Page 97
Story: Brands
“Rebel? Where’s my ring?” His words trickle through the loud background. “I want the world to know I belong to you.”
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry.” I pull away, fumbling at the tiny pocket I fashioned into the chest of my dress. “Hold outyour hand.” My own shake as I push the symbolic jewelry onto his finger.
He’s really mine.
He groans deliciously. “You know I’m going to have to find out how you hid that tonight?”
“LibbyPierce! Get your butt down here so I can hug you!” Char calls out from below the stage.
Her own cheeks are smeared from crying.
“Fuck, I love the sound of your name.” Blue leads me down the front steps into the waiting throng.
While he gets pulled from me with handshakes and back slaps, I manage to find my way to my best friend.
Her belly shudders against me with her sobs. “That dress looks so much better on you than me.” Her lower lip quivers as she smiles.
“That was the borrowed?” Sophia moves closer, while Lori and April join from the other side.
I give a small nod, stepping back. “My shoes I’ve had since I was a teenager. New lingerie though.” I wink.
April grins. “Atta, girl. He won’t know what hit him.”
She’s so fun. I think we compete on how often we can make Lori blush.
Like now.
“So what’s the blue?” Lori asks as pink flushes her throat.
“Silly.” I gesture to my husband, noticing his eyes following me. “I’m even thinking of making it my new favorite color.”
“Well, that’s huge,” Char gasps. “But totally understandable.”
She gets it.
“I don’t know.” Blue’s hands wrap around my waist. “I like the yellow sundress.” His lips brush the shell of my ear. “We should go.”
A thrill of electricity runs down my body as I lean into his heat.
I can’t get enough of him, and hope that never changes.
Char points at her belly, then at me, and mouths, “You in six months.” But her teasing smile betrays her warning.
My brother emerges from a wall of people and awkwardly gives me a fast squeeze. “This is crazy, Lib. But I’m happy for you. I’ll make sure Dad is taken care of.”
“Dev, we did this so I can stay close and help, but not have to sneak around. I’m not putting Dad squarely on just your shoulders. We’re a team.” I don’t want him to think I’m shirking my responsibilities.
His sigh tells me it was a worry. “Thanks. See you in the morning on the milk line?”
“Yep. I’m glad you made it.” I may give him shit all the time, but I’m pretty proud of how he’s growing up.
Dev glances at Blue, then the corner of his mouth tilts up. “Welcome to the weirdest family in Montana.”
When they shake hands, it makes tears come back into my eyes.
Blue pushes the door open into the bright spring sun, then scoops me up and cradles me to his chest as he carries me towards his truck. “I can’t wait to get you home,” he growls.
“Lib?” Dad steps from where he was resting against the bumper, his brows knotted in a deep crease across his forehead.
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry.” I pull away, fumbling at the tiny pocket I fashioned into the chest of my dress. “Hold outyour hand.” My own shake as I push the symbolic jewelry onto his finger.
He’s really mine.
He groans deliciously. “You know I’m going to have to find out how you hid that tonight?”
“LibbyPierce! Get your butt down here so I can hug you!” Char calls out from below the stage.
Her own cheeks are smeared from crying.
“Fuck, I love the sound of your name.” Blue leads me down the front steps into the waiting throng.
While he gets pulled from me with handshakes and back slaps, I manage to find my way to my best friend.
Her belly shudders against me with her sobs. “That dress looks so much better on you than me.” Her lower lip quivers as she smiles.
“That was the borrowed?” Sophia moves closer, while Lori and April join from the other side.
I give a small nod, stepping back. “My shoes I’ve had since I was a teenager. New lingerie though.” I wink.
April grins. “Atta, girl. He won’t know what hit him.”
She’s so fun. I think we compete on how often we can make Lori blush.
Like now.
“So what’s the blue?” Lori asks as pink flushes her throat.
“Silly.” I gesture to my husband, noticing his eyes following me. “I’m even thinking of making it my new favorite color.”
“Well, that’s huge,” Char gasps. “But totally understandable.”
She gets it.
“I don’t know.” Blue’s hands wrap around my waist. “I like the yellow sundress.” His lips brush the shell of my ear. “We should go.”
A thrill of electricity runs down my body as I lean into his heat.
I can’t get enough of him, and hope that never changes.
Char points at her belly, then at me, and mouths, “You in six months.” But her teasing smile betrays her warning.
My brother emerges from a wall of people and awkwardly gives me a fast squeeze. “This is crazy, Lib. But I’m happy for you. I’ll make sure Dad is taken care of.”
“Dev, we did this so I can stay close and help, but not have to sneak around. I’m not putting Dad squarely on just your shoulders. We’re a team.” I don’t want him to think I’m shirking my responsibilities.
His sigh tells me it was a worry. “Thanks. See you in the morning on the milk line?”
“Yep. I’m glad you made it.” I may give him shit all the time, but I’m pretty proud of how he’s growing up.
Dev glances at Blue, then the corner of his mouth tilts up. “Welcome to the weirdest family in Montana.”
When they shake hands, it makes tears come back into my eyes.
Blue pushes the door open into the bright spring sun, then scoops me up and cradles me to his chest as he carries me towards his truck. “I can’t wait to get you home,” he growls.
“Lib?” Dad steps from where he was resting against the bumper, his brows knotted in a deep crease across his forehead.
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