Believe (Faith & Friendship Series)

by Jayne, S. L.

  “Look at this note that I woke up to this morning, Ry, it was on Ryan’s pillow. He left it when he went to make coffee, it’s so freaking sweet,” Ava gushed, a huge smile spread across her face as she handed me the folded piece of paper.

  I unfolded it and read the words.

  My girl,

  If you would have asked me a few years ago if I would have seen myself happy and in love, I would have laughed and told you that you're crazy. I would have put on a show to hide how I really felt, but you consume my dreams and thoughts. Loving you is what I was meant to do. Seeing you, feeling you, holding you close, all of that and more is what I breathe for, baby.

  My girl, I promised you once that I'll love you forever, and I'll promise you every day if I have to because without you in my life and loving you, I won't be complete. I love you my girl, forever. Ryan xxx

  “Aw, that is so sweet, Ava! I am so happy for you, you have your happy ever after with the love of your life. You deserve it more than anyone I know,” I beamed.

  “Thank, Ry, you deserve it too. I’m so proud of you, I can’t even explain how much.”

  “I’m proud of myself too, Ava. I never thought I’d ever have what I have with Matt. It’s incredible what can happen when you believe in yourself and put some trust in someone else, and I have you to thank for helping me.”

  “I’d do it all again with you if I had to. Come on, let’s get ready before Sophie and Meaghan start beating us for dragging our asses,” she chuckled.

  ***

  Walking into Morgan’s, Ava and I give each other an approving look, the guys have done a stellar job in here. There are love hearts on strings hanging from the ceiling, banners on the walls, balloons, and candy hearts on the tables. Corey, Sam, and Melissa are behind the bar tonight and they look just as ready as we do to get this night underway. Josh and Adam came here a little earlier to get set up and prepare to strut their stuff. Aimee had text me earlier too, letting me know that she and Kaitlyn would be waiting for us at the table directly in front of the stage.

  The music is still quieter than usual in here, but that will get louder very soon when the people start spilling in. Spotting the table, I wave the girls over to where I see Aimee sitting.

  “We’re here! Where is Kaitlyn?” I asked looking around, noticing her absence.

  Aimee stood to hug all of us, Ava introduced Sophie and Meaghan and we all took our seats.

  “She’s here, I think she’s with Liam. He wanted to talk to her,” she shrugged. “You should see the guys, they are so nervous. Walker doesn’t think there will be any men in here tonight for the single ladies, but I think there will be.”

  “Yeah, I think so too. A bar full of single girls looking for a night of passion, there will definitely be men around,” I laughed.

  Kaitlyn came running across the dance floor just as the lights dimmed, the bar was filling up nicely and the music had already been turned up slightly, getting us all in the mood for a great night.

  The crowd cheered as six spot lights lit up the stage and Sexy and I Know It boomed from the speakers. We all jumped to our feet, clapping and dancing on the spot to the beat as we watched Matt lead Ryan, Adam, Liam, Josh, and Walker out onto the stage. All of them looking hot as hell wearing only a pair of baggy pants and their chests glistening with oil, although they have never done anything like this before they look like naturals up there.

  The song comes to an end and one by one they leave the stage. Less than a few minutes later, Walker and Liam return to the stage. Liam and Walker are topless with only a pair of faded ripped jeans on. Half way through their performance, they both look out to the crowd, wink at Aimee and Kaitlyn before pulling two random girls up onto the stage with them.

  I turn to Ava who is looking giving Aimee and ‘what the fuck’ look, I mouth “what the hell?” to her and Aimee answers for her.

  “We knew they were going to do it, don’t panic,” she laughed.

  Relief washed over me, the last thing we needed was a trip to the ER to get a stiletto surgically removed from Walker’s ass. I’m not sure what is going on with Kaitlyn and Liam, but it’s sweet of him to pre-warn her that he would be doing it. I know if Matt did it I wouldn’t be mad, maybe a little jealous, but I know it’s harmless and I’d probably feel a little bad for the girl that she wouldn’t get to go home with him like I do.

  Next up Adam and Josh bounced onto the stage, shouting out to the audience.

  “Who’s having a good time?” Josh asked.

  The whole room erupted with whooping and cheering, I’m not sure if it was in answer to their question or the fact that they are both dressed as firemen- either way they got the response they wanted. When I Wanna Sex You Up filtered through the speakers, we all laughed. Typical of Adam to choose this song, I wonder how much he paid Josh to dance to this with him.

  I turned to Sophie and Meaghan. “I can’t believe they’re dancing to a song that I am ninety percent sure Glee have performed!” I laughed

  “Adam will say it’s bloody Adam Style, but as long as he’s getting his kit off I don’t care what he’s dancing to,” Meaghan said with a smirk.

  We watched as the two of them worked the stage, stopping only to slowly remove some clothing. Looking around the room, I see there are in fact guys here too, and by the way they are eyeing the girls up, they aren’t here for the show. My jaw drops when they leave the stage and Ryan enters on his own, dressed in the same baggy pants as earlier, but this time with a jacket to go with it. He looks like he just stepped off the set of Step Up.

  Ava’s excited scream filled my ears, I turned to look at her and laughed. “He looks hot, right?” I teased.

  “Hell yeah he does… is it home time yet?” she winked.

  Ryan danced to Jay Sean’s Down, making the ladies in the room scream and shout some suggestive comments at him. I’m sure one girl proposed through her screams, which made Ava burst out laughing- I laughed too, but only because I know he is proposing to Ava tomorrow night.

  As the music volume decreased, Ryan made his way off the stage, winking over his shoulder at the ladies. Last up was Matt, and the few seconds it took for him to appear on stage felt like hours. I have been dying to see what he’s wearing and what he’ll dance to. I took a double look as he walked on the stage; he’s dressed as a cowboy, the hat, boots, slacks… even a rope thrown over his shoulder. A smirk creeps across my lips as I remember what I said to Matt about him looking good dressed as a cowboy. Good lord was I right, I thought as a huge grin breaks out across my face.

  “You’re a lucky bitch, Rylee,” Sophie shouted across the table.

  Dragging my eyes away from the stage, I turn to Sophie and laugh. “Damn right I am, girl. I’m thinking of asking him if we can keep the outfit,” I half joked.

  A song I didn’t know started playing, I turned back to the stage and heard Aimee behind me.

  “Oh my god, he’s dancing to a country song!” she squealed.

  “What is it?” I asked, turning around.

  “Blake Shelton, you must know who he is. This one is called Boys’ Round here,” she said as she started to sing along.

  Shrugging my shoulders I faced the stage, taking in the sight of Matt strutting around the stage. He looks as sexy as sin up there. Not even half way through the song, the music came to a stop. We all looked at each other wondering what the hell was happening. Corey, the bartender, ran past us with a microphone in his hand. He jumped up on the stage and handed it to Matt, the rest of the guys filtered out from the back and came to stand with us, leaving Matt on the stage on his own.

  “Evening, ladies and gents,” His deep voice came through the speakers, breathy from the dancing a few minutes ago.

  Everyone cheered him, some clapped and others shouted hello.

  “Sorry to interrupt the show, but I have something I want to do… I’m not a great singer, trust me, my dancing is much better,” he smirked.

  Sitting on the barstool that Corey pl
aced center stage, the lights dimmed and the intro of a song I was unsure of quietly drifted out of the speakers.

  Matt’s velvety deep voice leaked out through the microphone and I heard people behind me sighing and saying “aww”. It felt like the entire room disappeared around me as I focused on the lyrics Matt sang, his eyes locked on mine and his full smile took over his face as he made me feel the meaning of every word he sang. I recognized the song as the chorus came, it’s Flying Without Wings by a British boy band called Westlife. Winking at me as he sings about being able to tell me that he loves me at any given time and the little things he knows about me that make me his. The whole performance makes me melt inside and believe with every fibre of my being that he truly loves me.

  “Princess, I can’t even put into words how much I love you… this song is a close explanation, but words won’t ever be enough. It’s always been about the connection with us, and I’ll spend every damned day of my life making sure that connection never breaks.” His voice started breaking, so he took a breath and looked out the rest of the crowd.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, one last thing, when you find that one person that lights your life like no other, don’t push them away… hold on to them like your life depends on it because it might just be the one thing that keeps you alive,” he lowered the microphone and smiled up at me.

  Not waiting for him to move, I sprinted up onto the stage and jumped into his arms. He lifts me from the ground as I wrap my legs around his waist and bury my face in his neck, breathing in his scent.

  “You’re the sweetest, most amazing man in this world. I love you so much,” I whispered in his ear, hugging him tight.

  “I know you love me, baby, I feel it… I’ve always felt it,” he placed a kiss on my temple, kept me in his arms and walked off the stage to re-join the others.

  Is it crazy to feel lightheaded from being so in love? I honestly feel dizzy with euphoria right now.

  “Dude, you almost had me in fucking tears, but honestly I feel you, man. You deserve this.” Ryan grinned, passing him a beer. “Here drink this, we need to get some masculinity back into the both of us,” he laughed.

  Lightly tapping him on the shoulder in a way of saying thanks, Matt took the beer and they both downed their drinks in one go.

  “I’m ready to call it a night. I have a girl to take to heaven and back,” Ryan announced.

  We all said our goodbyes, hugging each other and arranging to meet back at our apartment tomorrow for another day of getting ready to party.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Waking up this morning with a light head and slight dizziness made me question how much I’d had to drink last night, but I’m almost positive it wasn’t all that much. Definitely not enough to give me a hangover. Thinking coffee was the answer, I untangled myself from Matt’s arms and decided to leave him sleeping and bring his back to bed for him to drink.

  Walking back into the bedroom, stopping at the side of the bed, a smile creeps across my lips at the sight of Matt sleeping. I feel bad waking him up, he always looks so peaceful when he’s asleep. He certainly looks younger than his twenty nine years.

  Placing the cups on the night stand, I jump at his voice. It surprises me because his eyes are still closed, I thought he was dead to the world.

  “You know you can get arrested for that, Princess… standing over people, watching them in bed.” A smirk appears on his lips and his body jolts from the silent chuckling.

  I hold in my laughter, place my hands on my hips and give him a pointed look. “It’s a good job you’re hot because you really aren’t all that funny… you know that, don’t you?”

  He reaches out and grabs my hand, pulling me down next to him. I lay my arm across his chest and reach up to place a kiss on his cheek. Keeping him sweet at this point is a must. Before I can think about what he’s going to do, he’s shifted his whole body on top of mine and is inches from my face.

  “You think I’m hot, huh? What’s hot about me, baby?” he breathed

  I lick my lips after his warm breath leaves them tingling. Thinking for a moment about his question, his tattoos are hot.

  “What does that tattoo mean?” I ask, tracing my finger over the angel wings on his forearm, noticing that a couple of the vines are actually embedded into the wings.

  Sighing, he rests his forehead against mine. “It’s a reminder of how easily anger and hurt can consume you. No matter how good of a person you were before, it can embed itself so far inside of you that you want to self-destruct. That’s what my mom did, and what I wanted to do. I hate that it’s always going to be there in the darkest corner of my mind, and I sometimes wish I could be all normal with a squeaky clean background for you,” he whispered, his eyebrows are drawn together and his voice was low and raspy.

  I cup his face in my hands and kiss his furrowed brow. “Screw normal. I love you and every dark corner you have, they are what make you, you. I hate what you went through, Matt, but it’s made you the man you are today, and I wouldn’t change anything about you. Believe me,” I said, kissing his lips.

  “You take my breath away, baby.”

  I smile up at him. “It’s only fair that I do, since you took my heart.”

  Our arms wrapped around each other and his lips found mine. Crushed together in a tight embrace, it feels like our heartbeats are in perfect sync with each other and I allow myself to get lost in his kiss, knowing that this right here is what I’m living for, what I’ve realized I deserve, and what I will always believe that we’re both worthy of.

  ***

  Our morning was interrupted by Ava calling, letting us know she was home from the venue where the masquerade ball is being held, and that we had to get our asses over to the apartment to discuss how the day is going to pan out. Ava had done her part in making sure everything was sorted and delegating so we all knew what our jobs would be in getting the room ready for tonight. It’s going to be awesome, and Ryan’s proposal which Ava has no freaking clue about, will be the frosting on the cake.

  “What are you smiling at?” Ava asked, dragging me out of my own head.

  Shit!

  Shaking my head, I smile directly at her this time. “Nothing in particular, I’m just thinking about tonight and how beautiful it’s going to be.”

  “It looks amazing in there, Ry, I can’t wait for you to see it,” she gushed.

  I smiled at her, knowing she would have done a fantastic job on the place. “I can’t wait, just a couple more hours and we’ll be in there. I bet it looks like a scene straight from a fairy tale.”

  “Excited much, girls?” Meaghan asked as she and Sophie walked into the kitchen.

  We laughed and dived into conversation about how we were all having our hair done later and what time we should start getting ready; we have the apartment to ourselves for the entire afternoon as the guys are getting ready at Ryan’s.

  With all the preparations and setting up, the day went by seemingly fast. Aimee, Kaitlyn, and my mom arrived a couple hours ago and we have all showered and are in tank tops and shorts ready to start. Looking at the eight dresses hanging from my closet doors, my tummy fluttered with excitement and anticipation spiked- not just for the party, but for the fact that Ava is going to be proposed to. The happy ever after she’s been dreaming about is finally going to be within arm’s reach for her, and that alone makes me so damn happy I could cry.

  I decided to wear my hair hanging down my back in loose ringlet curls, which didn’t take long to do.

  “I’m ready for my dress!” I beamed at my mom. She was first of all of us to be ready, and she looks stunning.

  Taking my dress from the closet, she smiled back at me. “I love your hair curly. You’re beautiful, baby girl. Now get into this dress and become the princess you are,” she laughed.

  I stepped into the dress and turned around so mom could tie the back. “Ease up a bit on the pulling, Mom, I want to breathe.”

  “It seems a bit tight, Rylee, I’m s
ure it fitted you perfectly when you bought it...”

  She’s right, it did. “I know,” I said, turning around to face her and the rest of the girls.

  “Beautiful!” they all said together.

  Everyone but Sophie are in their dresses because she had been fussing with Kaitlyn’s hair. But she’s slipping into her dress now, and they all look amazing.

  “This is it girls, shall we go to the ball?” I asked, laughing as I look at Ava and see the smile spread across her face at my Cinderella reference.

  ***

  Stepping out of the car, we thanked the driver and all headed for the door. There are cars lined up for miles up and down the road, and people filtering through the door at a snail’s pace, it must be packed inside already. Max had delivered our masks to us fifteen minutes before we were due to leave, so we had them ready to wear.

  Walking into the room where the ball was being held, Ava and I looked at each other, silently asking how we were going to find our men in a room full of masked people, but It doesn’t take me long to spot Matt in the crowd, he’s standing next to Ryan. I point to where they are standing- they haven’t seen us yet, so we slow our pace and wait for them to notice us.

  Matt’s eyes lock onto mine and my breathing stops, the entire room fades away as I watch his lips part and he take a breath in before a huge smile spreads across his face. My body stills and I keep my eyes on his as he makes his way over to me.

  “Baby, you look like a real fucking princess… you’re slowly killing me, I know it,” he said as he leaned down to place a kiss on my lips.

  Kissing him back, I smiled. “You look sexy as hell, so I think we’re equal.”

  Putting his arm around me, he pulls me close and gently kisses my temple.

  “Never, baby, you’re a whole damn level above me,” he said as we walked over to where the others were standing by the bar.

  “You all look great!” I beamed, looking at everyone.

  Adam laughed, turning towards to me waving his arms up and down gesturing to himself. “I look like a fucking penguin.”