Page 110 of West Bound

“Many years ago I met this sweet girl who I didn’t deserve. When she came back into my life, she was a fiery redhead who wanted nothing more than to see me fail. It took a lot of charm to win her over but when I did, I knew nothing could compare to having her love. Vivian Kelley, you are the fire in my life, the siren song I will always answer to. You drive me crazy and make me laugh and I fall more in love with you each and every day. I would be the happiest man to ever walk the face of this earth if you would agree to be mine. Will you marry me, Peaches?”

He flipped open the blue velvet case to show off a dazzling diamond ring that just about knocked me on my ass.

“Holy shit,” I mumbled.

In the center of a halo setting, in a gold band with cushion cut diamonds all around it, sat an enormous orangy pink radiant cut diamond. It shined under the bright lights of the stadium and it had everyone within a five foot radius gasping.

“Was that a holy shit yes, ooorr…”

I tore my eyes away from the hope diamond’s cousin sitting in Phoenix’s hand, and looked into his. Tears started falling all over again and I bit my lip to stop the stupid things, but they didn’t listen to me like they usually did. They hadn’t been ever since Phoenix reappeared in my life.

I nodded my head and squeaked out a “yes”.

“We didn’t hear you,” someone shouted.

I gulped down the lump in my throat and choked out louder, “yes, Phoenix West! I’ll marry you!”

He jumped to his feet and scooped me into his arms while everyone went crazy. He kissed me then set me down and quickly pulled the ring from its pillow. His hands shook as much as mine as he placed the ring on my left finger. And when it was snug in its place, he stared at with more happiness than he did his trophy that sat nearby.

“Was that to your liking, Peaches? Is this diamond real enough for you?” he asked with a smirk.

I smacked his chest and laughed. “I hate you.”

“No you don’t. You love the hell outta me. And I am madly, truly and deeply in love with you,” he mumbled against my lips.

Someone had taken over asking questions while Phoenix and I sat in our own little bubble. An alien ship could have landed and beamed everyone up to space and I wouldn’t have noticed. All I saw, all that mattered, was the man standing in front of me.

“I love you, Nixy. I’m bound to you. From here until forever.”

EPILOGUE

“Cry To Me” - Solomon Burke

“CeCe, my days of wearing a whore’s uniform are over,” I tell her as I stare at myself in the mirror.

It’s my bachelorette party and I’m standing here in a green, shimmery scrap of fabric that could honestly pass more as a dust rag than a dress. When I say this dress is tiny, I mean this shit is teeny tiny.

Okay, so I’m not a totally reformed bad girl. I would most definitely wear this if it were just Phoenix and I. But he’s not with me and despite the bar being reserved for a private party, male bartenders and staff will still be present. Phoenix would have an absolute conniption if he saw me in this. I’m lucky that he’s already left to play poker with the guys, otherwise this dress really would end up as a dust rag after he ripped it off of me.

“Payback for all of those times you guys made me wear stuff that looked like fabric swatches,” Camille sassed from her place where she sat on my bed.

“Vivian. Half the shit in your closet looks like it came out of a Frederick’s of Hollywood catalog. Shut up about that sexy dress and wear it.” CeCe pokes her head in the closet and snatches a pair of sky high Louboutin’s for me to wear.

“Yes, but those are whore uniforms that I only wear for Nix. Like this one,” I say, reaching out and pulling a red satin dress. “This is for when I play firefighter and rescue him from a dangerous building. I give him mouth to mouth, only I don’t use the mouth on my face.” I waggle my eyebrows and give the girls a wicked look.

“Gross,” Cami whines when CeCe says, “nice!”

I brace my hand on the nearest wall and bring my foot up to clip the ankle buckle. “All I’m saying is that the things I used to wear to get men’s attention are no longer needed. Phoenix says I could walk out in a girl scout uniform and he’d still find me sexy. In fact, if you move that billowy robe, behind it is–”

“We get it!” CeCe interrupts and holds out a hand. “You guys play dress up…a lot. I don’t need the IMBD summary.”

I step into the bathroom and smooth my favorite lipstick across my lips and pop them. “Why doesn’t Cami have to dress like a slut?”

“Seriously, Viv?” Cami comes waddling into the bathroom and props her hands on her hips. “I’m seven months pregnant. Do you know how difficult it was to just put shoes on today, much less slip on a teensy dress and heels? My days of wearing too short skirts and shirts you can barely call tops are over.”

I shrug and turn off the bathroom light. “Some men have a preggo fetish. Vaughan does, right? He told Phoenix and Bish about how you two got all nasty in the barn again. He said the horses thought there was a hurricane blowing through with how loud you were.”

“Oh my God. I’m going to castrate him!” She walks off, grabbing her phone from her purse, and steps out of the room right as we hear her say, “Vaughan Asa McCallan. I’m going to kick your ass!”

---