by Anna Brooks
I open the box and take out the princess cut pink diamond, and she sits up and gapes at the ring. “Holy shit, Liam.”
I chuckle and slide the ring on her finger. “Will you marry me?”
She tackles me and I fall to the bed with her on top of me, showering kisses on my face. “Of course, I will! Oh, my God!” She holds her hand out and admires the new jewelry adorning it, the ring that will tie her to me for the rest of our lives. “This is so freaking awesome! Way to turn a horrible night into one of the best ever!”
Her face is lit up with pure happiness and there is no greater moment in my life than right now, knowing that I am going to have this woman forever.
* * *
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask as I roll up the sleeves of my white button-down.
“Marry you? Umm, yes. I’m sure.” She smiles at me while putting on her earrings.
“But like this. Your family is gonna flip the fuck out. I’m sure one of your brothers’ll punch me in the face.”
“It’s not their decision, it’s mine. And don’t worry,”—she walks past me and pats me on the arm—“I’ll defend you.”
I turn her in my arms and kiss her pink lips. “If I weren't about to marry you, I’d slap your ass right about now.”
“Am I supposed to be threatened by that, Mr. Anders?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry. I’m a badass. Your threats don’t scare me.” She pecks me on the cheek and ducks under my arms. “Now get a move on. We’re gonna be late.”
I grab my wallet and follow her out of the house. She looks phenomenal in her short white dress and killer silver heels. After I had proposed, she brought up eloping, and I jokingly agreed. Never in a million years would I have thought she’d get married without her family, especially Charlotte. But she said that this was something we’ve waited for almost our whole lives and she wanted it to be between us and only us. There was no way I’d win that argument with her, so here we are now, pulling in front of the courthouse a week later.
I help her out of the car and we walk up to the building hand in hand. This wasn’t what I had planned for a wedding, especially not for a girl who used to dream of a knight in shining armor and a white horse to whisk her away in the sunset, but this is what will make her happy. I couldn’t care less where we get married or who is or isn’t there. I’m dreading when everyone finds out, especially my mom … she’s gonna be upset that she wasn’t there, but I’m sure everyone will come around and respect and understand our decision.
We stand in front of the door, and I squeeze her hand. “Ready?”
She bounces on her heels and squeezes my hand back. “I am so ready.”
* * *
“You cannot leave my side,” Meara whispers harshly and her nails bite into my skin. She’s just put her wedding ring back on and I did the same. I’ve never seen her so nervous in my life and it’s rubbing off on me.
“Damn, woman. Like glue, all right? Now get your daggers out of me.”
“That’s not what you said last night.” Her fingers loosen up, but she trails them up my arm and to my face, over my lips. I suck on the tip of her finger and nibble it before she pulls it back.
“Don’t make me get a boner when our parents are in the next room.”
“Sorry?” She hip checks me and grabs a plate on her way out of the kitchen. She pauses under the arch while I adjust myself. “Coming?”
“You’re pure evil, woman.”
“You love me anyways.”
“I do.”
“I love you, too. Now, hurry up. Everyone’s waiting.”
I grab another bowl and follow her to our dining room where our entire family is waiting for us to bring dinner out. We planned an impromptu ‘housewarming’ party and everyone is in attendance from both sides of our family, including the band since they’re still in town. Nik is here, too. Meara spoke to Lisa’s mother and she told her Lisa’s still trying to process and understand what happened. She doesn’t have her memory back, but the doctors are hopeful for a full recovery.
Both Charlotte and Mary are holding their babies and little Caroline sits happily on her daddy’s lap. Pierce brought a girl, and I tried to get him to spill the deets about her, but he just shook his head and said not yet. She’s really sweet but painfully shy.
Meara drops the huge salad bowl on the table and it shakes the glasses, causing everyone to stop talking and look at her.
“Liam and I got married at the courthouse yesterday,” she blurts out. I fumble with the bowl of pasta in my hands and she raises her hand in the air and shows off her ring.
The women cry and gasp and yell, then jump out of their seats. It scared Caroline because she starts to cry and Travis soothes her and kisses the top of her head. The men stare at the spectacle of the women for a second before they all simultaneously look at me. My boys with pride but her brother and father would burn me to the ground with the lasers coming out of their eyes right now.
I shrug my shoulders and my eyes plead with them. “It was her idea. I said we should wait and have a big thingy, but she insisted. You cannot blame me for this. Try telling her no. You know she doesn’t listen.” I totally just threw her under the bus, but I don’t give one rat’s ass.
“Asshole,” she whispers with a smile.
They both look at Meara, who is standing next to me flanked by the women, and then back at me. Sweat drips down my back and I suddenly feel like I’m gonna puke. They mutter words of agreement and I finally swallow the lump in my throat and manage not to faint. I know her dad likes me, but I just married his only daughter without asking his permission. In secret.
“Welcome to the family, officially.” Her dad raises his glass and congratulations are yelled across the room, tears are shed, and hugs are given. The moms both lecture us about not being there, but ultimately understand as I knew they would. Everyone settles down in their seats and they all turn to look at me, still standing with a ginormous bowl of noodles.
Chapter 28
Meara
WE’VE ALL EATEN AND stuffed our faces with dessert and are now sitting outside around a fire. Our marriage surprise seems to be going over well. I suppose we’ve been together so long, it was expected, and nobody was really shocked that it happened. Just the way it happened surprised everyone. Both babies are sleeping and Charlotte is helping Caroline roast a marshmallow.
“What are you doing?” I laugh as Liam lifts me by the waist off my log stool.
“We haven’t done anything traditional, and that’s fine. But I’d like to have a dance with my wife.”
“What?”
He nods behind me. Mike walks with Jamie and Gabe flanking him with their guitars. My eyes immediately begin to burn, and I turn back around to Liam.
“What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything. I mean, maybe I wrote a song and asked the guys to play it. Is that okay?”
I didn’t think there was anything else he could do to make me love him more, but he continues to surprise me. “Yes, it’s okay.”
The guys stop a few feet from us, and one by one, our family surrounds us so we’re in the center of the circle. Mike counts down, and Liam pulls me into his embrace. I wrap my arms around his neck and rest my head on his chest, relishing his touch.
Gabe and Jamie begin strumming their guitars and Mike’s coarse yet captivating voice belts out a song I’ve never heard before. He sings of reasons for breathing and beauty that takes the breath away. A love too strong to break, even through all the pain. His song is our story and couldn’t be any more perfect.
I hold Liam a little tighter and he leans down and kisses my cheek.
A cool sensation on my neck makes me jump, and I take a half of a step back and watch as he places my necklace back on. I’ve felt naked without it and am so pleased he kept it. There’s a thicker chain than before and I giggle a little as I run my fingers along it resting on my collarbone.
“Thank you.”
>
“Thank you for not giving up on me.”
“I like your song,” I whisper against his lips.
“I like you.”
“I love you.”
“Love you too, princess.”
* * *
Aside from wishing Lisa and Declan were here, this night has gone better than I imagined. I feel horribly for what Lisa is going through, but she’s refusing to see anybody. Until she grants us the ability to try to help, then there’s nothing anybody can do but pray.
We’re all sitting in the backyard around a fire and I’m dying to know more about this Ruby chick Pierce brought with him. He’s never brought a woman home, and the fact that he did spikes my curiosity. Granted, this was just supposed to be a housewarming party. She’s super cute, looks really young, but holy shit is she quiet.
“Hey, married woman,” Pierce scoots over on his log, and I sit next to him.
“Hi.” I bump him with my shoulder and lean past him to see Ruby. “Are you having fun?”
“Yes. Thank you and congratulations again.”
“Thanks. You two are pretty cute yourselves.”
Her face becomes flush and her eyes widen.
“Meara,” Pierce growls.
Shit. I didn’t know she was so sensitive. “Sorry. I was just kidding.”
“Hey, I’m gonna take off.” Nik walks up and—thank God—breaks the awkward tension. Since last week, he’s been moody and closed off. He feels guilty about what happened to Lisa, and he is holding an unwarranted grudge against himself. “Congratulations, Mrs. Meara Anders.”
“Why thank you, Mr. Nik Nervetti.”
Ruby drops her plastic cup and beer splashes all over our feet.
“Oh, my God. I’m so sorry.” She frantically stands and trips on Pierce’s legs, but he catches her with his cat-like reflexes.
“Hey, you’re fine,” Pierce whispers.
“No biggie, we all spill beer.” Nik attempts to laugh it off, but she freezes.
“Nik?” she asks.
He nods and she covers her mouth as tears fill her eyes. “Nikolas Marco Nervetti?”
His brows scrunch together. “Yes.”
“Oh, my God,” she whispers, lower lip trembling. “I have to get out of here. I’m so sorry.” She pushes past Pierce, and he follows her without looking back.
“What the hell was that?” I ask.
“I’m not quite sure. But I’m going to find out.”
Nik follows them and when I look around our backyard, every single person has stopped mid-sentence or mid-drink and are watching the three of them leave.
“Well, that was interesting,” I mutter under my breath.
Slowly, the noise starts to pick back up again and everyone resumes their normal activities. Travis and Charlotte walk over with Caroline and their new baby boy, Sean Brandon, who they named after Char’s dad—my uncle—and, of course, Travis’ brother, Brandon.
“We’ve gotta get going,” Charlotte whispers and points at the sleeping baby in Travis’ arms. Caroline is hanging on Char’s leg wiping her eyes.
“Got some tired babies, huh?”
“Yeah. I’m so happy for you, Meara. Really so happy.” She looks back at Liam, who is sitting next to his brother laughing. “You guys deserve this so much.”
“Thank you.” I pull her in for a hug and lower my voice so Caroline can’t hear. “Love you, bitch.”
She laughs and squeezes me a tad tighter. “Love you, too.”
“Bye, baby girl.” I pinch Caroline’s pudgy cheek and give her a kiss. “Bye, Travis.”
“Bye, Meara. Congratulations.”
“Get out of here, kids, the adults want to have fun.” I shoosh them away and Char flips me off behind her back. She’s the baby of the family, so we all love giving her shit about it.
“We’re taking off, too.” Mary and Brandon walk up to me just as I’m about to sit down by Lee. He stands up and wraps an arm around my shoulders.
“Thank you for making the drive up here. You guys didn’t have to come, but I’m so glad you did. You’re part of our family whether you like it or not.”
Mary looks at Brandon and smiles; their journey one almost as long as Liam’s and mine.
Brandon takes the baby from Mary’s arms and pats his little padded bottom. It amazes me how these big strong men are such weaklings around these itty-bitty babies.
They drove up from Chicago tonight, and I am so grateful. When Travis came into our lives years ago through being friends with Pierce, I never would have known that he would be the one to make my cousin happy for the first time in way too long. And that with him would come a wonderful set of parents and an amazing brother and his wife. I’m so lucky to have all of these fabulous people in my life.
They named Baby Steven after Brandon’s father, and they used Travis for his middle name. It was so sweet the night in the hospital when they said their baby’s names and the brothers both had to look at the floor so they didn’t embarrass themselves with the emotion they felt.
“Congrats, guys.” Brandon shakes Liam’s hand and gives me a one-armed hug.
“Mary, I told Char, too, but let me know when you’re ready to have a night away from the baby. It’s been too long since we’ve all gone out.”
“Okay, I will for sure. Bye, guys!”
On their way out, Brandon wraps Mary’s long ponytail in his hand. She leans her head on his shoulder, and he kisses the top of her head.
“Are they cuter than us?” I ask Liam.
“Nobody’s cuter than us.”
“Damn straight.”
Chapter 29
Liam
WATCHING THESE PEOPLE SING karaoke is probably the highlight of my week. Not only is it funny as shit, but I get to play music, even if it is pop music. It’s still me and a piano, and it works. The pub is busy and business is good.
My girl, no … my wife smiles and waves at me from behind the bar. She laughs when I cringe at the woman singing. After her song is done, I take a break and walk behind the bar to grab a bottle of water. I kiss Meara as she walks by and a couple of people sitting down hoot and holler.
“Stop distracting me when I’m trying to play.” I lean on the counter and stretch my neck.
“You’re the one distracting me.” She hands a drink to a customer and then turns her attention back to me. “Stop being so cute.”
“Cute?”
She flicks her hand in the air. “Cute, hot, sexy … whatever. You know what I mean.”
“No. I’m not sure. Maybe you can show me later.” I wiggle my eyebrows dramatically, and she slaps my arm.
“Is that all you think about?”
“With you? Yes. All day every day.”
“Oh, my God. Shut up!”
“Jesus, you guys have been married for a week now. Stop flirting in front of the customers … you’ll scare them away,” Nik says as he reaches between us for a bottle of gin.
“You … just go away.” She kicks him in his shin, and he clutches it and hops off on one foot.
“Oh, stop being a baby. I didn’t kick you that hard.”
“Worker’s comp!” he yells from the other end of the bar while filling a drink.
“I’m glad to see him acting a little more like himself lately,” Meara whispers.
“Yeah. I know.” I ruffle the hair on the top of her head. “Play nice, now. I’m going back. One more hour then you can go show me how cute you think I am.”
She rolls her eyes and I go back to the piano. Time flies and before I know it, it’s just Meara and me left. I’m sitting on the piano just messing around while she takes care of the money.
“Will you play a song for me?”
I look up and find her standing next to me.
“Sure. What song?”
“Here.” She passes me a sheet of paper. “It’s sheet music. Can you play it?”
I set it on my stand. I start slow, and after a few bars, I stop. “Yeah, I’m good. What is thi
s? I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before.”
“Ready? Don’t laugh at me while I sing, okay?” She doesn’t answer my question.
“I’d never laugh at you.”
“Just play, okay?”
“Fine, fine.” I begin to play again, and when she starts to sing, pretty damn good actually, I still don’t recognize the song. My eyes are on the music, but when she gets to the chorus, they snap up to meet hers. She smiles through her tears and I blink mine back.
Meara
I can’t believe I’m doing this. My heart is absolutely pounding in my chest and my hands are shaking. The words blur on my phone as I try to read the lyrics. Just as I get to the chorus of the song I Haven’t Even Heard You Cry, Liam drops his hands, hangs his head and his shoulders rise up and down as he takes deep breaths.
“Lee?”
“When did you find out?” he asks but doesn’t look at me.
“A couple of days ago. I haven’t been to the doctor yet though.”
He stands and crowds me into the piano and holds my face with both hands. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
He rests his forehead on mine and kisses the tip of my nose. “God, Meara.”
His voice is almost pained, and I worry he’s upset.
“Are you mad?”
He pulls his head back in an instant. “No. Fuck, no, I’m not mad. I’m happy. Really happy. Just surprised.”
“Good. Me, too.”
He runs one of his hands down my face and holds it on my stomach. “Do you know how far along you are?”
“Not very. I don’t know how it happened. I’ve been taking—”
“It doesn’t matter how.” He kisses me, slow but hard. If he didn’t tell me he was happy, this kiss would. In a matter of seconds, the tension and nervousness I was feeling are gone and replaced with an undeniable feeling of love and hope.
He holds me tight and I squeeze him tighter. I feel like I’ve waited for this forever and nothing will take it away from me this time. He’s here, we’re fucking married, and we’re going to have a baby. He chuckles under his breath, and I pull back to look at him.