by Jayda Marx
Once Noah and Brooks were engulfed in the group, Vic pulled me to the side, and I was thankful for a break from the noise and crowded space. “They looked so happy,” he said with a wide smile.
“They did. And I’m happy for them.”
Vic kissed my temple again before giving me a curious look. “Did today make you think about our wedding?”
My heart pounded in my chest. “What do you mean?” I obviously knew what he meant; I’d spent the last fifteen minutes daydreaming about it, but I was trying to play it cool.
Vic shrugged. “Have you thought about where you’d like to have it? Or when?”
My breath caught in my chest. Remember, play it cool, Jay; keep it cool. “I’m sorry, but I can’t make any plans until I have a ring on my finger, mister.” Of course I was teasing...mostly. I’d never push him, but I really wanted a ring.
“Hmm.” Vic fished around in his jeans pocket and pulled out a solid silver ring, and displayed it on his palm. “Will this one do?”
The world spun beneath my feet. “Vic, is…is that…?” I couldn’t finish my sentence, but his smile told me he knew what I was trying to ask.
“It’s for you, if you’ll have it; if you’ll have me.” My eyes widened as he slid the cool metal onto my finger. “Jonathan Fuller, I love you with everything I am, and I want to spend my life with you. I’d get down on one knee but I’m afraid Brooks might kill me if he sees and thinks I’m butting in on Noah’s day. But I just couldn’t wait to ask you; will you marry me?”
My eyes filled with tears. “That was the weirdest, most perfect proposal I can imagine.”
“Is that a yes?”
“It’s a hell yes and hallelujah.” Vic tipped his head back and laughed while also wiping away a few stray tears. “And even though I totally agree about Brooks, I’m glad you didn’t wait to ask me.” I admired the way the ring caught the sunlight when I wiggled my hand. I’d slip it off before the reception, but for now, I needed to feel it on my skin. Speaking of needing to feel skin. I wrapped my arms around Vic’s neck and brushed my nose against his. “I love you, Vic.”
“I love you too.”
We kissed deeply and the world slowly faded away. All of my senses were overwhelmed with Vic; his sweet taste in my mouth, his crisp scent in my nose, and the softness of his skin beneath my fingers. I was full of love for him, and free of doubt. I was no longer confused about who I was or who I wanted, because everything I wanted was in my arms. And the one thing I knew without question was that I’d love Victor Sutton for the rest of my life.
Epilogue
2 Years Later
Brooks
"Thank you all, and goodnight!" Noah exclaimed, and the crowd lost their damn minds as he took a bow and ran off stage and into my arms. It was the way he ended every show.
Shortly after our wedding, my husband's music career took off. Videos of him opening for Hunter Simms went viral on social media, and people demanded more. Hot Tracks released his demo tape to several record labels, who battled over my talented man. Noah signed with the one he believed best fit with his musical vision, and then things really took off.
Over the next year, he worked his ass off writing his own songs, putting in long hours at the recording studio, and playing for live audiences. And I was there with him every step of the way. I once saw my retirement as a burden, but now realized it was a blessing because I never had to be apart from my husband. I helped him with rhymes when he got stuck, rubbed his shoulders when he got frustrated, and made sweet love to him every chance I got.
Noah had so much buzz around him that when his album (titled Sunshine, which made me ridiculously happy) released, it immediately landed on the Billboard Country Top 40, with one song making it's way all the way to number one. Which song? Everything to Me; the one that held his wedding vows to me, thank you very much. Originally he wasn't sure about sharing something so special with the world, but I told him that him telling the world how he felt about me just made it that much more special. Plus, hopefully sharing the song about his undying love for me kept away thirsty fuckers who wanted my man.
And then the tour began; my Sunshine headlined his very own tour, just like I always knew he would. In the beginning, there were many nights when he got so overwhelmed with happiness that he wept in my arms. He also cried his eyes out when he saw his face on a t-shirt for the first time. I bought one in every color and wore them regularly. He called me a dork when I asked him to sign them all, but I didn't care. I'd gladly be his dork.
Tonight marked the end of a grueling three month tour on the road. Noah played at least three days a week, sometimes twice a night, in cities across the country. Tonight we were wrapping things up in Nashville, which was only a couple of hours from our home. Sunshine said he couldn't spend one more night on the tour bus, so we were heading to our house soon.
"How was I?" Noah asked as he snuggled into my hold; he always asked me after every performance.
And every time I told him the same thing. "You were amazing. I'm so fucking proud of you and I love you so much."
"I love you too."
"Hey, can we get in on the hugging?" Jay asked as he and his husband Vic approached. They drove from Grayson to watch Noah's final performance of his tour.
"Of course!" Noah beamed as he let me loose. "Thanks so much for coming, guys."
"We wouldn't miss it for the world," Jay promised. "You were incredible! I just still can't believe that we know someone famous enough to give us backstage passes."
Noah snorted a laugh as he wrapped Jay in a tight hug. "I don't know about famous, but of course I have a pass for my son." He smiled at Vic. "And my son-in-law."
Vic laughed as he shook his head and gave Noah a hug of his own. "You just wrapped up a sold-out tour. I think you can call yourself famous." I liked Vic. He and Jay tied the knot shortly after Noah and me, and he fit into our strange little family perfectly. He even helped Jay patch up his relationship with his mother and Lee. He lost his parents and wanted his husband to have good memories with his own. But most of all, I could tell how deeply and fully he loved my son, which made him okay in my book.
Not only was Jay happy because he had a great husband to share his life with, but everything else in his life was going great as well. He loved his job with Reynolds and Company even better than the last firm he worked for. He and Vic became good friends with his boss Brian and his boyfriend, and the four of them got together often. Now that Jay was out of his shell and living his truth, he was more comfortable around others. He didn't let drama bother him because he knew he was living his best life.
And speaking of drama, Beth, Lee and I were all in close quarters at Jay and Vic's wedding. But to my surprise, it all went well; we talked it all out and agreed that everything that happened between us was water under the bridge. We weren't best friends or anything, but we didn't need to be. What was important was being there for Jay, and that man had more love and family than he could handle.
Noah made a fart noise with his mouth and waved off Vic's comment about him being famous. Even after rising to stardom, my husband was as sweet and humble as ever.
"I've missed you guys so much," he gushed, giving them both another squeeze.
"We missed you too," Jay insisted. "It's nice to finally have you both home."
"Are we still up for the car show next weekend?" Noah asked hopefully, and Jay nodded.
"Yep. Vic's GTO is entered. He won second place in his category last month. We gave the car some fresh polish and we're hoping he'll smoke everyone this time around."
"That's so awesome! Congratulations, Vic. I'm glad I'll be there to see you snatch first place." No matter what he had going on in his own life, Noah was always genuinely happy for others. I fell even more in love with him every damn day. "But for now, y'all can hang out in the tour bus if you want while I grab a super fast shower, and then I'm taking everyone out to dinner before we head home."
"Ooh, fancy," Vic smiled. "
I can't wait to check the bus out."
"Great." Noah turned to me and took my hands in his. "Honeybear, will you join me in the shower?"
A naughty smile took over my lips as I thought about all of the filthy, wonderful things I was gonna do to my husband in that shower. I just hoped Jay and Vic weren't too hungry, because we were gonna be a while.
"Sunshine, the answer to that question is and will always be, 'Oh, fuck yes'."
Thank you for reading the “Lovable Grumps” series! I hope you enjoyed the books. If you did, please consider leaving a review. Check out my website and sign up for a newsletter about new releases here. Like my Facebook page (Jayda Marx) here, and finally, join my Facebook group (Jayda Marx Books) here. Look below for other titles by Jayda Marx!
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