Page 14 of Who Wants Pie

“I…I didn’t see you.”

“I hung back and watched you from the side while everyone else bum-rushed you for the sweets. I knew then that the only sweet thing I wanted on my tongue…was you.”

My smile grows even bigger at his words. “You have me. Forever if that’s what you want.” I laugh because I can’t help but tease him, “From now on, only you will ever get my pie.”

“Damn straight.”

“Damn straight.” I agree with him before I move my hands over his head to show him my cuffed hands. “But this time…let's try the cuffs on you.”

“Oh hell yeah!”

Epilogue I

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Tinsley

Two Weeks Later

We broke the news of the upcoming baby to my mom and dad on Christmas. And I got Gray to wait before we said our ‘I do’s so Cami and Rayne would be back from their honeymoon. Not that anybody was surprised by the fact I was knocked up and Gray was rushing me down the aisle as fast as possible since he wouldn’t let me leave him after he carried me away from the reception.

One of the reasons he agreed to wait two whole weeks was so he could bundle me into the new house before Christmas. He wanted us to wake up in our home on Christmas morning before we left to go over to my mom and dad’s. And who can argue with that?

So here I am, sitting in my wedding gown looking like a princess - because Gray would have it no other way - and waiting for my dad to come and walk me down the aisle. Thank God the makeup is water-resistant, or I would look like a Picasso painting right now. By the end of the day - which also happens to be the end of the year - I will have a new name, a new husband, and a new life.

“Are you ready?”

I look up at Gray’s sister. The whole family has kind of adopted her. Turns out she was working at the bar to save money to go to college. Gray asked if it was alright with me if we helped her and, of course, I said yes. We’ve grown quite close to each other over the past couple of weeks. So, when school starts back in the fall, I will have two best friends going with me. If me and Cami can stop having babies, that is.

Not that I think that is going to slow any of us down, what with all the help and support we have around one another. I have a lot to be thankful for and one of the biggest things is the people around me who love me so much that they go out of their way to help me flourish.

“I think so.” I stand up and she comes in for a hug. Right behind her is Cami, who is glowing as usual. And then it’s my mom’s turn to make me cry and give me a huge hug. I don’t know why I’m getting so emotional - I’m blaming the baby. It’s not like we haven’t been together living as man and wife since he proclaimed his love for me.

I let my mind drift back to the first time I met Gray. It was cold but not cold enough for snow. The sun was out and me and mom had been cooking for two days straight so we could get Thanksgiving dinner on the table. I was hot and sweaty and thought my hair was a mess and in steps Rayne’s friend. Tall, dark, handsome, and quiet, he was everything I could ever have dreamed of. I fell head over heels and haven’t stopped falling every day since, not really. Even when I thought he was a player, I still hoped that one day he might come to his senses and realize what he really wanted was standing right in front of him the entire time…offering him her pie.

I blush as I think about what we did with pie the night before. My handsome firefighter has one hell of a sweet tooth and loves to paint my body with all kinds of pie filling. And I love letting him.

And then my father’s here and we are at the beginning of the rest of my life. And at the end of the aisle is the man I love more than life itself, looking handsome as the devil in a black tux. His bedroom eyes rove over me when he sees me coming towards him and I know, I know this is right. This is where I am supposed to be, and who I am supposed to be with. Grayson Hart is my forever.

I place my hand in his and get the same fresh kick that always comes when our skin touches. The preacher starts talking but all I can see is the love shining out from Gray’s eyes. When I was fourteen I could never have dreamed this so perfectly. The sun is actually shining and it’s not cold and dreary like it normally would be on a winter’s day. It’s like even nature is smiling down on us and offering her blessings.

As soon as the preacher says Gray can kiss me, he pulls me into his arms and leans me back. Our first official kiss as husband and wife is not a PG 13 one. Gray doesn’t hold back just because our families are in the audience or the fact that his best man is my brother. Instead, he kisses me with every beat of his heart, every ounce of love he can show at one time, with everything both of us have been holding back and hiding from one another from the days we first saw one another. And I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Epilogue II

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Gray

Five Years Later

I check in on my baby playing with Rayne and Cami’s daughter. We just had the twins four months ago, but I want to make sure Ariel never feels left out. Not that she ever could with Lynda doing so much with her and Annabelle. They’ve even got a movie club going on. Sure, it consists of the two girls going over to Lynda’s house watching different Disney movies, and then listening as Grandma reads them the story from one of the big books she bought them, but it makes them feel like they are big grown-up girls and I love to hear about it after they come home the next day.

And I love the fact that Movie Club nights mean I have the whole night alone with my Tinsley. Or it used to until the twins made their debut. Thankfully, Cami and Rayne help with that, and I still get some grown-up time with my woman. Which is why I am standing here waiting for Rayne to swing by and pick them up right now while Tinsley is upstairs taking a nice relaxing bath.

My sister also helps out when she can. She’s got a lot on her plate now though since she’s moved in with her girlfriend and is about to graduate at the top of her class. Arissa wasn’t something I thought I would ever have. But I’m awfully glad we found one another and I get to experience all the ups and downs of being someone’s big brother.

“Hey Brother, sorry I’m late.”

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