Brad and Scott talked for a bit as I looked around for Josh. He was talking and laughing with the DJ.
Ah, so the little bastard is going to have his hand in the romance department this evening.
Gunner reached up and handed Scott a beer as Scott sat down.
Then, Gunner turned to me. He leaned in toward me, so only I could hear him. “Does he think he stands a chance?” Gunner looked out at Josh.
I laughed. “I guess he does. This should be interesting to watch.”
Gunner and I both sat back and started to drink our beers as we watched Josh talking to the DJ.
“He’s probably asking the DJ to recommend a good song,” Gunner said with a chuckle.
Brad sat down as he started laughing. “Think so? This is gonna be good. Gotta give him props for trying though. I think I have both of y’all beat with my song.”
Gunner and I both looked at Brad as he smiled and took a sip of his Coke.
“Ari cried,” I said.
“Oh, come on, dude,” Brad said.
Scott asked, “What in the hell are y’all talking about?”
Gunner looked over at the girls and saw they were deep in conversation. “We have a little romance contest going on. Trying to see which one of us can out romance the other with our song choices.”
Scott’s mouth dropped open. “That’s fucked up, y’all. Do the girls know what you’re doing?”
At the same time, Gunner, Brad, and I all said, “No.”
Josh shook the DJ’s hand, and as he started to walk back toward us, he had a cocky-ass smile plastered on his face.
Poor guy. He really doesn’t stand a chance.
He walked right past us and up to Heather. He took her hand and pulled her up to him. “I have something special just for you,” Josh said before he kissed the back of Heather’s hand.
Gunner muttered, “Pesh,” under his breath.
Ellie smacked Gunner on the back of his head. “Knock it off.”
Just then, the DJ asked for everyone’s attention. “Listen up, y’all. I’ve had a special request from one very lucky man in the house tonight. He’s getting married in a couple days.”
Everyone started to clap and whistle.
“Ah hell,” Gunner and I said at the same time.
Brad and Scott started laughing.
“Josh, bring your beautiful future bride out onto the dance floor,” the DJ said.
Josh started leading Heather out to the dance floor. As he passed us, he smiled and winked. “Watch how it’s done, gentlemen.”
“Little bastard!” Gunner called out, earning another slap on the head from Ellie.
We watched as Josh walked Heather out to the middle of the dance floor. Her face was bright red, and when he kissed her on the cheek, all I heard were oohs and aahs. Someone handed Josh a microphone, and then he got down on one knee.
Brad, Gunner, and I all leaned forward.
“What in the hell is he doing? He can’t ask her to marry him. He’s already done that!” I said.
Ari smacked me on the shoulder. “Be quiet for Christ’s sake!”
“Holy hell, she’s already crying, and he hasn’t even started talking yet,” Brad said.
“Heather, I never in my life thought I could be as happy as I am in this very moment. The idea of spending the rest of my life with you just about brings me down to both knees. I cannot wait to make you my wife. I want to make all your dreams come true. I want to be the best husband and father to our unborn babies as I possibly can.”
Josh put his hand on her stomach and then kissed her belly as Heather brought her hand up to her mouth. He looked up at her and smiled.
“Is he crying?” Scott asked.
“Bastard,” Gunner, Brad, and I said at the same time.
“Shh!” Ellie, Amanda, and Ari said at the same time.
“Princess, I want to be your everything.” He stood up and took Heather in his arms as Keith Urban’s “Your Everything” started to play.
“Oh. My. God. If that is not the most romantic thing ever!” Ellie said.
Gunner snapped his head around and looked at her.
I was still staring out at them. They were the only two dancing as everyone stood around and watched.
“Holy hell, that just swept me off my damn feet! Heather is so lucky!” Amanda said.
Brad choked on his drink.
Ari walked around and sat on my lap. Her eyes looked like they were filling with tears as she watched them dancing.
Jesus H. Christ. Is she about to cry?
“So incredibly romantic…wow. Heather really is lucky.” She turned to me and smiled. “I think Josh won by a landslide. Don’t you think, babe?”
Scott busted out laughing as I just looked at her.
All I could do was let out a small laugh before I grabbed her and brought her in for a kiss. I pulled slightly away from her lips. “He certainly did.”
When she gave me that drop-dead beautiful smile of hers, my heart started racing.
“I love you, babe.” She captured my lips with hers.
I kissed her and poured as much love into the kiss as I could. When she ran her hands through my hair, I wanted to just rip off her clothes and take her right here and now.
The Redemption of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen
