A hush fell over the crowd as I spun Sierra and then pulled her into my arms. The first notes of Garth Brooks’ song “If Tomorrow Never Comes” came from Sonny’s guitar and then his voice started in on the lyrics. I saw Sierra smile as I pulled her in close to my chest, our clasped hands between us as we swayed to the first notes of the music.
She fit perfectly in my arms. Even with the shoes she had on, she was just short enough for her head to rest on my chest as I closed my eyes and moved us to the music. When it was over, I spun her out and around before pulling her back in for a long, heated kiss. The crowd around us erupted with whistles, cheers, and catcalls. When Sierra pulled back she was blushing.
The next song started on the speakers attached to the large tent we were under and Sierra and I both laughed when Hank Williams Jr.’s song “All My Rowdy Friends” started to play. There was laughter all around us as Jace and Sarah along with Fain and Kari joined us on the dance floor and started two-stepping. Before the song was even into the chorus, half the crowd was singing and laughing right along with the six of us. Lexi and Leia danced past us, holding hands and spinning each other around in their pretty dresses, their boots showing as their dresses swayed with their movements.
At the last notes of the song, I spun Sierra around and then dipped her. I thought to myself that this moment right here was one I’d remember until my dying day. I felt like that piece of my life that had been missing just clicked into place and my heart was overflowing.
“Want to grab a drink and make our way past the food table?” I asked my bride with a smile as I tugged her in the direction of the beer troughs that were set up around the perimeters of the tent.
“Who chose that song?” Sierra laughed as we walked together.
“Had to be Jace or Fain,” I told her as I reached down to grab two ice cold beers. “I picked out “Friends In Low Places.”
“I liked it,” Sierra paused and then she blurted, “I like you.”
“Well, good, wife. I like you just a bit, too, you know.” I pulled her close to my side and turned us to look around at the group of friends who had watched us get married. “We’ve made a good decision, getting married. I think it will be very easy for us to love each other.”
“Yeah,” Sierra whispered. “Very easy.”
Fain walked up just then and we couldn’t continue our conversation, but I really wanted to know if she was feeling the same thing I was right then. But I could see love in her eyes when she looked at me, whether either of us wanted to voice it yet or not. I knew it was growing for me, too.
“Brother, congratulations,” Fain said as he got close to us. “Sierra, welcome to the family.”
“Thank you,” Sierra smiled.
“I hate to cut this short, but I want to get back on the road,” Fain sighed. “I hate being away from Jenna for too long, you know?”
“How’s it going between the two of you?” I asked him quietly, hoping that no one around could hear our conversation. “Last time I talked to you about her, you said she was still pissed.”
“Yeah, she is,” Fain grumbled. “And I get it. She thinks I’m there out of pity or guilt. Fuck, I dont’ know what she’s thinking. She’ll barely fucking talk to me now.”
“Shit,” I shook my head. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Do you love her?” Sierra asked and then her eyes got wide. “I’m sorry, I just met you. I don’t really know the situation and it’s none of my business.”
“Yeah, I love Jenna,” Fain admitted finally. “I have for too long and I fought it. But with the accident and all, I realized I was pushing away a good thing. I’d walk through fire for that woman. Hell, I do every time I get near her brothers.”
“The woman he’s talking about is Jenna Forrester,” I explained to Sierra. When she looked confused for a second, I added, “Her brothers are Bird, Kale, Clem, and Daughtry Forrester.”
“Oh,” Sierra raised her eyebrows. “Good luck, buddy. I’m going to let you two talk. Fain, it was a pleasure to meet you and I’ll be praying that your girl comes around. All I can say is stick by her side and keep trying. If you love her like you say you do, she’ll see it eventually. I’m going to find the girls and make sure they eat some real food before we cut the cake.”
“Thanks, Sierra,” Fain smiled. “I’ll come visit you guys next time I’m in town. I need to get to know my new sister and niece.”
“I look forward to it,” Sierra smiled at Fain and then tiptoed up to give me a kiss. “Come find me later.”
Fain and I watched her walk away and finally he turned to me and smiled, “You’re already lost, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “Pretty much.”
◆◆◆
“Hey, babe,” I said as I walked up beside Sierra where she was talking to Summer, Willow, and Shannon. “The photographer wants to take some pictures of just us and the girls real quick. She suggested the corral with the horses in the background. Walk with me?”
Shannon smiled knowingly and reached to take Sierra’s drink out of her hand.
“You guys go on. Sierra, I’ll hold onto this for you.”
“Thanks,” Sierra looked at Shannon oddly, probably wondering why she was acting so strange. “I just saw the girls over there talking to Holly and Emerald.”
We walked hand in hand and found our daughters and when I
