page 111