It was Lily’s twenty-fifth birthday. She loved to take every opportunity possible to remind me that I would always be seven years older than her. We were having a party for her at Alex’s restaurant where she was currently their entertainment. Word got around fast about Lily’s talent. People from all over the world come in just to watch her perform. She’s been in the papers and on the news. She was called a hometown celebrity. It never fazed her though. All she wanted to do was play and sing. I opened my law firm a month after we moved and so far things were running smoothly. Our house was finally furnished. It took fucking forever. Lily was constantly changing things left and right… Alex wasn’t helping the situation either. Lucas’s company remodeled a few things for us.
We were not as close as we used to be, but slowly we were getting back there. Lily didn’t pay him any mind and neither did Alex, who was now four months pregnant with a girl. Lily laughed her ass off for like ten minutes when we found out the sex. She said one word, “Karma.”
Dylan was working crazy hours doing God knows what. We barely saw him anymore. Every time I tried bringing it up to Lily, she blew me off. Changing the subject to something else, which I found odd. Austin moved back a few weeks after we did. No one knew what the fuck was going on with him and Briggs. I could tell some shit went down with them. Who knows when it would stop, if it ever would.
“Phew… I need to sit down,” Alex breathed out, putting her hand on her belly.
“Don’t let Lucas hear you. You’ll never leave the house again,” Lily responded. “You know what? I’m actually surprised he let you out tonight, Half-Pint.”
“You think he could make me miss your birthday party? Hell no.” She continued to rub her baby bump.
Lily laughed. I lugged her toward me, hugging her tiny frame into my chest to look down at her. “Have I told you how beautiful you look?”
“Once or twice, but you’re thirty-one now so…” She winced. “Your memory must be going, old man,” she giggled.
“You little shit.” I spanked her.
“Hey, hey, hey what are your hands on?” Lucas chimed in, rubbing Alex’s bump.
“What’s mine,” I replied not taking my eyes off Lily.
“You’re lucky I don’t kick your ass, again.”
“You would be lucky if I let you do it, again.”
“Alright, boys, let’s remember it’s my birthday. This pissing contest ends now. We’re nice to each other today!” Lily sang out loud.
“Bo, I need help with the cake. Come help me.” Alex pulled him with her.
“Is this code for kitchen fu—”
She put her hand over his mouth. “Oh my God!” She shook her head with wide eyes while Lily and I tried not to laugh.
Dylan walked in as they were about to leave, making his way to the bar.
“Fuck, man, what the hell happened to you?” I asked, taking in his bloody lip, bruised eye, and his knuckles all cut up. He looked like he had been in a fight.
“Bad day at work,” he simply stated, grabbing a beer from the bar.
“No shit,” was all I could reply.
“Happy birthday.” He pulled Lily into a hug.
“Thanks, are you okay? Do you need me to get you something?” She looked him over.
“Don’t fuss over me. I’m fine. Comes with the job.”
“Okay.” Lily gave him a knowing look.
There was something about the way she looked at him that I couldn’t quite place or even understand.
The night continued with its usual festivities, everyone together exactly how I wanted. Just like the old days.
“You want your birthday present, Kid?”
“What is it?”
I laughed. “It doesn’t matter how many damn times I tell you to just say thank you, it’s never going to happen is it?”
“Highly unlikely, let me see it, big man! Where are we going?” I took her to the middle of the room, nodding to the DJ to turn down the music. Everyone looked at us. Lily only stared at me with a questioning expression.
“The first time I realized I was in love with you, I knew I was in trouble. Not because of your age, or our families, or your brother, or even the boys.
She lowered her eyebrows, confused.
“I knew that I would never be able to let you go, no matter how many times I tried. I soon discovered there was no going back for me. Only moving forward. I could stand here and tell you all the things that I love about you, Kid, each and every one of them, but you know them already. You know them because you know me. You’ve always known me.”
She smiled and it lit up her entire face as she took in the meaning of my words. “What’s this all about?” she nervously asked.
I got down on one knee and her breathing hitched.
“I have had this ring.” I placed it out in front of me. “Since I left San Francisco.”
Her lips parted and her eyes widened. I would never forget the look on her gorgeous face at that moment.
“The morning I realized I was finally coming home to you, I went and bought a ring. It’s taken everything inside me not to ask you to marry me about a hundred times at this point. I have missed so many birthdays. I wanted you to remember this day as one of the happiest of our lives…” I opened the box.
“Oh my God. It’s huge!” she blurted out.
“Lillian Michelle Ryder, my sweet girl, will you put me out of my goddamn misery and be my wife. Will you marry me, Kid?”
She tackled me to the ground. “Of course! Yes! Yes! Yes! I will marry you, Jacob!” she screamed as everyone started clapping.
She kissed all over my face as I picked us back up.
“I love you.”
“I love you, baby.”
Her dad was the first one to come congratulate us, followed by Alex and the boys. Lucas stood back watching me warily, and then he finally approached.
“Congratulations, baby sister.” She smiled as he kissed the top of her head.
He stuck out his hand for me to shake. “I guess this officially makes you my brother,” he stated with a neutral expression.
“Guess so.” I shook it.
He nodded, pulling me toward him into a hug, slapping my back.
“Take care of her, Jacob.”
“Always.”
Lily beamed, I didn’t remember ever seeing her so happy. To know that I was finally the cause of it warmed my heart in ways I never thought possible.
“What the fuck?” Austin chimed in, making us all turn in the direction of his gaze.
Three police officers walked in going right for Dylan. He was sitting down at the table beside us, sipping his beer like nothing was going on.
“Agent McGraw, we hate to have to—”
“Just fucking do it,” he interrupted the officer, standing to look at all of them.
And the rest played in fucking slow motion…
“Dylan McGraw, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?”
The end.
For Jacob and Lily.
It’s only the beginning or is it the end for…
Dylan and Aubrey.
(Next in The Good Ol’Boys Standalone Series)
Coming Early Spring 2016