Page 39 of Heart of Stone
“If you’re not part of my life then I don’t need to be here. There’s no fucking reason to get up or to breathe or to live without you, Street.” He held one of my hands and dropped to one knee.
I covered a shocked gasp with my free hand.
“I don’t need anyone in this whole fucking world but you. There’s no one who knows me like you do. We’ve been connected forever. It just took my hard skull to finally crack open and realize that I can’t be without you. Amy, will you marry me?”
I blinked down at him, speechless, breathless and stunned. “You’re serious?”
“I am.”
“Then”—my voice wavered—“yes, I will marry you.”
He jumped to his feet. I threw my arms around his neck. He grabbed my waist and lifted me off the ground. As he spun me around, I heard cheers and whistles coming from the house. Hunter lowered me to the ground.
Slade was the first to come down the steps. “Was that what it just fucking looked like?”
I nodded and hugged him.
Jade came out next, and I ran to her. We hopped around screaming with laughter.
Colt and Slade each gave their brother a hug.
“Well, damn,” Colt said. “My big brother has finallybeen toppled like a great fucking tree in the forest. But I guess I always knew that there was only one girl who could do the job.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me against him. “My favorite annoying pest is going to be a sister now.” He gave me a noogie. “I love ya, Street. I’m glad the blockhead finally came to his senses.”
I walked back into Hunter’s arms and smiled up at him. “Yep, and it’s about damn time.”
TWENTY-FIVE
HUNTER
Ipulled at my tie for the hundredth time. Slade laughed. “You can keep pulling at that necktie, bro, but it’s not the knot that’s making it hard to breathe.” He patted me on the shoulder. “I’m really happy for you, buddy. I know she’s been the center of your world since forever and well, you know how Colt and I feel about her.”
Colt turned back at the sound of his name. Of the three of us, he was the only one who looked semi-at-ease in a suit and tie. In fact, being Colt, he looked like he could have just walked out of a fucking fashion shoot.
“Little bro,” Slade called, “you look like the top of a fucking wedding cake, you know that?”
Colt made a show of brushing off his lapels. “I look pretty slick, I’m aware of that. I’m thinking of finding some career where I have to wear a three piece suit and tie every day.”
I laughed. “The only suit wearing career you’d qualify for is being a corpse. Otherwise, stick to fixing up houses. Especially since I sank most of my savings into your newest venture.”
The side door opened, and the justice of the peace walked out. Her hair was piled up high in one of those old-fashioned beehive dos, and she had on a dress that looked about as vintage as her hairstyle. She smiled. “The bride is right behind me.”
We’d decided not to wait. Amy didn’t want a big wedding, and the only people we truly cared about were standing right there with us.
The woman reached her podium and turned on some recorded music. Led Zeppelin’s Hey, Hey What Can I Do blared out of the small speaker. It was our song, the song about the street corner girl. My brothers took the time to fist bump each other for adding that touch.
The same side door opened. Jade came out wearing a slim cut, blue dress that stopped just above her knees and had thin straps that were glittering with pearls. She was holding a bouquet of yellow flowers. Colt’s shoulders lifted and fell as if he’d drawn in a long, slow breath.
“Easy, buddy,” Slade said to Colt under his breath. Jade walked up to the podium. She whispered something to Slade.
“Really?” Slade asked. “Cool.” He hurried down the aisle and knocked on the door.
Amy stepped out and took hold of his arm. It was my turn to have the breath catch deep in my chest. My throat tightened as she walked toward us. Her white, silky dress had the same pearl covered straps. The dress had a tight white bodice and it came to just above the knees. She’d pulled her copper hair into a twist in the back. She was head to toe angel.
Slade beamed as he led her up to the podium.
Amy turned and faced me. Her eyes were glossy with tears, and she was smiling. I reached forward and took her hand. It was shaking a little. Or that could have been mine.
“I’m glad I didn’t stop chasing happiness,” she said softly.
