The Perfect Stroke (36 page)

I watch as Mer takes off to walk down the aisle. She’s marching in the middle of all of Gray’s brothers—a fact that made her very happy. That leaves me and Jackson alone in the small bedroom. 

“You about ready to get this show on the road, Claude?” Jackson asks and I turn to look at him.

“Can you give me just a minute? I need to get my nerves together,” I tell him, my heart beating hard in my chest.

“Banger would be so proud of you, y’know,” he says, nodding.

“I know,” I tell him, and I finally do.

“Okay, I’ll be right outside the door.”

I watch as he walks out and then I turn to the letter that Ida Sue handed me. My hands shake as I open it up, almost afraid to read it. I’m so happy. I have everything I could have dreamed of and I’m about to marry the man I love more than life itself. With all that good, will this be the bad that I’ve always had in the past?

Dear CC,

I wanted to take a quiet moment to welcome you into the family. Us girls get overemotional and the last thing you need on your wedding day is more tears. I know your new family is crazy. Some are a little mixed-up, but through it all, we stick together and weather any storm, because that’s what family does. They stand up to the world and say fuck you. It doesn’t matter what it throws at us;
what matters is that we have each other’s backs—always. 

So as you walk down that aisle today, know that you, my darling daughter,
are not only gaining a very handsome husband. You are gaining a family and you will never be alone again. Although I suppose I should warn you, that part isn’t quite as great at times as it might sound. 

Finally, I know that you gave your garage to Jackson, even after you and Gray insisted I take the money back for it. So, I did the only thing a mother could do when faced with two stubborn children: I bought you a new garage closer to home. Because this is your home now, darling girl. I know this garage won’t be the same as your father’s, but that one will live on through Jackson, who as much as I can gather, loved the man too. This garage will be all yours, and full of your father’s memories because that’s where we carry the ones we love: in our hearts. They never leave us because pieces of them are sewn into who we are. We take them with us. We teach our children about them. We celebrate them. Love never dies, my girl—it just grows.

Now don’t you dare try to pay me back. If you do, I’ll have to skin your hide. I wouldn’t mind if you had me a grandkid or two, though. Children keep you young, so I figure if I have about a hundred of those little boogers running around, I’ll be good.

Love,

Mom

I fold the note up with shaking hands, leaving it on the dresser. I stand up and use Jansen’s handkerchief to dry my eyes. I pick up my flowers, securing the handkerchief inside. My heart was full before, but now I’m just completely overflowing with love and happiness. I stand at the door knowing that whatever comes, I’m going to be fine. I do a mental list in my head. My hand goes to the small locket at my neck which belonged to Banger’s mom.
Something old, check
. I touch the pearl clip in my hair that was a gift from Gray’s sisters.
Something new, check.
Next, I move my foot around to make sure the penny inside hasn’t fallen out that Maggie’s little boy Terry let me borrow.
Something borrowed and a penny for good luck.
My hand automatically goes to my thigh where the blue lace garter is.
Something blue.
I’m being silly, but I just want to make sure everything is there.

As I walk out and take Jackson’s hand, we head down towards the wedding. I see Ida Sue and Jansen come out of the playhouse. Ida Sue is trying to fix her hair and her obviously rumpled dress, and Jansen is grinning from ear to ear. We hear the oh-my-gods from the crowd, the loudest coming from all of Gray’s brothers. Finally, I see Gray. My husband-to-be. The man I love with my entire being. The man who made me believe I was valuable, who makes me feel valuable. Who
loves
me. Never have I been more secure… or happier.

I’m reminded of Ida Sue’s words, and she’s right. Bring it on world. I’m not alone.

Crazy mother-in-law with a heart of gold, a loud, loving family to drive me nuts, and the sexiest man alive to love me the rest of my days.

Life is damn good.

“Have I told you how beautiful you are today, Cooper?” I ask my wife as we’re dancing. The wedding was perfect… Hell, life is perfect right now.

“You’re going to have to quit calling me that now, Crayon Man. I’m a Lucas now.”

“Fuck, yeah,” I whisper into her neck, kissing her there and taking her scent into my lungs. “You look beautiful, Claudia Lucas.”

“Right back at you, Grayson Lucas,” she whispers, snuggling against me.

“I can’t believe our mother had sex in the playhouse my son uses. We’re tearing that down,” Maggie grumbles from beside us.

“I think it’s hot. We should try it,” her date says, and I’ve heard about all that conversation I care to hear. I steer my wife away from them. Too bad I apparently pick my brother and his best friend to dance next to.

“I can’t believe you caught the bouquet, Kayla. Why did you even try?”

“Maybe I want to get married, White.”

“Weddings are for idiots. Why tie yourself to one person when there’s a whole world out there?”

“My brother is stupid,” I tell CC when I pull her away from the idiot and whatever garbage he keeps mouthing off with. “He’s in for a very rude awakening someday,” I tell her.

“I hope she gives him hell,” CC agrees with a laugh.

“Me too, but enough about them. How about we blow this popsicle stand and go get the honeymoon started?”

“I’m not sure I can wait that long,” she says with a grin.

“Is that a fact?”

“Mmm-hmm… Though, I did hear there was a playhouse around here somewhere,” she says.

“Claudia Lucas, I do believe my crazy family is rubbing off on you.”

“God, I hope so,” she says with a laugh, and I take her hand and lead her away from the crowd. She pulls me toward the small house and I crouch down and go through the door after her.

Crazy family, and the woman of my dreams wearing my ring.

Life is so fucking good, there are no words.

The End.

To my #BB4L: You've kept me going since mom got sick. I have no words to tell you thank you.

To Jenika Snow for texting me and offering support when I needed it most, you inspire me every day.   

And Finally to my Dirty Girls. Your laughter, your smiles and encouragement and your time did everything to make this book possible.

XOXO

J

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Would you like a sneak peek of my next book in the Lucas Brothers series? How about a previously released book that I released under my pen name Baylee Rose? Well, then t
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White’s Story

Chapter 1

Kayla

“You’re what?!”

I hold the phone away from my ear, wincing. That man can yell.

“Calm down, White. I said, I’m getting married.”

“Who the fuck to? Kayla, if you’re still seeing that bastard Crenshaw after he…”

“I’m not seeing Bobby.”

“Damn it, that was only a month ago. How are you getting married?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Well, it just so happens I seem to have a lot of free time on my hands, so explain it to me.”

“Yeah, right. Football season starts next week. I may not watch the crap, but I keep up with the MVP in last year’s big game.”

“Obviously not enough or you would know I messed up my fucking shoulder last week in practice. I’m out for six weeks.”

“Oh no, White! I’m so sorry. You didn’t tell me! Why didn’t you text me?”

“You were dealing with enough cleaning Crenshaw out of your life… or at least I thought you were. So come on, Kayla, tell me what’s going on.”

“You’re just going to get mad.”

“Tell me,” he growls and I take a breath to shore up my courage.

I’ve been best friends with White Hall Lucas since I was fifteen years old and his brother Green broke my heart. I was all set to go to the prom with Green, and he stood me up when his girlfriend Cynthia suddenly wanted him back. Green welcomed her back with open arms, even though the bitch only did it because Tommy Haynes, the star football player, hurt his leg and couldn’t dance. Green was kind of an idiot when it came to Cynthia. According to White he still can be, which is just plain sad.

I’ve come to really like the Lucas family, from all of the brothers that their mother Lily named after colors in a crayon box, to his sisters who are all named after flowers. And his mother, despite all of her far-out-there ways of naming her kids and her craziness, is one of the sweetest people you’d ever want to meet. They’re all kind, loving people who make you laugh and open their doors and hearts to you. Above them all, though, is White Hall. White took me to the prom in his brother’s place. He dried my tears as I cried over his brother. He took me fishing and we just sort of began this friendship that’s lasted for twelve years. A friendship I love. A friendship I hate. Hate because, though White may see me as his best friend—and I am, as he is mine—the truth is… I love him. I’m horribly, desperately, and irrevocably in love with White, and he doesn’t have a clue. I can’t tell him because there’s no way I can ruin our friendship. If he knew how much it killed me through the years as he went from one woman to the next, it would change the way he sees me, and I can’t let that happen. White isn’t attracted to me. He never has been. He sees me as a buddy, a pal, and has from day one. It sucks, but I’ve learned to adapt. I’ve had to; it’s the only way I can keep White in my life, and that has been the most important thing.

“Kay? Talk to me,” he says, and the concern in his voice is my undoing, just like always.

“I’m lonely, White.”

“What?”

“I’m lonely. I’m not like you. I actually like being with another person. I enjoy quiet nights at home watching television. I like sharing a pizza while watching the big game. I enjoy being with just one person and knowing what to expect from them. I miss it. I’m lonely,” I tell him, wondering if he even realizes that the one person I do that the most with is him. It’s a stupid question because he doesn’t. He never has got that we spend more time together than any married couple I know, which is another reason to accept Tommy’s proposal. I have to forget White. I have to get a little distance from him. I can’t keep going like this.

“Being lonely isn’t a reason to get married, Kay. That’s not a good reason to tie yourself to someone. What if you…”

“I want children, White.”