Page 81 of All of Me

“I know,” I admit, my tone softening as I look at her.

Her smile deepens and she leans up to kiss me, her lips warm and familiar. I sink into her touch like it’s the only thing keeping me steady.

Ruby stirs in her bouncer, letting out a little whimper that’s almost too sweet to be real, her tiny fists curling and uncurling. Sara, never one to sit still for long, clambers off the couch and dives headfirst into the toy basket, her determination evident as she digs for whatever treasure she’s after.

The disorder of all the scattered toys, tiny voices, and constant movement is a beautiful chaos that fills every corner of this house and my heart. This is my life now—messy, loud, and overflowing with love.

Callie pulls back, her green eyes searching mine. “What did you tell them about the best man?” she asks, her voice curious, like she’s already guessing the answer.

“I told them the truth,” I say, a smirk tugging at my lips. “Barrett’s got the job.”

Her expression softens instantly, the corners of her mouth curving into a smile. “He’s going to be so excited,” she whispers, her voice thick with affection.

I nod, my throat tightening as the image of Barrett’s face flashes through my mind again. I can already picture his wide grin, the way he’ll probably puff out his chest with pride, and the million questions he’ll have about what a best man does. “Yeah,” I say, my voice a little rough. “He will.”

Her lips part like she’s about to say something, but she leans up and kisses me instead. It’s soft and deliberate, her lips pouring every unspoken thought into the moment. The kiss makes my chest ache, the mixture of love and gratitude swelling so much I feel like I might burst.

When she finally pulls back, her green eyes are glistening, and a small, breathy laugh escapes her. “You’re really good at this, you know,” she murmurs, her voice tinged with awe.

“At what?” I ask, my thumb brushing gently along her cheek, catching a stray curl as it falls.

“Making me feel like I’m the most important person in the world,” she says softly.

“That’s because you are,” I reply without hesitation, my voice steady and sure. I pull her closer, wrapping my arms around her as I press a kiss to the top of her head.

The moment stretches, warm and unspoken, as we hold each other. The noise of the house fades away, leaving only the steady rhythm of her breathing and the quiet hum of my heart.

twenty-nine

RUDE - MAGIC!

CALLIE - APRIL 19, 2014

Itake a seat at my father’s kitchen table as the sunlight filters through the window, casting warm, golden patches on the tiled floor. Ruby is napping in her bouncer near the table, her tiny fists tucked under her chin. Sara colors in a book Shelly gave her, trying not to color on her highchair as she scribbles all over the pages. Dad and Shelly haven’t come down for breakfast yet. Now that I’ve told Taylor and Brooke, and Owen has told the guys about the engagement, I contemplate when would be the best time to tell my father.

Taking a sip of my coffee, I glance down at the black diamond on my finger as I raise the mug to my lips. After setting the cup back down, I twist the ring slowly as I try to gather the courage to tell Owen what’s on my mind. The ring catches the light, scattering delicate prisms across the table, and my heart swells all over again. The ring is perfect–unique and bold, just like I’ve always wanted.

Owen rounds the kitchen island to sit next to me. He looks up, his warm brown eyes locking on mine, and his soft smile brings back the drunken butterflies that danced in my belly the first day we met. I can’t believe that was only nine months ago. We’ve come so far since then… been through so much together.

It feels surreal that he’s put a ring on my finger and solidified his devotion. As much as I hate the idea of ever taking the ring off, I know I need to tell him how I’m feeling in this moment.

“Hey,” he says, taking a seat at the table. “What’s on your mind?”

Am I that transparent?

I let out a soft laugh, wondering how he can always tell. “It’s that obvious, huh?”

“Just a little,” he teases, sliding his own chair closer to me. His hand brushes mine, warm and grounding. “Talk to me.”

I glance down at the ring again, twisting it nervously. “I’ve been thinking about when to tell my family,” I say carefully.

He leans back, his brows furrowing. “I figured we’d tell your dad and Shelly today.”

“I was thinking...” I hesitate, biting my lip. “I’d rather wait until tomorrow. Everyone’s coming for Easter—PawPaw, my grandmother, Savannah, Lana. It feels right to tell them all at once, as a family.”

Owen studies me for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Wait until tomorrow?” he repeats. “Why?”

“Because I want the announcement to be special,” I explain. “If we tell Shelly and Dad now, it’ll trickle out, and by the time everyone else gets here, it won’t feel the same. I just... I want it to be a moment, you know?”

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