Changing Lanes (The Lone Stars Book 3) (30 page)
Read Changing Lanes (The Lone Stars Book 3) Online
Authors: Katie Graykowski
Tags: #Romance, #football, #contemporary
Across the street, there were giant block letters in the windows of the hospital. Laney shaded her eyes from the sunlight and squinted to get a better. Children of all shapes and sizes held up letters in the windows. She read the word on the top floor, “Mill? I don’t understand.”
The ‘m’ was turned upside down and became a ‘w’. “Will…”
She moved to the next line, “you.”
And then the next, “marry.”
The breath caught in her throat as she moved to the floor below, “him?”
The next floor down had a huge arrow pointing down.
On the first floor, Devon stood with an arm full of yellow roses staring up at her.
“Will you marry him?” Someone read from behind her.
Laney stood there for a moment, just taking it all in. Devon had loved her for almost half of her life, had given her a family, and showed her that love was the only thing that mattered. There really wasn’t much of a choice.
She beat on the glass and nodded, but the sun reflected off of the window and she could tell that Devon could no longer see her.
Frantically she beat harder.
“Honey, try this.” Sweet Louise handed her a roll of silver duct tape. “I’ve always found it useful in a pinch.”
Laney’s heart was pounding a mile a minute. She made a huge ‘y’ in the window in front of her, a ‘e’ in the next window, and an ‘s’ in the last window.
The kids in the hospital windows stopped jumping up and down and looked back and forth at one–another.
“You spelled ‘sey’. For someone with such a huge brain, you missed something.” January took the duct tape from Laney. “I’ll fix it. Why don’t you go tell him in person.”
Laney couldn’t help the deer in the headlights look she knew she had, and she didn’t trust her voice. She nodded to everyone and took off in a dead run. She was down the stairs and running toward Devon in record time.
“Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes.” She jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. “It took you long enough.”
His arms came around her.
She’d been waiting fourteen years for this day. It occurred to her that falling in love was reckless in a way. She’d thought she needed to go skydiving to feel reckless when all she’d needed to do was find her soul mate.
“Give me some credit, it took me a while to find you.” Tears rolled down his cheeks. “And this took some time to set up.”
Happiness flooded Laney. “I love you.”
She took the giant rose arrangement mashed between them and tossed it to the ground. “I love you.”
She kissed him hard on the mouth.
The hospital and professional building erupting in hoots and hands beating on glass.
“I’d get down on one knee, but you’re attached to my waist. I’m afraid I’d injure us both.” The happiness radiating out from Devon was something she’d remember forever. “I got you a ring, but you just threw it on the ground.”
Laney unwrapped herself from Devon, picked up the roses, and found the little black velvet box. She opened it, and her heart skipped a beat.
A thin braided gold band—like the bracelets they’d made for each other— held a huge, perfect princess cut diamond.
“Lara insisted that it be a princess cut. That kid knew diamonds. She helped me pick this one out.” Devon held his hand out for her to hand him the box.
“Lara? You planned this with her?” Laney didn’t think she still had the capacity to be overwhelmed, but she did.
“Of course, I had to ask her if it was okay to marry you.” Devon laughed loudly. “She reluctantly gave her blessing, but she wanted to pick out the ring.”
Laney felt her own tears of joy running down her cheeks.
Devon gently took the ring from her and held it out so she could see the engraving, DJ+EJ=4EVER.
“Just like the tree at camp.” Her heart did another love flip–flop. “I hope it fits.”
“I measured your finger when you were asleep. Do you think I’d leave anything to chance?” Devon slipped it on her finger.
It was a perfect fit.
“My life started the day I met you. I can’t wait to see what our future holds.” Devon kissed her lightly on the mouth.
Her life had begun the moment she’d met him too. He was her other half, her home, her family. They were soul mates.
“Damn, we’re so sweet, I’d really like to punch us right now.” Laney finally got her DJ forever.
Epilogue
One Year Later
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Devon clapped a hand on Big Billy Gain’s shoulder. “She’s eating for three now. Last Sunday I swear she ate an entire side of beef. It was a thing of beauty.”
Devon beamed at his pregnant wife. She was sitting in the main dining room of First and Ten Barbecue directly under a huge picture of her complete with a sign proclaiming that if you can out eat her, meal is free. They’d been open for three months and many had tried, but all had failed.
“I’ve got a rep to protect and I’ve been training.” Big Billy was trying for bravado, but his eyes showed fear.
“This is your last chance.” Laney massaged the muscles of her lower back. “I haven’t eaten all day. I’m telling you right now, it’s going to be a blood bath.”
Devon stepped behind his wife and took over massaging. He loved watching her body grow with his children. There was something inherently manly in having a pregnant wife. He’d gotten her that way and the whole world knew it.
Laney rubbed her belly. “Lara and Lacey are starving. They love meat.”
“It’s your funeral.” Devon pressed lightly right where he knew her back hurt. She melted back against him. Being married was the best thing ever. He got to wake up next to her and fall asleep right beside her. In between, he got to look at her.
“I can’t watch.” His mother took the hand of a four–year–old girl named Hannah who was her third foster child. “Come on baby girl, I’ve got a change purse full of quarters and that coin–operated carousel on the playground outback isn’t going to ride itself.”
Hannah clung to his mother’s leg like a life preserver. She’d come from a terrible home, but his mother would love her up. She’d be smiling and playing all by herself in no time.
“I’ve got a hundred dollars that says that Big Billy wins.” Warren Daniver held up a hundred dollar bill.
Clint shook his head. “But she—”
“Make it five hundred and you’ve got yourself a deal.” CoCo stood up.
“Done.” Daniver didn’t bat an eye.
CoCo smiled sadly. “Since you missed the first beat down Big Billy took in Seattle, you might as well hand over the money and save yourself this disappointment.”
“Of course all money won today will be donated to Project Hope so we can further the music lab at Dell Children’s.” Grace shot CoCo a look. “Otherwise it’s gambling and you’re too young.”
“Some people suck the fun out of everything.” CoCo tried to pull off upset, but she leaned over and gave her stepmom a huge, wet kiss on the cheek.
Even though he’d given up football earlier this year, shortly after they’d won the Super Bowl again, his football family was still with him. Most of them hung out here, which was wonderful for business.
To save Big Billy for the humiliation he was about to face, they’d closed early so only friends and family were here to witness the shaming of Big Billy Gains.
“Choose your weapon.” Devon looked to Big Billy. “Choose carefully, because if she really likes it, she’s just going to eat more.”
Big Billy nodded confidently. “Beef ribs. The only reason I lost in Seattle was that I don’t really like oysters.”
“Keep telling yourself that, big guy.” CoCo patted him on the shoulder. “Whatever it takes for you to sleep at night.”
Devon grimaced. “Beef ribs, those are her favorite.”
“I meant pork ribs.” Big Billy’s eyes darted around nervously.
“Sorry old friend. The rules are the rules. As the challenger, you get to pick the food, but you only get one choice.” Devon signaled the waiter to bring over two platters of beef ribs.
He set the smaller one in front of Laney and the larger platter in front of Big Billy.
Laney switched the platters. “He’s new.”
Devon nodded to the waiter. “That’s my wife. She’s an eater. Why don’t you have a seat and watch her eat more than the meanest defensive tackle in the NFL.” He turned back to Big Billy. “Laney has agreed to give you a ten rib handicap. On your mark, get set, eat.”
This last year with Laney had been the best year of his life. All the waiting around to see her again had taught him to never waste a moment. He smiled to himself as he watched her. She was his, he still couldn’t figure out how he’d pulled that off. What had started at summer camp would last forever because they were soul mates. He was the luckiest man alive.
About the Author
Katie Graykowski is an award winning author who likes sassy heroines, Mexican food, movies where lots of stuff gets blown up, and glitter nail polish. She lives on a hilltop outside of Austin, Texas where her home office has an excellent view of the Texas Hill Country. When she’s not writing, she’s scuba diving. Drop by her website
www.katiegraykowski.com
.
Other Books by Katie Graykowski
The Marilyns
The Lonestars
Table of Contents
