Page 107 of Watch Me

“You do?” I inquired. I thought he could only sing if he were drunk. Granted, he might end the night thatway.

“It’s a surprise, Buttercup.” He squeezed my bare knee just below the hem of mycoat.

“Is it a country song again?”

“You sang a country song?” Maddie cutin.

“Yes, he sang a country song when we sang karaoke before,” Iconfirmed.

“Wow, I didn’t peg you as a country singing type.”

“There’s nothing wrong with country music,” Ethanstated.

“Of course not. I love country music,” Maddiesaid.

“So, is it?” Iprodded.

He chuckled. “I’m not telling you.”

I grinned. “Well, I can’t wait.”

And I didn’t have to wait long.

Getting married on New Year’s Eve was perfect. Rhys had hooked us up with a few VIP tables at Otis’s karaoke bar, and everyone came to celebrate our marriage and sing karaoke. We arrived at the bar and went to our sectioned off corner where everyone met us. We accepted more hugs and congratulations from our friends and family.

Rhys started our group off by singing first, then Maddie and I shared a knowing grin as I watched Ethan in his black tux get on stage. Ashtyn and Rachel sat at my table, watching Ethan. I had a momentary déjà vu feeling, remembering the night we went out to sing karaoke and Ethan was on stage. And what made this night even better was watching myhusbandget on stage and knowing that whatever song he chose to sing would be sung to me.

He nodded to the MC, and when the guitar strings started to strum in short beats, I knew exactly what song it was.

“It’s a country song,” I said toMaddie.

She smiled, and we returned our attention back to the stage. Ethan started to sing on time, staring at me as he did. He changed the first line of the lyrics to be about me taking care of Maddie. Then he sang about taking care of him, the way I light up any room, and how he wanted to be the man that I wanted him to be. I didn’t need a song to tell me that because Ethan Valor was the man I’d always wanted. Everything about him, from the teenage boy I fell in love with, to the man with specks of gray in his hair I’d just married, was just right. I started to sway in my seat as I listened to the lyrics about waking up next to each other every day and never leaving I love yous left unsaid.

Ashtyn leaned over to me and said the same words she’d said when Ethan had sung to me before. “My brother’s in love with you.”

I grinned and replied with the three words I had told her before because they were still the truth. “Yeah, he is.”

Ethan hopped off the stage, and I grinned at him as I stood. He continued to sing as he brought me into his arms and we danced as man andwife.

After twenty-three years, we were finally Mr. and Mrs. Valor.

TheEnd.