Melody of the Heart (15 page)

“Deal,” Lily said, and then they took off, kicking up a cloud of dust behind them.

Jake, Rhys, and I followed them at a much slower pace. By the time we caught up to them, they’d bought a ridiculous amount of tickets and were impatiently bouncing on the balls of their feet as they waited for us.

We did the bumper cars, the Tilt a Whirl, and the hokey Tunnel of Love. Lily even managed to drag me on the Merry Go Round. That’s when we eventually split up from the guys. Then we hit the food stands trying fried Oreos and fried pickles. I didn’t make it through half of my corndog before I was feeling way too full. Lily on the other hand had a never ending stomach when it came to fair food. I couldn’t help but laugh at her dainty self as she packed away the goodies.

As we walked around the other side of the fair, I nursed my growing indigestion. I knew it wasn’t just the fair food. It was the ring box in my pocket and what I had in mind to do with it when the time was right.

“Let’s do the Ferris Wheel,” I suggested.

Lily’s eyes lit up. “Okay.”

As we got in line, she started trying to devour what was left of her cotton candy. “Babe, I’ll get you some more if they won’t let you take it on with you.”

When she glanced up at me with her mouth and cheeks covered pink, I busted out laughing. “What? Do I have something on my face?” she questioned, with a smile.

“Hmm, just a bit.”

“Well, get it off. There’s wet wipes in my purse.”

“You’re always so prepared.” I then opened the giant bag at her side and got out the wipes. Bringing one to her face, I slowly started to work off the pink film. “You are a dirty girl,” I teased.

She giggled. “Only you would say something like that in line for the Ferris Wheel. Don’t think you’re going to get all happy-hands on me like Mark Wahlburg in the movie
Fear
.”

Whispering in her ear, I asked, “You mean you wouldn’t want to have an orgasm high up in the air?”

As I pulled back, she licked her lips. “Maybe. I’m all about new experiences.”

“Mmm, I like it when you’re naughty,” I said, as I nuzzled my face in her neck.

“Next,” the man taking tickets bellowed. Lily tossed her remaining cotton candy in the trash while I deposited the napkins I’d used to clean her up. I passed him our tickets, and then we climbed into a bucket seat.

The ring box continued to burn a hole in my pocket. I knew it was now or never. As our seat climbed to the top, I shifted and reached for the box. When I did, I ended up poking Lily in the side with my elbow. She gave me a weird look. “What are you so fidgety?”

“Just needed to get something.”

As she surveyed the view of the fairgrounds from our position, I finally got the box out. When we reached the top, the wheel stopped to allow other people on. “Isn’t it beautiful, Bray?” Lily asked, as she gazed at all the twinkling lights.

“Yeah, it is.” Taking Lily’s hand, I said, “I want you to know that each and every day with you is like this view. I can’t imagine my world without you in it. You’re the greatest blessing that has ever happened to me. You’re my soul mate, my other half, the very best of me. More in the anything in the world, I want you to marry me.”

Lily’s eyes bulged while her hand flew to her mouth. “You…me…” She shook her head. “What about going to my father and asking his permission?”

I smiled. “I went to him before we left this summer. We have his blessing and his support.”

The wheel shifted us forward again, and we started to descend back to the ground. As she continued to remain speechless, I cracked open the ring box. “This was my Nana’s first engagement ring. My Papa gave it to her right before he left to fight in WWII. Years later when he had made something of himself, he bought her a big, fancy diamond, but she never stopped wearing this one. Not until the day she died.”

Tears streamed down Lily’s cheeks. “It’s beautiful—the story, the ring, all of it.”

I slipped the ring on her left hand. “Just like my Papa, I’m going to get you a big, fancy diamond one day. You have my word.”

Lily smiled. “You should know me well enough by now to know that expensive rings don’t matter to me. Like I told you before, I would live with you in a box if I had to.”

I laughed. “One day baby when we have a mansion and lots of cars, I’ll remind you of what you just said.”

“It still won’t change the way I feel about you.”

“I feel the same way.” Twisting in the seat, I cupped her face with my hands. “I can’t wait to make you my wife.” I then brought my lips to hers for a lingering kiss. We continued the desperate, love-fueled kisses as the wheel made several more sweeps. When we finally got off, the guys were waiting on us.

“Did you guys enjoy the ride?” AJ asked, flashing us a wicked grin.

“Yes, it was very nice,” Lily replied.

“I got several good pics of you guys making out,” AJ said.

Lily gave me a dreamy smile as she answered AJ. “Good. I want to see them.”

“You do?” he asked

She nodded. “Then we can have the moment we got engaged forever immortalized.”

“Wait, you guys are engaged?” Jake demanded.

Holding out her hand, Lily showed them the ring. “I mean, he didn’t get down on one knee when he asked me, but it was still romantic.”

“
Still
romantic? I was trying to be creative with my proposal,” I protested.

Jake shook his head. “I can’t believe you guys are engaged. You’re just twenty-two.”

Lily frowned at Jake’s words and harsh tone. “What does it matter how old we are as long as we’re in love?”

“Whatever. It’s your funeral, not mine,” Jake replied.

“I thought you would be happy for us,” Lily countered softly.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Jake said, “Why would you want to get married?”

“Because we’re in love,” Lily answered.

“And how do you even know if the love you have is real? You guys were sixteen years old when you fell—” he made air quotes with his fingers, “in love.”

I crossed the space between us to stand toe to toe with Jake. “That’s enough. Look, you don’t have to be happy for us, but you don’t need to stand there being an asshole by questioning our love and choices on one of the happiest days of our life.”

He eyed me contemptuously for a moment before he relented. “Fine. I’m sorry. Okay?”

“Fine,” I muttered.

Taking Lily the arm, AJ said, “Come on. Let’s go buy you a celebratory funnel cake for your engagement.”

Silently I thanked AJ for lightening the mood. Lily’s genuine smile warmed my heart. “Okay. If you’re treating, I won’t say no.”

As she and AJ walked off to one of the stands, I started behind them with Rhys at my side. When I turned around, Jake was gone. “Asshole,” I muttered under my breath. I couldn’t imagine why Jake had reacted the way he had. Yeah, his parents divorced after his dad had an affair, but I couldn’t imagine that tainting him against all people getting married. The last time I checked he was crazy about Lily and enjoyed having her around.

Determined not to let Jake put a damper on my happiness, I strode up to Lily who was munching on one of the funnel cakes. “Want some?” she asked, holding out a bite for me.

Ignoring her, I pulled her into my arms and crashed my lips against hers. I moaned at both the contact and how sweet she tasted. My tongue ran along her lips, licking off the powdered sugar. When I finally pulled away, she was breathless. “You’re delicious,” I mused, licking my lips.

She giggled. “You sure you don’t want some cake, or do you want to taste me some more?”

“I might take a little of both.” I drew her to me and whispered in her ear. “Let’s go back to the bus for a little while.”

Jerking back from me, her eyes widened. “You want to leave the fair?”

“Yes, so I can make love to my fiancée.”

“You don’t play fair,” she pouted.

“You want a compromise?”

“What do you mean?”

Turning to the guys, I said, “Excuse us fellas.”

I took Lily by the arm and started leading her to the edge of the fairgrounds. “Where are you taking me?”

“Somewhere private.”

She didn’t protest anymore. We dipped into the heavy thicket of trees just beyond some of the campers. When I thought we were far enough away from prying eyes, I pulled her to me. “I want you so bad, Lily.”

“Then I guess you’re going to have to take me. Right here in the woods.”

I grinned. “I had just the same thought.”

Pushing her back against one of the trees, my fingers went to the button on her shorts. I jerked them down her thighs, along with her panties. As our lips stayed locked, I worked to free my hard on from my shorts. Grabbing Lily by the waist, I hoisted her up and then impaled her on me. Gripping my shoulders hard, Lily cried out. “I’m sorry, baby. I should have gotten you ready.”

She shook her head. “Mmm, I’m good. It hurts so good.”

Her words and noises of pleasure drove my hard thrusts as I pumped in and out of her. I was afraid that even through her shirt, she was going to get splinters from being banged back against the tree. After I dipped my head, jerked down her shirt, and took her nipple in my mouth, she came, which caused me to as well.

We stood there, chests heaving and panting, from our exertions. “Our first time as an engaged couple,” I mused.

Lily giggled. “It’s so romantic being fucked up against the tree just a few feet away from a bunch of strangers.”

Cocking my brows at her, I countered, “You just came harder than you have in weeks.”

“That’s true.” After nipping my bottom lip with her teeth, she said, “I guess we’ll just have to have sex in public more often.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call this public, but I’m all for it if you are.”

With a grin, Lily said, “Can you put me down? I’m not sure my legs will work though.”

I eased her back from the tree and then sat her on her feet. I pulled her shorts and panties back up. Then I worked on getting myself presentable.

“Ready?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, I need to find a halfway decent bathroom to clean up in.”

We started out of the woods together. After a bathroom pit stop, we were back in business. As we walked through the crowd, I couldn’t help glancing over at Lily from time to time and smiling. When she finally caught on, she asked, “What?”

“Are you really disappointed that I didn’t get down on my knee when I proposed?”

She shrugged. “Maybe a little.”

“It means that much to you?”

“It’s just conventional for the guy to get down on one knee.”

When I stopped walking, Lily turned around. “What’s wrong?”

With a smile, I sank down onto one knee. “Lily Marie Gregson, will you make me the happiest man alive by consenting to be my future wife?”

Lily’s eyes widened. “Yes. Yes of course I do.”

As I rose back up, people around us started clapping. Lily blushed at the attention. “Are you satisfied now?” I asked.

She laughed as she threw her arms around my neck. “Yes, Brayden. I’m very, very happy.”

LILY

      
 
THE PAST

To everything there is a season, a purpose under heaven--
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Those words would mean a lot to me during the difficult periods of my life. It helped me remember during the times when I thought I could not go on, that it was just a season, and the hopelessness would pass. It was also a reminder to enjoy the moment because happiness is sometimes fleeting.

The summer Brayden and I became engaged was one of the happiest times of my life. I loved being out on the road with the guys, and I was sad to see it end. In the autumn, the guys hard work touring paid off. A promoter who saw them at a show in Anaheim sent their CD to a record executive. Within two weeks, the guys were offered a very lucrative record deal. Their first two singles topped the Billboard charts.