Epilogue
6 months later
Jeremiah
The past six months have been a fucking rollercoaster. I’ve gone from being single, working my ass off, and expecting life to just keep turning, to this. When she walked through that glass door of the shop, she rocked my damn world. I can’t get enough of Landry and Mayes was right when he left her the shop. She knows her shit, doesn’t take any shit from the guys, and lets me believe I’m in charge.
Closing the hood of a mini-van, I see her walk in in a pair of cut off shorts and a tank top. Damn. I want to follow her in that office and fuck her against the wall, but I refrain since there are customers present. Davis starts to snicker, and I give him a go to hell look then see her smile my direction as she walks toward her office. I notice she’s carrying some type of gift. Shit. Did I forget something—birthday? Anniversary of some kind? Maybe it’s for tonight at Barger’s?
“Dude, just go on to the office because we can read your damn mind.”
“Shut the fuck up and get back to work,” I say as I smile then walk into the office, closing the door.
She turns around from the filing cabinet, almost startled, then smiles, walking toward me. Taking her arms, she wraps them around my neck and leans up for a kiss. As I deepen the kiss, she steps back and I take a step forward.
“Jeremiah, there are customers out there.”
“And?” I say, locking the door. “That’s never stopped us before.” She bites the corner of her lip and I know she’s thinking about it.
Without another thought, she walks over to me and pushes me on the couch, straddles me and quickly gets me twisted in a good way. Man, I love it when she takes charge. Within moments, she’s got my dick free and doing her best to ride me quietly, knowing she wants to scream my name for the entire shop to hear. When she comes down from her high, we’re both smiling.
“You better get out there before Davis comes knocking on the door,” she says as she buttons her shorts.
“He wouldn’t dare.” Kissing her once more, I walk toward the door. “Barger’s tonight, right?”
“Yes, Stella said her friend Dixie is coming in today. I can’t wait to meet her.”
Shaking my head, I start to open the door when she takes a step toward me. “Jeremiah, thank you for loving me.”
He smiles and kisses my forehead. “I think I’m the one that should be thanking you for loving a fucker like me.” She starts to laugh that beautiful laugh that has had my stomach in knots from the first time I heard it.
As closing time approaches, I finish cleaning up the shop and tell Davis and the others to go ahead and clock out. Landry walks out of the office and smiles my direction.
“Drake, you got a minute?” she says seriously. She never calls me Drake unless it’s serious.
“Yeah, let me finish sweeping up.”
Walking into the office, I see her sitting on the desk with her legs crossed and a smile on her face. “Round two?” I say with a smile and she shrugs her shoulders.
“I got you something,” she says and her cheeks flush as she hands me the package. My face goes pale, I’m sure. She starts to giggle. “You didn’t forget anything. I just wanted to surprise you with something.”
Taking the package, I quickly dig into it and when I get to the bottom, I pull out the smallest piece of fabric I’ve ever seen in my life. Confusion fills my mind. What is this? Is it a new type of towel for the shop? Taking it from me, she unrolls it and places it on her lap, moving the wrapping out of the way.
Taking a moment, my mind reads the words but doesn’t comprehend what is written. Reading it again, I realize it says Mayes Autobody Shop with our logo, but that shit’s tiny. Don’t get me wrong, Landry could probably wear it, but she’s only wearing it for me. Then I look to see it’s got buttons in the crotch. What the hell? I’ve never seen shit like that before.
“Jeremiah, it’s not for me.” I pause, looking at her but there’s no way. She starts to smile and bites the side of her lips.
“It sure as hell ain’t fitting me.” Taking the bag, she pulls out a picture and passes it to me. Looking at the back and white photo, I don’t see anything except one little arrow that says baby. “Is that for…a…baby?” She smiles again and I look back to it then to the photo. Holy fuck. We’re having a baby.
“We’re having a baby.” Without thinking twice, I pull her into my arms and kiss the hell out of her and when I put her back down, I look at the small piece of fabric.
“How far along are we?”
“Eight weeks,” she says and my life is completely perfect.
Landry
Arriving home, I get ready for a night at Barger’s. Over the past few weeks, I’ve felt like crap and finally realized what was wrong when I was late. I had no idea how Jeremiah would react, but I knew I had to let him know before we went to the bar. Let’s face it. That would be a dead giveaway.
Walking down the hall, I find Jeremiah sitting on the couch with the biggest damn smile on his face.
“You gonna look that happy all night?”
“Maybe. Are we going to tell them?”
“They will figure it out. Hello? Me with no beer?” I say as he stands and walks toward me, placing his hands on my stomach.
“I can’t believe there’s a baby in there,” he says, looking me in the eyes.
“What are you thinking?” I question.
“That I thought I couldn’t love you more than I did the moment I fell for you, but I was wrong. Every day I fall harder and harder. Life is better because we do it together. Landry Mayes, you’ve made me a better man, and I promise to take care of you and Carol Mayes Drake.” She gasps when she hears me say it. I’ve been thinking about it all damn evening. I want this child to have a strong name and between my mom and her Paw, it doesn’t get much better.
“How do you know it’s going to be a girl?” she questions.
“Carol can go either way, but I hope she’s a girl and just like her mom—completely independent and takes no shit from guys like me.” She smiles and wraps her arms around my neck.
“Jeremiah Drake, you never cease to amaze me,” she says as I bend down and kiss those plump lips.
Arriving at Barger’s, my nerves are tore slap up. However, Jeremiah can’t wipe the grin off his face and it’s adorable.
As we enter, I see Stella talking to a girl with long auburn hair while Everett is behind the bar. They turn to see us as we walk toward them. Stella gives a wave as everyone else takes a swig of their beer. Everyone is here and I’m sure Jeremiah is about to get a lot of shit from his brothers.
Everett goes to the cooler and grabs two beers, but I shake my head. He gives a questioning look and when he turns at Jeremiah, he looks between us then gives him a pound.
Stella looks to me and I can’t keep it to myself, so I nod. She jumps up and squeals. Beckett and Colby look at her like she’s lost her mind, and before I can wrap my brain around what’s happening, Stella is hugging me and jumping up and down.
When she calms down, she looks over her shoulder to the boys who are still clueless. “Hey, dipshits. Y’all are about to be uncles.” The two of them look to each other and then us.
“Shut the fuck up,” Colby says.
“She’s right,” Jeremiah says proudly. The guys all give me hugs and congratulate Jeremiah for having strong swimmers. I take a seat beside Stella and she introduces me to Dixie.
“Girl, thank goodness you’re opening a new salon. I don’t know how much more of Aunt Tootie’s styling I can handle,” and we all laugh.
As the jukebox begins to play “Simple Man,” Jeremiah walks over to me and extends his hand. He walks me to the middle of the floor and we sway to the music. When the song ends, he looks me in the eyes and falls to his knee.
“Landry, you’re the only woman to not take my shit, make me realize I’m worth more than I dreamed, but most of all, you’re the girl who’s meant to do life with me. Will you marry me?” he says and I nod as he stands, sliding a small diamond ring on my left hand that I know so well.
“Is that?” I begin to question and he smiles. It’s my Mimi’s.
“I love you, Jeremiah, and just when I thought I was the one full of surprises.”
He looks me in the eyes, “Life is full of surprises, but as long as you’re by my side, I’m ready to take life head on.”
Smiling to him, I look into those eyes and know that he’s right. This life I’m living is meant to be lived to the fullest with Jeremiah Drake by my side.