The Heart of Mine Read online

  "He's so sweet, and HOT!" Cami yelled over the crowd of people.

  I nodded in agreement as I scanned the overly crowded bar for anyone from the band, Madison or otherwise. When I came up empty, I shrugged my shoulders in Cami's direction but she just sat there smiling.

  "What's up with you?" I shouted.

  "What do you mean?" She was being evasive.

  "Never mind. I'm thirsty, you want anything?"

  Before she could answer me, a large hand appeared on my shoulder. "Don't even think about getting up from this spot." I turned to see Madison wearing quite a smirk on his face.

  "I didn't know my dad was coming." I laughed.

  "Pretty girl, it is way too packed in here for you to be tryin' to maneuver your way around. I've already talked to Trina the bartender, she has someone bringing y'all drinks all night."

  And just when I thought he couldn't get any more damn adorable. "Thanks, cowboy." He bent down, sealing his lips to mine.

  "Okay, I gotta go. We're on in five. I love you."

  "Love you too."

  "Love you too, Madison." Cami fake vomited as she said it.

  "Ha ha, like you're not like that with Glenn."

  "Whatever."

  Sure enough, five minutes later the boys were takin' the stage. Everyone was in their rightful places, except for Madison. I moved back and forth in my chair to see if I could see him off to the side of the stage, but there was no sign of him. Then his voice came over the speakers as smooth as velvet.

  "Thanks for comin' out tonight. Y'all are amazing in your support for us. Tonight's gonna be a special show, so hang on for the ride. Without further adieu, we are, RESTLESS YOUTH!"

  He made his way over in front of the microphone and goddamn if I didn't almost come right where I sat. He had on low slung, dark denim jeans with his silver Abercrombie belt. His shirt was a blue and purple plaid with the long sleeves ripped off. The front of his shirt had pull away buttons, but of course only one of them was actually buttoned. His shirt was spread open and his jeans sat so low that you could clearly make out the 'v' that dipped to his barely concealed package.

  He already had a sheen of sweat built up on his arms, which made his tattoos shiny and bright. The colors pulled and tugged at my sight and I was finding it hard to look away. Now that he had his hair short, he no longer wore that dirty ass ball cap. Although, I believe there was a deeper meaning behind finally letting that thing go.

  As he got into their next song, he raised his hands up wanting the crowd to clap along. Every time his arms went back up, so did his shirt and my eyes followed every line and crevasse that peeked out from underneath. Cami must've seen my reaction because she was busy laughing her ass off in the chair next to me.

  "Good to know he can make ya wet just by moving."

  I elbowed her, but laughed along knowin' it was the truth. We continued watching the show our guys were putting on while everyone else sang, danced and hummed along. When I caught sight of a girl that I sort of recognized from the swimming hole eyeing up Madison, I swear I almost lost it.

  "Does she want me to go slap the bitch out of her?"

  "Who are we speaking of?"

  "That skank over there. She's practically eye fucking Madison."

  "Honey, unfortunately it comes with the territory."

  "At least you have a rock on your finger to let them know to back off."

  Cami responded in her annoyingly upbeat way, "She's harmless, Kay. Just let it go. Besides, you're carrying his love child, that's better than a ring in my opinion."

  I slapped her arm, but couldn't help but feel better. She was right.

  The bar suddenly got very quiet and Cami and I became increasingly confused. The guys hadn't said anything about taking a break, but they didn't just go into the next song either. I was about to stand up to see if something had happened, when his voice once again came on over the speakers.

  "It's my turn." Was all he said before the melody to a very familiar Train song came on. I sat back stunned and motionless. They had never done cover songs before, but I knew exactly why he had picked this one.

  Chapter 29

  Madison

  I knew the minute she heard the melody to "Marry Me" by Train that she would get the hint. As if the clouds were being parted on a long cloudy day, the crowd slowly dissipated as I made my way down off of the stage and in her direction. I sang every word as if nothing and nobody else existed in this bar. When I finally reached her, a stray tear had just fallen from the corner of her eye.

  I told her when she asked me to marry her, that she was all but stealing my thunder. I knew when I asked her, I was goin' to have to make it quite the spectacle, even though she hated the showiness of it all. This last gig in town was the perfect opportunity for me to show her that there will and never has been anyone else for me.

  I knelt down in front of her as I came to the second to last chorus. We had heard this song awhile back in her truck one night, and I joked that it was everything I always wished I could say to her. Of course, she had played it off and said that I was a sap. She was right, I was and it was because of her.

  I was getting to the end of the song and knew that I still needed to grab the ring from my front pocket. I slowly stood, bringing her with me. I reached in and pulled out the custom made ring I had purchased about a month ago when we were in New York. It was her, in a ring, or as close as I could get. It encompassed beauty, uniqueness and it was made of one of the strongest metals known to man, just as she was.

  I held the ring out as I kneeled down in front of her and sang the last line of the song, "say you will, mmmhmm, marry me?"

  The band kept playing the melody as I sat waiting for her to answer. When she didn't immediately answer, my heart started to pound out of my chest. I was suddenly terrified that she would say no. Maybe I was moving too soon for her. Damn it, we had talked about this. She couldn't say no now.

  I watched her face closely as the tears were now falling freely from her eyes. The blue in them sparkled with the wetness of her tears and a smile formed across my face.

  "Always." She whispered as she pulled me up from the dirty floor.

  "Really?" I shouted.

  "It's always been you, cowboy."

  I closed my eyes for the briefest of seconds, before pulling her up and into me. I twirled her around in circles until I felt, as though I was gonna throw up. The minute I set her back down on her feet, I slid that ring on her finger and placed a gentle kiss just above it.

  "You'll forever be mine, Kayla James."

  "Forever." And then she smiled that breath-taking smile at me.

  I brought the mic up to my mouth and couldn't help myself. "SHE SAID YES!" I shouted to the entire bar as loud cheering and hollering erupted. I leaned into kiss her, more passionately than I thought possible. I ran back up on stage and finished out our set, never removing my gaze from my soon to be wife. That feeling of joy and happiness had finally returned full force to my chest and I swore I could've taken off in flight. All was right in the world now, well almost.

  ****

  Our show ended a short while later and I didn't waste anytime making my way off the stage and through the sea of people to find my fiancé. She was standin' there waiting for me, like she always did after our shows. I scooped her up in my arms and quickly headed for the side entrance.

  "Where are we goin'?" She asked in a very sleepy tone.

  "I have one last surprise for you."

  "Another one?" She sounded alarmed.

  "Don't worry, there will be less people."

  I placed her in the cab of my truck and headed in the direction of our house. Everyone should already be there and hopefully Joey came through with the specific instructions I had left him. When we pulled up to the back drive, there wasn't a car in sight, which was exactly what I was hopin' for. There were paper lanterns strewn through the trees and across the porch and I watched as Kayla's face lit up with excitement.

  "W
hat did you do?"

  "I don't know what you're talkin' about." I feigned innocence.

  When I swung open the door, everyone shouted surprise in unison. The entire house was covered in pink and white balloons and pink and white peonies, her favorite flower. She looked over at me in a state of shock, but then realization quickly set in as she read the banner.

  HAPPY EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY, was scrolled across an all white banner in bright pink lettering.

  "I love it, and I love you." She whispered below my ear before she turned my head and kissed me.

  The rest of the night was spent celebrating not only the birthday that I had missed, but also the engagement of two people who were meant for each other. And to think it all started with a broken girl and one Raine man that refused to give up.

  Epilogue

  Kayla

  I would say I was shocked at the impromptu wedding that Cami had planned, but I would be lying. Despite the materialistic facade that Cami tended to display, she was a simple girl at heart. So a courthouse elopement was just her style. Of course, she insisted that my almost nine month pregnant ass be her maid of honor, even though I'm not quite sure how a maid of honor fit into the whole courtroom wedding.

  Of course we saved time picking out a dress for her, we actually ended up finding an amazing vintage Valentino gown at a thrift shop that she just had to have. I wish I could say I knew how it felt to walk in and just know a dress was meant for you, but I didn't and I wasn't even quite sure if I ever would.

  My dress on the other hand was one I had to spend quite a few days shopping for. She wanted simple and boy did she get it. I found myself in the maternity section at Macy's trying on every gown known to man, when we came across a beautiful crystal encrusted V-neck, tea length halter. It was a baby blue color and made my eyes look fierce, or at least that's what she had told me. At this point I felt like the Goodyear blimp, so I was willing to believe anything she said.

  Madison of course was Glenn's best man, and I'm pretty sure that Joey had a few choice words for his brother once finding out this little bit of information, but he would be there regardless.

  I helped Cami add the finishing touches to her makeup, sprayed her long blonde curls one last time with a bit of hairspray and then double-checked my own.

  "You look radiant, Kay. "

  "Isn't that what I'm supposed to say about you?" I replied. "I mean this is your wedding day after all."

  I glanced over at Cami in the small bathroom mirror adjacent to mine in the women's restroom at the courthouse.

  "Today isn't just about Glenn and I. Today is about family, and not just ours. We're merging a group of people into a whole unit, one that will always be there for one another." She turned slightly in my direction, taking my hands in her own. "You are and will forever be my family, Kay. From the first day we met, I knew we would be life long friends. I knew that the day that I got married, although I never expected it to be now, you would be the one person I would want by my side. I can't wait to be here, in the same place as you guys. This is home."

  I bent over and kissed Cami on her cheek. "I love you, Cam."

  Cami took my hand and interwove our fingers. We walked hand in hand as we made our way to courthouse B. When I caught sight of Madison leaning against the tall white cement pillar outside, my heart melted along with other things deep inside. I knew one day this would be us, and I couldn't wait until that day would come, but as for now, I was perfectly happy knowing that any day now, I would have the biggest part of him possible.

  I could tell by the look on his face, that he was thinking the same. My hand slipped from Cami's as I took a hold of Madison's and we made our way through the courtroom, taking our rightful places next to the bride and groom.

  The judge had just started the ceremony, when a sheer look of fear broke across my face. I glanced down at my legs, noticing the small trickle of water sliding down them. Madison must've noticed as well because within an instant he was at my side.

  "Now?" He asked as the judge tried to shush us.

  "I'm okay for now."

  I glanced between Glenn and Cami impatiently. I didn't want to rush their wedding by any means, but little did I know how fast contractions could start so soon after your water breaks. Cami looked back at me for Glenn's ring when she noticed Madison trying his damndest to hold me up.

  "Now?" She whispered.

  "Soon." I half shouted as a strong contraction hit me.

  She grabbed Glenn's ring from my hand and looked right at the judge, "We're gonna have to do the shortened version. Do you mind if I take over?" It wasn't really meant as a question, but I think she was trying to be polite.

  "Um...sure." Was the only response she got from him.

  "Glenn, I promise to love you forever and ever regardless of what comes our way, you will always have me. Now you need to hurry up with your vows, slip my ring on my finger and we need to get this shit done. Sorry, Judge."

  Glenn caught sight of me doubled over in pain and quickly said his vows in return. "Okay, that's a wrap. I love you baby. Now let's get Kayla to the hospital so this baby can meet his or her uncle and aunt."

  The judge pronounced them man and wife, they quickly kissed and then we were on our way.

  The next couple of hours passed by in a blur. Every emotion I had ever felt seemed to boil up to the surface as we awaited the arrival of our first child. I had now been pushing for what felt like forever. "Okay Kayla, one more big push and you're there."

  I grit my teeth and pushed as though my life depended on it. Within seconds, I heard a loud cry bellow throughout the room. "It's a girl." The doctor proudly announced and Madison and I both looked at each other with tears in our eyes. We had a daughter. A little girl who would know love more so than any other little girl in the world. She would have a large family who would dote on her and she didn't even know it yet.

  "Do we have a name for this little girl?" The doctor asked as she placed her on my chest.

  Madison looked to me for an answer, but I hadn't really given it as much thought as I had lead on, in all honesty. Deep down I knew it would be a girl, but I wasn't prepared.

  "How about Mia. Mia Elizabeth?" Madison chimed in.

  "Mia Elizabeth?" I glanced at him uncertain where the names came from.

  "Well Mia is the beginning and end of our grandmother's names, and Elizabeth was my mother's name." his face flushed red as we both looked down at the tiny life we had created.

  "It's perfect. Mia Elizabeth, I will love you beyond forever." I whispered to our little girl. She closed her eyes just as her little tiny fingers wrapped tightly around Madison's pinkie.

  "A prelude as to what's to come." He joked.

  "Absolutely."

  His lips fell upon her cheek and then came to rest on mine. "You did good, pretty girl. You did damn good."

  THE END