Stuck With You, page 22
I don’t wait for her to talk it out because I know she’s messing with me. Instead, I pull her to me and kiss her softly. Almost immediately, her arms are around my neck, pulling me closer. Her lips on mine are perfection. Soft, plump, and as sweet as she is. A tiny bit of tongue, just an introduction to what may come later, keeps things light and sends sparks through my entire body, head to toe.
After remembering we’ve got an audience, I break the kiss and hold her to me tightly.
‘You are easily the most beautiful girl in the world, and I wish I’d kissed you before Conner came into your life to save you from the heartache he caused.’
‘No need to wish it; you did.’ The way she smiles could light up the dark. It’s all I see. ‘Want to know my answer?’
‘I’m dying over here.’
‘Yes, River Jonathon Matthews; my heart didn’t hesitate at all when I saw you today, and you did exactly what I’d always hoped the man of my dreams would. Of course I’ll be your girlfriend, but only if you’ll be my boyfriend.’
I grin. ‘Count me in. I can’t believe you remembered my middle name after only reading it once on a now-deceased wedding invitation.’
‘It’s funny what you can remember when someone is important to you. Isn’t it?’
Her lips meet mine again, reminding me for the second time that no one has ever felt this right. She fits me perfectly in every way. She’s the girl I’ve been looking for, and finally, I’ve got her in my arms, and I won’t ever let her go.
‘Get a room! Gawd!’ Laney yells after we don’t come up for air with the second kiss quickly.
I grab my borrowed boombox and takeout bag. ‘Send your sister home because I didn’t bring enough to share…’ That’s a total lie; I could feed the whole complex with this pie. I just want to be alone with this woman. I pat the shopping bag over my shoulder. The one carrying the pie, wine, and non-poisonous take-out burgers from Jovi’s, because why the hell not? I realized this woman might be something extraordinary at a burger truck, and as ridiculous as that may sound, it will make the best story one day.
‘I’m out. Wear a raincoat, you weirdo!’ Laney says in true Laney style as she exits the courtyard.
‘Let’s go have some pie, girlfriend. This time, I mean that in the most unplatonic way ever.’
EPILOGUE
JADE
‘You want me to announce her? Live on air?’
‘Is that a problem?’ a blond man with the news station asks. ‘Someone said you were her manager.’ He glances at an iPad in his hand. ‘River Matthews, right?’
‘Yeah,’ River says with a nod. His eyes dart to me, excitement dancing in them like confetti. ‘Let’s go over it over here,’ he says, leading the man away from me with a coy smile.
This wasn’t a part of the setup. River assumed his role would be getting his mother and her band here and ready to perform. Which, believe me, was a task. I know, as I’ve helped him a few times now and wowsers, Penny Candy is a very high-maintenance band. Now they want River to announce her big comeback, and they’re doing a short interview with him and Penny after the show to discuss the upcoming documentary. He’s nervous but excited. I’ve watched his documentary, and it is so so good. Anyone who enjoys Penny Candy will fall in love with it.
He may have thought he was a ‘nobody’ in the film business before, but he’s finally getting the attention he deserves. I’m so proud of him.
We’ve been dating for a few months now, and I have to say, I’ve got no regrets. Not one. It’s like we were made for one another. People tell me that’s hard to find. He’s my best friend.
‘When’s this gig starting?’ Laney asks for the fifteenth time. This time she’s got a bag of mint green cotton candy in her hand.
‘It starts at eleven fifty-five. You know, close to midnight, when it will officially be the New Year.’
‘Oh yeah,’ she laughs. ‘I almost forgot what day it is.’ She pulls a cloud of cotton candy from the bag and stuffs it into her mouth.
‘Where did you get that?’ I ask, pulling a piece for myself. ‘It’s not mint flavored, is it?’
‘Ew, no. Pretty sure any flavor besides pure sugar is against the law in cotton candy land. I got it outside. There’s a vendor guy.’
She’s right; it’s sweet and makes me pucker a little.
River returns, smiling as he pecks a kiss on my puckered lips, smacking me on the ass as he walks by, busy as a bee directing both this shoot and his mom’s live performance.
‘You two are so stinking cute,’ Hollyn says.
‘We are cute, aren’t we?’
We’re all crammed into the Crystal Ballroom. River’s friends and family got to be VIPs, so we feel important. Laney forced her way into the VIP section by threatening to cut off River’s hair in his sleep. How could he say no to something as charming as that? I don’t think she’d ever do it, but that’s their relationship.
‘I’ve never seen River so smitten with anyone. How are things going?’ Hollyn asks.
‘Absolutely perfect. I’ve never been so…’ I hesitate with my words, only because River and I haven’t even said them to one another yet. After my disaster of a relationship before, we decided slow and steady wins the race.
‘So what?’ Laney pries.
But I can see Hollyn has already figured it out with her wide-eyed grin. ‘Oh my God, you love him! Do you love him? Please tell me you love him.’
I laugh to myself. ‘Ssshhhh, I plan to say it for the first time at midnight. If he’s not too busy, that is, then I’ll do it later.’
River walks by us again. ‘Hey!’ Laney yells, causing him to stop in his tracks.
‘What?’ he snaps.
‘Did you find him?’ she asks, glancing around the room. ‘I just want to touch him. I promise I’ll go easy even though he seems like the dirty type.’
He rolls his eyes. ‘You can’t meet or touch Eminem because he’s not here, and I don’t know him.’
‘But your mom is a pop star. Whatever happened to the six degrees of separation thing? Someone you know has to know him.’
River looks at me with wide eyes, shaking his head. ‘Ten minutes!’ he yells, ignoring Laney completely.
He stops by my side, leaning into me. ‘Holy fuck, ten minutes,’ he repeats in my ear. ‘I can’t do this. I can barely think, and now they want me to get up there and introduce her and the tour. What if I swear? What if I freak out? I’m going to be on the freaking news, babe.’
I grab his hands, squeezing them tight and planting a soft kiss on his lips. ‘In ten minutes, you’ll be able to breathe a sigh of relief because this will all be over. Enjoy it. This is what you’ve worked so hard for. Alright? You did it. You completed your first documentary and somehow got your mother onto the national New Year’s Eve coverage. I am so proud of you, and at midnight, I will be kissing the hell out of you.’
River smiles, his hands now on either side of my neck. ‘I like that. You are amazing. Pay attention while I’m up there, alright? I’ll never remember what I said.’
‘I’m recording the whole thing,’ I remind him, flashing my phone.
This is the second time today he’s told me to pay attention while he’s up there. I’m dying inside. There is zero way he’s doing something crazy like proposing because we both agree that a proposal before you’ve been together at least a year is a mistake. We’re happy where we are and not looking to rush through every phase. That said, I’m nervous as hell.
Penny is the last performance before the ball drops, so the national news station airing this decided to give her a big chunk of time. Apparently, half the news staff were Penny Candy fans in their younger years, and they’re excited to have her second-chance debut on the show.
We are all wearing Penny Candy merch to make things more fun, and the band will count down to the ball drop within seconds of her performance.
‘What do you think he’s going to say?’ Laney asks.
‘Maybe he’ll ask you to move in with him?’ Hollyn suggests. ‘That’s what Brooks did with Mercy, and look at them. Happy as clams those two.’
Mercy and Brooks couldn’t be here tonight because she’s performing with Dylan somewhere else, and he’s at work. New Year’s is wild, so all cops were called on duty.
‘Nah. He hasn’t quite charmed Spike yet, so we want to wait until I can uncage the sweary bird and not risk him biting off one of River’s fingers or something.’
Laney laughs. ‘I think Spike thinks you’re his girlfriend. Maybe Riv is popping the question?’
‘Nope. I can’t be the girl who’s had that question asked twice in one year, and he agrees with me.’
‘Oh, I hope it’s something good,’ Hollyn says. ‘I’m going to go find Dax. I must kiss my man at midnight so our wedding isn’t jinxed.’
Hollyn and I have become pretty good friends. She’s sweet, shares many traits that River does, and she’s so in love with Dax, a real sweetheart. They get married this upcoming Valentine’s Day, and I’ve been asked to be a bridesmaid along with Mercy, the maid of honor. I’m so excited. This will be my first time as a bridesmaid! I feel like a part of the family even though River and I have only been together a few months.
And… my dad loves River. He’s questioned his outfits more than once, but all he ever wanted was for someone to look at me the same way he looked at my mom, and River does that.
‘I’m going to find Dad and Thomas,’ Laney says. ‘I’ll cross my fingers that whatever River wants you to pay attention to is good and not him strutting the stage in a new pair of obnoxious underwear or something.’
I laugh. I wouldn’t be opposed to that, but I don’t want to share my man with the world in that way. Oh, there he is. I pull my phone up and hit record.
‘Hello, PDX!’ River says into the mic, looking more nervous than ever. ‘You guys begged and pleaded, and so here she is, Penny Candy, back for a brand-new tour starting next year. Tonight they’ll release their new single, and tomorrow it’ll be available wherever you buy your music. But before they get started, I did want to say one thing. In the crowd is a woman so beautiful I can’t look away. Jade, this has been the best time in my life with you by my side, and I just want you to know I love you so freaking much.’
The crowd around us awes, looking for wherever this Jade girl is. Luckily he didn’t request a spotlight to reveal me. I giggle, watching him say the exact thing I was going to say to him tonight.
‘Now put your hands together for a brand-new Penny Candy!’ he yells into the mic, clapping his hands above his head and jogging off the stage towards the VIP section where I am.
When the band starts to play, he approaches me, stopping before me.
‘Please tell me you got that?’ he says, pointing to my camera.
I nod. ‘I did, and yet again, you read my mind because I planned to say the exact same thing at the stroke of midnight.’
‘That I’m the most beautiful boy in the world?’ he jokes.
‘No, well, yes, but I wanted to tell you that I’ve fallen and never want to get up.’
He looks deliriously happy right now. ‘So have I. In fact, I’ve fallen so hard it’s a little scary.’
‘Me too. But I’m not scared.’
‘No?’
I shake my head. ‘How could I ever be scared of someone I love so much?’
‘I do love you,’ he says to my face, kissing my forehead sweetly.
I squeeze his hand in mine. ‘I totally love you.’
We watch the rest of Penny’s performance in silence, his arms around me and my head on his chest. You’d never know it’s been nearly twenty years since they did this; they’re that good. The local crowd is also going nuts, which is an excellent sign that the music world will receive them well.
‘You all are amazing!’ Penny says into the mic as they wind down. ‘Who’s ready for the ball drop? It looks like we’ve got twelve seconds to go. Countdown with me! Ten, nine, eight…’
The crowd echoes around her, counting down the seconds until we travel in time to the next year of our lives.
‘Three, two, one,’ River says, kissing me at the stroke of midnight like he means it.
This is the best night of my life so far. Especially considering just three months ago, I was begging a man to love me. Now one a hundred times better just volunteered the words and even looks happy that he said them.
‘This is our year, baby.’
‘It’s our year,’ I repeat, kissing him hard while the crowd screams in response to the ball dropping. But in true River style, he slows things down, sending butterflies through every part of me with his lips on mine and his fingers in my hair. He says he likes to remember every second of the important moments, so he does this often. ‘You never know what might become a core memory,’ he once said. I really hope this becomes one. He is the best kisser, and I wish I never needed to breathe, but as I pull away to take a breath, I can’t help but smile.
‘You are perfect,’ I say, causing him to tighten his grip on me as he lifts me off the ground.
‘Really?’
‘Totally,’ I say, laughing through him kissing me repeatedly. ‘I love you so much.’
‘You’d have to be an idiot not to,’ he says, repeating my words from the night he asked me to be his girlfriend.
‘But I’m not,’ I say. ‘You’re my favorite man in all the world, and I promise, you’re the last man I’m ever saying that to.’
‘I’d love to be the last boyfriend you ever have.’
‘It’s a deal,’ I say, leaning into him while he kisses my forehead before we head to the stage to congratulate Penny Candy. Let the New Year begin.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Five years ago, I’d never expected to fall in love with a publisher. Publishing is a hard industry and I’ve had hills to climb and ditches to fall into but my amazing team at Boldwood have made things fun and easy. We’re three books in and I’m still so excited to be a Boldwood author! My books are better because of all of you. Thank you for taking the chance on me and my daydreams.
To the women who consistently talk me up and find ways to laugh at shit reviews, imposter syndrome, writer’s block, and everything else that comes with this career. I could be lonely, only spending time with my imaginary friends, but y’all keep me sane. Thank you.
Last but not least, to all the #bookstagrammers who’ve recently fallen in love with the words I write. Anytime I log on to see a tag from one of you, my soul smiles. For real. I don’t know if I could keep going without you. So, keep on reading, continue to fall in love, and shout about the books you love to others. I so appreciate you all. A reader lives a thousand lives and I’m so honored to have my books be a part of that.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you so much for reading Stuck With You. I hope you loved this group of friends and their wacky families as much as I loved creating their stories because there’s one more chapter to this trio. Dax and Hollyn’s wedding!!! Keep an eye on my socials for info, as it will be a novella told by all six leads POV.
As always, if you loved the book (or even if you didn’t – honest reviews welcome) I’d like to ask you to please leave your review on Amazon (or GoodReads, Bookbub, Barnes & Noble, wherever you buy books). It doesn’t have to be much, just a line or two. Thank you in advance. Reviews help authors so so much more than I can explain.
Want to say hello? I’d love that! I’m all over social media (my phone and I are in an intimate relationship at this point…) and I would love to hear from you. Follow, friend, email or subscribe to my newsletter to keep in touch and never miss an update. Stop by my website https://aimeebwrites.com for info on how to keep in touch.
PLAYLIST
‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’, Queen
‘I Hate Her Boyfriend’s Face’, PmBata
‘Dancing on My Own’, The Regrettes
‘Boy Problems’, Carly Rae Jepsen
‘Looking for Love’, The Strike
‘Heartbreaker’, Tayo Sound
‘It’s Raining, It’s Pouring’, Anson Seabra
‘Stunnin’’ (feat. Harm Franklin), Curtis Waters
‘Material Girl’ (feat. Taylor Hanson of Hanson), AWOLNATION & Hanson
‘Who’s In Your Head’, Jonas Brothers
‘Hello Again’, The Cars
‘Love On the Rocks’, Neil Diamond
‘You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)’, Dead or Alive
‘On Read’, Austin Millz & Pell
‘Sad in Hawaii’, Claire Rosinkranz
‘is your bedroom ceiling bored?’, Sody & Cavetown
‘Death of a Bachelor’, Panic! At the Disco
‘Twilight Zone’, Golden Earring
‘Bad Idea’, Dove Cameron
‘Vertigo’, Alice Merton
‘Dirty Thoughts’, Chloe Adams
‘Hell Yeah’, corook
‘Stay’, The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
‘Feeling For You’, Milky Chance
‘Beat It’, Michael Jackson
‘You Shouldn’t Have Said That’, ella jane
‘In Your Eyes’, Peter Gabriel
‘You Give Love a Bad Name’, Bon Jovi
‘Rock DJ’, Robbie Williams
‘To Be a Lover’, Billie Idol
‘I Fall Hard’, The Strike
‘Love of Your Life’, RAYE
‘Enchanted’, Taylor Swift
‘Woman’, Harry Styles
‘F**k You’, Lily Allen
‘Kiss You’, One Direction
‘I Love You Baby’, Emilee
MORE FROM AIMEE BROWN
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