by Jayne, S. L.
“Nothing… well, nothing bad, I don’t think it’s bad…”
Grabbing her hand, I walk her over to the bed. I climb on and sit with my back against the headboard; I pull her down onto the bed beside me and tap my legs. She rests her head in what’s left of my lap and I start to stroke her hair. This is the same position we were in when we were eight years old, only this time it’s mirrored. I was the one crying in Ava’s lap and she was the strong one telling me that I’m not alone, and she meant it.
“Tell me what’s wrong, Ava… if it isn’t bad then it must be something good, right?”
I felt her shrug her shoulders. “I haven’t told anyone, I haven’t even told Ryan… I’m… I’m pregnant, Ry,” she said, looking up at me biting her lip.
My jaw slackens and my eyes grow wide. Holy shit, I wasn’t expecting that- maybe an argument she had had with Ryan, but never that she was pregnant. I thought she would be overjoyed at having a baby.
“Why are you crying about it? You’ll be a fantastic mom, and Ryan will be ecstatic.”
“I don’t know why I’m crying… I’m a hot mess right now. I didn’t want to tell you today, I didn’t want to steal your limelight and I need to tell Ryan, but the last time we talked about babies, he had said he wanted to wait.”
“Yes, wait if you could, but sometimes the universe just has other plans for you, Ava. You could never steal my limelight; we stand in it together, always. It’ll all be okay, I promise,” I said, smiling down at her.
“I know we’re both moving on with our lives, but promise me that we’ll never drift apart, no matter what.”
I smiled at her, knowing I have no doubts that this is a promise I could and would keep until I took my last breath.
“Give me your finger, silly girl,” I said, holding out my pinky.
She hooked hers around mine and smiled.
“I promise that no matter what happens, you’ll always be my best friend, my sister, and my hero, Ava. We’ll always be together, maybe not living together, but we know we have each other, no matter what. Our babies will grow up together and know what true friendship and true love means.”
I lifted my free hand to my neck, feeling my best friend pendant that has hung there for over sixteen years. Life isn’t always rainbows and fairy tales, but if you believe that things can work, then trust your instinct, it’s usually right.
The End
Epilogue
Twelve Months Later
“Pretty boy, what the fuck are you doing in there? Get out here, you have a wedding to get to, and your wife-to-be will have my balls in a fucking smoothie if you’re late!” I shouted, hammering on the bathroom door.
Shaking my head, I head back downstairs in the hope that Walker can come talk him out of there.
“Walker, man, go get your dipshit cousin out of the bathroom, I have no damn clue what he’s doing,” I said as I walked into the living room and scooped Faythe up into my arms.
My baby girl shouldn’t be in a house full of testosterone fuelled men, but Ava and Ryan’s daughter, Evie is still breast feeding so she needed to stay with Ava. I had gone to fetch Faythe earlier as Rylee said she wouldn’t have handled both babies on top of helping Ava, and I wouldn’t ever expect her to. Since Faythe has been born, we’ve talked about moving house, to one with a yard for the kids to play, but we haven’t gotten there yet; she’s only eight months old, she can’t even walk or talk yet so we aren’t in a hurry for that to happen.
“Dude, what in the hell is wrong with you? You’ve gone white,” I asked as Ryan walked into the kitchen.
“Fuck, Bear, I lost the fucking vows and I can’t remember where I’ve put the piece of paper,” he said, searching his pockets.
“Watch your eff’s around my angel, man. And calm down, the paper is on the couch where your drunk ass left it last night, after reading it to us fifty times.”
“Shi.. sorry, pretty girl,” he said, kissing her forehead lightly. “Whose idea was it to drink last night? They need shooting,” he said, shaking his head.
“Liam’s.”
We shouldn’t have drank at all last night, none of us have our shit together this morning, and we have got just under two hours to get to the church. Rylee gave me Faythe’s clothes to get her dressed before dropping her back at ours, I have been dressing her for eight months, but fuck if I can put her tights on now she thinks it’s a game to kick me every time I have her foot in.
“I’ll be back, guys, I’m taking Faythe back to Rylee,” I yelled upstairs to them as I left.
Stopping outside our apartment, I lift my angel out of her seat and head inside to find the girls. Closing the door behind me, I’m hit by the smell of flowers and perfume, and can hear them upstairs, singing along to Bruno Mars song, Marry You. They don’t even know I have arrived, the music is on and not one of them have come to check who has just walked in.
Climbing the steps, I chuckle and whisper to Faythe, “I wonder if we can scare them, angel.”
Turning the handle on Ava’s bedroom door, I don’t give a damn if one of them aren’t dressed. Instead of shouting “boo” to them because of making the babies jump, I open the door rapidly and let it bang slightly against the wall.
“Ahhhh,” Ava squeals.
Rylee spins around, holding her chest like her heart trying to hammer its way out. “MATT!! You scared the crap out of me, don’t do that.”
Glaring at them both, I shake my head. “I could have been anyone walking through that door, you’ll be the fucking death of me.”
“But it wasn’t just anyone, it was you… and no one will just walk in,” Rylee said, catching her breath as she walked over and took Faythe from me.
Shaking my head at her, I let out a huff of breath. “You don’t know that. Please be more careful, and lock that door when I leave.”
Rolling her eyes at me, she nods her head. “Yes, bad boy… I’ll lock it,” she said, wrapping her free arm around me, pulling me into her for a hug.
Sliding my arms around her, I feel my body start to relax. She has always had this calming effect on me since the day I met her. I knew that day that I had to make her mine, but I also knew I had to tread carefully. Her body responded to me, but her eyes told me there was a part of her that I’d never get. But I had to get it, and I’m not the kind of man who gives up on what he wants.
Straightening up, readying myself to leave and get back to the guys, I drag my eyes down Rylee’s body. She’s dressed in a tight, deep red satin dress and she looks fucking stunning. I am a lucky guy. Looking at Ava in her wedding dress, I smile knowing the sight of her is going to bring Ryan to his knees.
“You both look too beautiful for words, by the way. Pretty boy will be crying when sees you, Ava,” I grinned.
They both laughed at my remark, I kiss Rylee quickly before heading out the door.
“Love you, my Princess…” I said, lingering my lips on hers.
“Yours huh?” she whispered into my mouth.
Nodding my head, grinning as I know I’m pushing my damn luck right now with saying this… but I fucking love pushing it with her.
“Mine,” I said before rushing out the door to dodge her response.
***
“See he runs off when he says “mine”, I’ll make him pay for that later,” I laughed, turning to face Ava.
It’s the first time he’s ever said “mine” and not corrected himself or backtracked. But this time it doesn’t make me panic, even though I know he means it.
“You are his… you always were, Ry,” she smiled.
She looks gorgeous in her wedding dress. A true princess style with the tight bodice and full puffy layered skirt. When she had first put it on, I had tears in my eyes.
“I know, I was drawn to him from the start, I just tried to hide it.”
Laying Faythe in the middle of the bed, I walk over to pick Evie up from her crib. She’s beautiful and such a good baby, Ava and Ryan are lucky. When I was in labor with Fa
ythe, I thought my whole body was going to shut down, the pain was unbearable, and poor Matt felt helpless. After 15 hours and lord only knows how many drugs, our angel came into the world. I’d only ever seen Matt cry once, and those weren’t happy tears, but when he saw our daughter, it broke him. I knew then that there was no way I could ever talk him into loosening up on his protection; it will never happen. When she was new-born, he would constantly check her breathing, even throughout the night, in between her crying to be fed.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t hear Aimee and Kaitlyn arrive.
“Oh my God, you two look amazing,” I said, looking up at them.
“Thank you, so do you,” they both said.
Looking at the clock on Ava’s night stand, I see we only have 30 minutes left to get to the church.
“Oh God, everyone is downstairs… we need to get going,” Ava said. I can hear the panic in her voice.
Nodding my head, I ask Aimee and Kaitlyn to watch the babies and I walk over to Ava.
“Deep breaths, babe… it’s going to be perfect,” I said, wrapping my arms around her, carefully, not wanting to ruin her hair as she has it all falling down in thick curls.
She lets out a long breath and smiles. “We can do this.”
Twenty five minutes later, we’re in the entrance of the church. Everyone is seated and from where I’m standing I can see Matt and Ryan at the end of the aisle waiting. Ryan looks nervous and Matt looks like he is trying to talk him down from a panic. I can see them both nodding their heads and Matt pats Ryan on the shoulder before turning around and spotting me. Flashing me his incredible panty dropping smile, he nods his head and I know that’s to tell me everything is fine.
The opening music of Christina Perri’s song, Thousand Years filters through the church and that’s our cue to enter. They had chosen this song as they loved each other for so long, Ava was afraid to fall, and Ryan waited for the right time to come find her. Time was what bought their hearts together.
Standing behind Ava and her dad with Faythe in my arms, I look back and smile at Kaitlyn and Aimee. They both smile back at me and nod their heads, Aimee is holding Evie in her arms and she smiles down at her.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Ava whispered over her shoulder.
A huge smile breaks out across my face as I whisper back, “if you can’t believe in happy ever afters, what can you believe in?”
Acknowledgements
Wow- what can I say? The journey from the start of The Promise to the end of Believe has been amazing, and one that I couldn’t have done without the love, support, and encouragement from people I had by my side; without them, I would have given up.
My daughter- both of my books are dedicated to you, even though you can’t read them for a few more years, I still want you to know that believing in yourself and having trust in love and friendship is important. Never let anyone make you believe you are less than beautiful, inside and out. I love you more than the stars, you are and will always be my world.
To Katie- my sister, best friend and rock, all rolled into one- thanking you for being the sister you are doesn’t seem enough; they are just words, but please know that I appreciate everything you do… even when you give me bat shit crazy ideas like writing about a hot tattooed guy! Thank you for being there, not just in general, but every step of the way during my writing process. Telling me to believe in myself and stop doubting every word I write. I love you, so much!
To all of my family- I love you all! I could name each and every one of you, but I’ll be here a while and probably miss someone out- so I telling you all as a whole is much safer!
Michelle- I have no words to describe how much of a dear friend you are to me; I wouldn’t know where to start. I can’t thank you enough for what you have done, you have been beyond amazing- kicking my arse when I got distracted and keeping me in line. You can sleep now babe, it’s done! The late nights are over… for now! You’re not getting rid of me or away with it that easily; no matter what, writing or just general conversation, I’ll still be calling on you to have our crazy conversation, laughs, advice, and even your arse kicking’s; let’s face it, it’s me… I’m going to still need those no matter what. I love you, girl!
Amy- My rock star. Thank you for everything, #TeamBreathe! You are an amazing friend and a beautiful person, inside and out- never forget that! PS.Ryder is mine!
Every single one of you that has helped me as a whole- I don’t want to name people individually, in fear of missing someone out. You all know who you are- You have been incredible, this book wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for the encouragement and continuous support. Thank you for believing in me and helping me when my “American” was broken! To my American girls who want a British book from me, you will get one… I promise!
I have many author friends, and have a different level of friendship with each and every one of them, but they have inspired me individually in their own way. I love you all.
Huge shout out to my #EyeCandyLadies on Eye Candy Bookstore. Kellie, Amy, Toski & Carrie… I heart you all! I had to mention the page in this book, it would have been a crime not to… I seriously love you all, hard!
To the bloggers that have taken the time to read, review, and post about my books- I would name you all, but there are so many and I don’t want to miss anyone out! Just know that I think you all rock! I hope you love Matt as much as you loved Ryan!!
THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart. <3
Contact S.L. Jayne.
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