Eyes on Us Book 2

Laney

I flinch as another spatter of chocolate shake flicks through the air, landing squarely in Ace’s beard.

That probably feels really sticky.

“You managing okay over there?” I ask, a smile on my lips.

“Having the time of my life,” Ace says.

Sophie giggles as she kneads Ace’s beard with her tiny, chocolate-stained hands. Ace laughs along with her, his eyes filled with love and adoration.

My heart swells with happiness. I never thought that I’d be capable of so much affection. Just six short months ago, my heart was a bleeding, mangled mess—almost literally.

I was in labor, and the complications of the birth had me at death’s door. As if that wasn’t bad enough, I was sure that the father of my child had abandoned me for bright lights and groupies.

It was the hardest, most difficult time of my life.

But now, watching the scene before me, I’m glad for all of it.

The old vinyl floors and chrome-lined countertops of Roselli’s Diner are almost therapeutic. The scents of their famous burgers and fries mix in the air with that old time rock ’n’ roll on the jukebox.

And the best thing yet?

All of my closest friends and family are here with me.

Sophie laughs again, and I can’t help but wonder how this beautiful little girl could really be my daughter.

A roar of laughter erupts from across the diner. The rest of Vagabond howls with mirth as Declan coughs and splutters, the remains of a vanilla shake dribbling out of his nose and down his chin.

Good thing we reserved the entire place.

Rockstars definitely know how to make their own fun, but they can get a little—

…Rowdy.

Even prim and proper Declan can’t escape them.

Ace chuckles as he rocks Sophie in his arms.

“Grady probably dared him to chug it upside down or something.”

“I’m surprised Declan would even attempt that,” I say.

“The boys can be pretty persuasive,” Ace adds mysteriously.

I pop a french fry in my mouth as I watch Grady smack Declan’s back. Kieran, Grady’s brother, swishes the rest of the vanilla shake tauntingly in Declan’s face.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve gotten to know a little bit more about the other members of Vagabond.

Grady’s the drummer, and Kieran’s the bassist. They’re Ace’s and Eric’s cousins.

What a talented family.

Addie slips away from the commotion and makes her way over, sliding into the seat next to me.

“Hey, sis,” I say, offering her a fry. “Had enough of their antics?”

She snatches up the fry, rolling her eyes.

“Boys,” she scoffs. That’s all the explanation she needs.

Addie turns her attention to little Sophie. She coos and makes funny faces at her. Sophie tugs at Ace’s beard, her other hand reaching out for Addie.

“Come to Auntie Addie you cutie-patootie,” Addie says, cradling Sophie in her arms. “She takes after you,” she tells me, referring to Sophie’s shock of strawberry blonde hair.

“I’d hope so,” Ace says. “I don’t want her getting my ugly mug.”

“I wouldn’t have agreed to ma—” I catch myself “—Date you if you were as hideous as you say.”

Oops.

Almost gave it away.

“Besides,” I continue. “She clearly has your eyes.”

Sophie’s eyes are a deep, clear blue.

Just like her father’s.

Addie looks between the two of us suspiciously as she tries to dodge her niece’s chocolatey grasp.

“Did you just stutter?” Addie asks me.

Addie’s always keen when it comes to things like this. It’s all at once very impressive—and very annoying.

From the corner of my eye I see Ace wink at me.

“Just a little tired,” I say smoothly. “New baby. You know how it is.”

“Hmm.”

My phone buzzes. It’s Mrs. Roselli’s husband.

“Signore Ace!” Mrs. Roselli calls from behind the counter. “If I could ask you to come and help me with something, ~per favore.~”

Ace gets up from his seat, trying—and failing—to remove all of the chocolate from his beard with a napkin.

My heart starts to pound erratically in my chest.

Here we go.

“I’ll be right back,” he says. His voice betrays no hint of what’s to come.

Another peal of laughter rings out from the boys. Grady and Kieran are gasping for air in between laughs. Declan looks downright miserable.

Eric throws us a glance, and he doesn’t need to say anything.

Help me, his look says.

Addie sighs.

“I’ll be right back.”

I take Sophie from my sister, cradling her in my arms. I wipe away the chocolate on her fingers, leaning in close to whisper to my daughter.

“Are you ready for the surprise, Sophie?” I ask.

She laughs and claps her hands.

This baby is a bundle of energy.

My own little ray of sunshine.

It’s hard to imagine that this day could get any better.

But it will in just a moment.

Ace

Mrs. Roselli leads me to the kitchen with a skip to her step.

I’m pretty sure that the kindly Italian lady is somehow even more excited than Laney and I.

She leans in to hug me, planting two fat kisses on both of my cheeks. Tears glisten in her eyes, and I can’t help but tear up a little myself.

Mrs. Roselli’s kindness extends far beyond being the kind patron of a diner. It’s almost maternal.

“I’m so happy for you,” she says.

Francesco walks into the kitchen looking dapper in his blazer. With its bulky frame and silver lining, the jacket looks like something from the past century, but it suits the kindly old man well.

“Ready, signore?” he asks me.

“Never been more ready for something in my entire life.”

***

I wait in the kitchen while Mrs. Roselli walks into the diner. I hear her voice ring out as she corrals everyone’s attention.

“Everybody please listen,” she calls. “Signore Ace and ~Signora~ Laney have a surprise prepared.”

The diner quiets down. I can hear Mrs. Roselli fiddle around with the jukebox.

A slow and soulful Fifties rock ballad begins to play.

That’s my cue.

I walk out of the back room, Francesco at my side. I’m wearing a tuxedo jacket, but it does little to mask the casual T-shirt, ripped jeans, and Converse shoes I have on. Still, the suit jacket adds a little more oomph to the affair.

It helps that it’s been tailored to fit my broad shoulders perfectly.

Not exactly the traditional wedding attire for a groom.

But then again, none of this is traditional.

And that’s exactly how Laney and I want it.

She's waiting for me, our daughter in her arms. She wears a flowing white cardigan in place of a dress, and Mrs. Roselli places a small flower wreath on her head instead of a veil.

Laney turns to me and she looks perfect. I can’t imagine a more beautiful sight.

After they get over the initial shock, my Vagabond brothers whoop and holler, the big goofy grins on their faces nearly mirroring my own.

Declan claps enthusiastically. Addie clings on to Eric’s arms, tears flowing down her cheeks.

The love of my life and I stand at our “altar” in front of the jukebox, our daughter cradled between us.

I’m dimly aware of Francesco reading out the wedding rites, but his voice sounds far away. My entire world consists of my family in front of me.

My beautiful wife and my beautiful daughter.

It’s not until Francesco clears his throat that I snap back to reality.

“Um, I do?” I say.

“Your vows,” he says gently. Everyone laughs around me.

“I’m not much for vows,” I begin. “I write music. A lyric or two. But nothing I can come up with can describe how I feel for you, Laney.”

Tears spill down her cheeks. Her face glistens like a diamond.

Francesco turns to Laney, but she doesn’t need to say anything. We gaze into each other’s eyes and everything we could possibly say is passed between us.

Francesco catches on, skipping the niceties. He probably married a few folks during his heyday as a ship captain, but no one quite like us.

“Do you, Ace, take Laney as your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this—”

“I do,” I say.

“I do,” Laney repeats immediately after.

Our minister laughs.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” he says, a smile on his face. “You may now kiss the bride.”

We kiss softly, little Sophie cooing as we move closer together. The kiss is gentle and tentative. And just like that, my family is complete. I’m finally married to the mother of my child.

Hand in hand, we turn to our small circle of friends.

Mrs. Roselli and Addie are sobbing. Even Eric has tears in his eyes. Grady, Kieran, and Declan clap and cheer as if their lives depend on it. They probably have a little liquid encouragement running through them.

This moment is perfect, and I wish it would last forever.

Then the jukebox switches songs, and an old Chuck Berry song starts playing.

“Let’s get this party started!” I yell.