Page 53 of Fixing to be Mine (Valentine Texas #5)

COLT

T he room’s buzzing with warmth and excitement. Glasses clink. Laughter spills over slow country music London is playing. Someone’s passing around a bottle of whiskey.

Stormy’s across the room, framed by a halo of soft light and surrounded by my sisters—Kinsley, Remi, Fenix, Vera, Summer, and Grace.

They’re talking over each other and laughing in a way only sisters and in-laws can.

Their voices overlap like they’re layered harmonies.

She’s relaxed, laughing easily, her hands flying with whatever story she’s telling. She fits perfectly into my life.

I let the sight settle in my chest for a second, then shift my gaze toward my father, who’s chatting with Beckett. He’s got a drink in his hand.

I weave through the crowd toward them.

He sees me coming and offers a nod. Beckett leaves us to ourselves.

“Congrats, son.”

I smile. “Thanks, Dad. How are you survivin’ all these people?”

He chuckles low in his chest. “Crown helps.”

I lean beside him, my eyes scanning over the crowd. From here, I can still see Stormy. My fiancée. My future.

“She’s perfect for you,” Dad says.

“Yeah, she is,” I tell him proudly.

He lifts his glass a little, like a toast only meant for the two of us. “She’s got fire and grace.”

I nod. “Hell yeah, she does.”

For a moment, neither of us speaks. The noise of the party fades slightly.

“You’ve done good,” he says finally. “Not just with her. With the house. With your own dreams. Maybe teach Emmett and Sterling a thing or two?”

My dad’s not one to hand out compliments like candy.

“Oh, they’re hopeless,” I say. “Hopefully, in a few years, they’ll grow up. But I dunno.”

Dad chuckles. “You’re damn right about that.”

There’s a beat of quiet between us, heavy but full of something good. He claps a hand on my shoulder, firm and warm.

“You ever need anything, let us know. Happy for ya both.”

He pulls me into a tight hug, and I give him a thank-you.

Across the room, Stormy laughs at something Vera said, and the sound wraps around me, even in a crowded room.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look more herself. There’s light in her eyes that’s mesmerizing.

Someone passes a glass of whiskey into my hand before walking away—Beckett. I swirl the amber once, watching it catch the glow from the twinkle lights strung along the ceiling. Then I lift it to my lips and take a slow sip.

It’s good. Warm. Familiar.

Fenix is chatting with London about something no one else is listening to.

The whole damn place is buzzing and grounded, all at once.

Stormy catches me watching her. She tilts her head slightly, eyes narrowing with that teasing look that still wrecks me.

Like she knows exactly what I’m thinking and is already two steps ahead.

I lift my glass in her direction.

She raises her brows and mouths, Happy?

I nod. More than I ever knew I could be.

I drift toward the back wall, nursing the last of the whiskey in my glass.

From here, I can see everything, but mostly, I see her.

Laughing. Glowing. Her cheeks are pink from wine or joy or both.

She tosses her head back and says something that makes them shriek like they’re in high school again, and I can’t help but notice how easily she fits in like a missing piece.

She’s not just mine now. She’s theirs too.

Stormy belonged to us before the ring. Before the first kiss. Hell, before I even knew her real name. But now? Now she’s stitched into the fabric of this family like she’s always been part of it. Not a guest. Not a visitor. Ours.

I take another sip, proud of the life I built. I didn’t know I was chasing this until she walked into it like a storm with nowhere to land. And here she is—rooted, radiant, wrecking me in the best way.

From across the room, she catches me watching her, and then I notice how her eyes widen with alarm.

I turn to see someone wearing a cowboy hat standing at the threshold of the barn.

Tall. Lean. Boots worn and dusty.

He removes the hat and holds it in his hand like he knows how to make an entrance without even trying.

Jace Tucker.

It’s been years since I’ve spoken with him, but he still has the same cocky stride, like he’s half man, half rodeo legend. He looks around the room with a sun-creased grin and a look in his eye that says he’s up to something—always has been.

He spots me, crosses the room, and reaches out with a firm grip.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” he says with a half smile. “Guess the rumors were true. Congratulations.”

I clasp his hand and give him a shake. “Didn’t expect to see you back in town anytime soon.”

“Didn’t expect to come back,” he says with a smirk. “But here I am.”

Before I can ask why, I catch the shift in the air, a pause in energy. I follow his line of sight and see him looking at my sister.

Fenix.

She’s standing near the dessert table, mid-sip from a wineglass. Her hand stalls halfway, frozen like someone hit pause on the whole scene.

Jace doesn’t blink.

And Fenix? She downs the rest of the glass, and her jaw clenches tight.

Seconds later, she’s storming toward us with her glass clasped tight in her hand.

“You weren’t invited. Leave,” she says, loud enough for only us to here.

Jace tips his hat to her with a smirk. “Missed you too, Firecracker.”

Her eyes narrow. “Don’t fucking call me that.”

“Come on,” he says, still grinning. “Thought you liked that nickname.”

“I liked a lot of things I shouldn’t have,” she snaps.

There’s heat in her tone and a dash of hate, mixed with something messier. Sharper. Like the edge of a broken glass.

“Do you want me to leave?” Jace turns to me, and I’m put in an awkward situation.

“I think we can all get along,” I say to him and glance at Fenix, who’s livid.

She lets out a huff.

Jace chuckles and focuses on my sister. “Guess I’ll be seeing you around now.”

“No, you won’t,” she fires back, quick as ever.

“I’m back in town for a little while at least. You will .”

Her jaw tightens. I think I see her hold her breath before she explodes. “Fuck you, Jace Tucker.”

She turns on her heel and walks away, chin high, spine stiff.

Jace watches her go, his smirk slipping, before he recovers.

He glances back at me and exhales. “If you want me to leave, I will.”

“No, it’s fine. Please behave,” I tell him.

“Thanks, man,” he tells me, giving me a nod before he finds his brother, who’s entertaining my mom and grandmother.

Stormy comes to me, and I wrap my arms around her.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. Lots of anger from Fenix,” I admit, spinning her around as we slow dance to a fast song. “I think things just got a hell of a lot more interesting around here. Jace is back.”

“You’re kidding,” she says, glancing over her shoulder at him.

Then I watch her eyes scan the room for Fenix. She’s nowhere to be found.

I kiss along her neck. “I was serious. If he’s the reason Fenix quit riding, I’ll hang his nuts off the back of my truck.”

She howls with laughter, and I love to see that bright smile.

Stormy glances over her shoulder. The barn is still full of laughter and movement. Vera dances with Emmett. Mama’s trying to force mini pies into unsuspecting hands.

“You ever think it would look like this?” Stormy asks.

“No,” I admit. “But I hoped. And it’s better than I imagined.”

Her eyes shimmer, and she rises up on her toes to kiss me. I feel the weight and promise of everything we’ve built.

When we break apart, she tilts her head. “So … what now?”

“Now?” I grin. “Now we finish the second floor. Plan a wedding. Maybe adopt another dog. Change some lives. Have some kids. Whatever we want.”

She grins. “I love the sound of that.”

The night settles soft over the barn, like a worn quilt. Stars are tucked high in the sky. Most of the guests have filtered out, shoes in hand, coats draped over shoulders, voices happily hushed.

“Let’s go home,” I tell her, pressing my lips against her temple, then one to her jaw.

“That sounds amazing, cowboy,” she tells me. “We have some celebrating to do.”

“Mmm, if by celebrating, I hope you mean …” I waggle my brows.

“That’s exactly what I mean. And thank you,” she says, pulling back enough to meet my eyes.

“For what?”

“For making me the happiest woman alive.”

“In one hour, I can guarantee you’ll be a lot happier than what you are right now,” I mutter, capturing her lips again.

“Don’t keep me waiting.”

She laughs, and I take her hand, pulling her with me.

As we walk away, the barn glows behind us. The music fades. Gravel crunches under our feet.

And in front of us? Well, that’s what we call forever.

THE END