Authors: B.N. Toler

The Anchor (38 page)

BOOK: The Anchor

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“Answer the question, Nikki,” Joey presses.

I look back to Joey and say, “With all my heart and soul.”

Joey grins and nods once in acceptance and orders, “Keep your hands where they are.” Murmurs fill the room as everyone questions Joey, just like me. But Joey doesn’t stop to explain. After he sees my hands remain where he instructed me, he moves on. “Now you, Parker. Raise your right hand and put your left hand on the table.”

Parker does as he’s told.

“Do you love Nikki Reese with all of your heart and soul?”

Parker glances at me, feigning uncertainty. “You better say yes,” I sass and our guests chuckle again.

“Yeah, she pretty much owns me,” Parker admits and I stick my tongue out at him.

“All right then. Keep your right hand up and put your left hand over Nikki’s.” Parker does so, and the crowd gets a little loud, chuckling heartily, wondering if Joey’s gone mad.

“Folks,” Joey says, loudly, drawing everyone’s attention back to him. “I want you all to take a good look. This is a momentous occasion you are bearing witness to. This, right here,” he points to where Parker’s and my hands are joined, “will be the last time Parker Hayes
ever
has the last word or the upper hand.”

The room explodes with laughter and hoots as Joey keels over in laughter. John rushes up to him and hugs him for his epic show. Parker is red in the face he’s laughing so hard. Me, I fight the laughter and scowl at Joey when he looks at me. And in the true fashion of a former beauty queen and mother-to-be, I flip him the bird.

He runs to me and wraps me in a big bear hug as my laughter bubbles out. “He’s a lucky son of a bitch, Nik,” he tells me. “I’m happy for you.”

When he pulls away, Parker and he do a weird one-hand shake, hug thing. We dance until my poor feet can’t take it anymore and laugh the night away and even though nothing turned out thus far in my life like I thought it would, I’ve never been happier. I have an amazing husband, a healthy baby on the way, friends I would do anything for—who would do anything for me as well—and now . . . I have a mother, father, and sister in the Hayes family.

As we say our good-byes for the night, Parker and Dierk stand off to the side, chatting. When I approach, Parker is telling Dierk, “I appreciate you lending her the truck, man. We paid for the repairs and it should be back to you this week. We’re going car shopping next week.”

I didn’t know this, but I don’t say so. I’m just happy to hear Parker having a polite conversation with Dierk. Then in the same well-mannered fashion he puts Dierk in his place. “Joey, Nikki, and Edie think a lot of you. I hope we can be friends, but you have to respect that John and I are with these girls. If you can do that, be respectful, that is, you’re always welcome in my home.”

Dierk nods, his lips flat when his eyes find me. “I’m happy for you two. And Nikki and Edie are two of my oldest friends. I don’t want to lose that.” Then he reaches a hand out to shake Parker’s.

As they shake, Parker announces, “Pencil us in for Thanksgiving next year. Nikki’s cooking.”

I roll my eyes as Dierk snorts. Here we go again. “So you’re saying I should eat a big meal before coming over?”

I lunge and pinch Dierk’s side and he winces as he laughs. Then he hugs me—an appropriate hug—and says, “Congrats, Nik.”

“Thanks, Dierk.” As Parker and I walk out to the car, I squeeze his hand. He amazes me every day and what he just did with Dierk means so much to me. Dierk can be a dick, but there’s a good side to him, too. Hopefully John and Parker will see that one day.

We stop on the dance floor where Maddie and Joey are dancing. Maddie looks elegant in her black dress, her long, dark hair twisted to the side. And Joey . . . well Joey looks like he’s got a hard on for Maddie and I’m not sure how Parker feels about it. He hasn’t said anything yet, but I’m wondering if that’s because he knows Joey hangs the moon in my eyes. We hug them both and say our good-byes.

When we climb in Parker’s car to head home for the night, he takes my hand and kisses it. “I know it wasn’t your dream wedding.”

But he’s wrong. I look down at my simple white cotton dress and breathe with ease. And a sense of calm washes over me. By all accounts, to some I’m a washed-up former beauty queen that got knocked up and had a shotgun wedding. To them I’m a walking cliché. Nothing like they imagined my life would be. Their illusion was of me in a satin gown covering my perfect body, the unattainable persona they admired radiating off of me, expensive flowers everywhere, and every person I’ve ever known in attendance. Our wedding was nothing like that dream. Rubbing my belly with my free hand, our healthy son kicking away, I sigh with contentment. “You’re right. It wasn’t,” I tell him, and he winces with my words. Then drawing his hand in mine, I lean in and kiss his warm lips.

“It’s so much better.”

Dear readers:

You’re probably wondering . . . what happened with the baby? When will John and Edie get married? Does Dierk finally get welcomed back into the gang? What’s going on with Joey and Parker’s sister? Yeah . . . I know. It’s coming. I’m super excited and I can’t wait to share it with you.

If you want to find out how the gang is doing, you’ll have to pick up Joey and Maddie’s story, coming in 2016. Title not yet decided. Joey is going to be an interesting character to write.

Fucking Joey.

Thanks to all who have given the Holly Springs series a chance. These books are meant to be easy reads that make you blush, smile, and laugh. I hope you’ve enjoyed Nikki and Parker’s story.

Love,

BNT

So many people to thank. First, the Legion of Moist. Kim Holden, C.M. Foss, Gemma, Lindsey, and Amy…you ladies rock my world all night long like Lionel Richie. Thanks for listening to me whine about my struggles with this book. I love you all dearly. You guys make me…

Dreama Boo, as always, thank you for being my friend, confidant, beta, and partner in crime. I love you to the moon and back.

Meg Collett, our schedules were hectic and you weren’t able to critique this one for me, but it’s your voice I hear in my head as I write. You’re gift in writing inspires me. So even though you haven’t read this one, you’re still a part of it. Thank you for your friendship and honesty. I love you, sugar boo-boo.

Marilyn with Eagle Eye Reads, thanks for not driving to Virginia and beating me. I know this one was a doozy. I truly appreciate your time and care. As always, you are awesome. Thank you!

Tami with Integrity Formatting. Have I mentioned I bloody love you? Because I do. Your designs are always magnificent and you are beyond amazing. Thank you so much!

To my readers…my cup runneth over. How lucky am I? Your reviews, messages, posts, and constant show of support makes this job absolutely epic. I am thankful for each and every one of you.

To my family, Toler and kids, I love you all. Thank you for your patience and support.