Learning to Heal (38 page)

“A toast to Mr. and Mrs. Reed.” The crowd goes crazy after Ryan’s speech on Jay Jay’s stage. With those words I hold Mason a little tighter. Even though we’ve been married a week, I will never get tired of hearing them. I’m officially Mrs. Jasmine Marie Reed. Holding out my left hand, I admire the matching white gold band with pink diamonds that sits alongside my astonishing engagement ring. My man knows me so well. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. It may not have been love at first sight, but I know it’s forever for us. He’s my other half and my soul mate, but most of all he’s my hero. He’s been there for me through everything. And not just me, but Fin as well. Speaking of Fin, I feel a vibration in my pocket and know Brenda has sent me another picture of the girls together. My anxiety from her kidnapping is still an everyday issue, but we manage and I’m positive it’ll get better.

It’s been a month since she was taken and a month since Chanda turned herself in. When she was asked in court why she did it, she never gave an answer. I don’t care though. As long as Fin’s back in my arms, I couldn’t give two shits if there was a reason or not. She’s lucky that bars separate her from me because it would not be pretty.

Mason’s mom is keeping the kids tonight at our place while we’re out. Leaving her has been difficult for me, but tonight is a special party thrown by our friends since we never planned a honeymoon. I really can’t do more than that. One night away from Fin is pushing my limits, and I know Mason feels the same way. Maybe one day we will have an actual trip with just the two of us, but just not today.

The day he walked in and saw Fin in my arms he cried in front of me for the first time. I never thought a man’s tears would cause me to fall in love with him all over again, or for that love to be ten times stronger, but it did. It confirmed how much Fin means to him. How much we mean to him. To know he’s been up all night looking for her was so self-sacrificing. I never asked what he went through that night and he never told me. Reliving that day and night is something I never want to do, so the less said the better.

“Hey. Why the tears?” Mason wipes my cheek with his thumb as we sit at our table listening to our friends.

“Nothing bad. I’m just happy.” I smile up at him, admiring his shaggy hair and the way it falls the across his forehead and the dark green of his eyes. Well they actually look brown in this lighting, but I know the truth. I know him. “I love you, my husband.” His smile widens, displaying his cute dimples.

“I love you too, my wife. Want to dance?” He grabs my hand off the table and leads me to the crowded dance floor.

“Wait you two.” I look and see Tru and Cory blocking our path.

“Why? Mason was about to show me his moves, and besides, I love this song.” Bruno Mars’
Treasure
is playing and I can’t wait to reenact our first night dancing. Mason looked so out of place and even when I danced close to him, he still wouldn’t touch me. The memory causes another smile to form.

“Because Jax is talking to the DJ. I have a song for you two. I think it fits and Cory agrees.”

“Okay, why can’t we dance to both?” Mason asks them.

“Because I want a video of you two dancing together. I want to video the whole thing from beginning to end. So you need to wait. We didn’t really get one at the wedding because you two kept Fin the whole time. And your first dance looks more like a game of Ring Around the Rosy.”

We concede and wait until we get the okay. Cory is right. The whole wedding Fin was within arm’s reach. My separation anxiety is strange but everyone understands, even Mason. I’m hopeful it will get better because I want to enjoy my husband without a sleeping infant in the same room. I want to get loud and rowdy like the last time we stayed at a hotel together. I did get some amazing toys from Cory as a wedding present and I’m eager to try them. Definitely tonight.

When the song starts with a beautiful piano melody, we make our way through the crowd and settle in the middle. Mason pulls me close and as the song’s words pour through the speakers I know it’s perfect for the two of us. “What is this?” I ask Mason.

“John Legend’s
All of Me
.” He starts to sing in my ear and shivers run down to my toes and back up my skull.

It’s beautiful and his voice is surprisingly soulful and so unexpected. My heart is full of this man who loves me with my scars and all. This man who has healed me with his love and devotion to make me happy. I close my eyes and just take in the feel of him wrapped around me. Take in his scent as it surrounds me and makes me feel at home. Take in the words that he sings to me that fit how I feel about him. All of me loves all of him. Forever.

After we dance to a few more songs, slow and fast, we head back to our friends who are laughing and hollering. Ryan is necking some chick that I’m positive was just kissing David. I see another bimbo in David’s lap and know he definitely doesn’t care. Rolling my eyes, I sit beside Cory who is still with Bo. They actually go out on dates, and when I asked her about it she told me to drop it so I did. I still see how she watches Ryan. I might not be good with book smarts, but I know when someone is jealous. And she is the definition of jealous. Just ask the straw that’s mangled in her hand. Tru is off tonight and she sits comfortably in my brother’s lap with her arms wrapped around his neck. Jax isn’t drinking because he wants Tru to act like her age for once. Even though she’s only had two shots, you can tell she’s pretty tipsy and I can’t wait to see her on the dance floor again. Sitting beside Ryan is Lyric. He just stares at everyone who walks our way, like he’s always on alert or something. He doesn’t drink but smokes like a freight train. He never smiles and barely talks unless it’s to Ryan. His eyes land on mine and I feel my heart drop but cover it with a smile before I turn my attention to something else. I don’t let many people frighten me, but he scares the shit out of me. He looks like the most delicious thing to grace this earth with his lip ring and backwards cap he usually wears, but he’s not sociable. He’s cold and that is too bad. He would totally have chicks all over him if he’d smile every once in a while. They usually stay away because of his dark look, unless he pulls one into his lap and then she’s the chosen one for the night and squeals like a fucking pig. Ugh!

Luckily I don’t have to look at him for much longer and Cory doesn’t have to continue the straw massacre of the century because the band makes their way to the stage. Ryan’s on drums, Lyric is lead guitarist and vocals, and a guy named Jimbo is bassist. Ryan says he’s a fill-in until they find someone else. I hope they do soon because the guy doesn’t fit Lyrical Obsessions rock style at all. The crowd gathers at the front of the stage, but my party stays where we are. Well, except Ryan’s bimbo. She follows just like a groupie.

They start and I immediately recognize the song because Fin loves Chevelle. Plus Envy is her favorite song on the Hats Off to the Bull album. We all stand but since I’m short I stand on my chair to get a better view. Lyric’s whole demeanor changes on stage. He actually talks and works the audience almost like a lover. The girls scream and he strokes the microphone stand like it’s his dick, and I’m not going to lie. HAWT! I’m so into the performance I don’t notice the whistles and stares coming from behind me. Then I see David’s eyes plastered to something or someone toward the bar.

“Fuck, she’s hot.” His bimbo hits his shoulder and pouts, but his eyes are trained on another so he ignores it.

I turn around and see who has his attention and she is hot. She’s tall and slim with black shorts that kiss her ass cheeks and a white tank top displaying bright red lips on the fabric. In fact I think she’s braless. The red lips match her fire engine red hair that’s straight as a board and flows down her back. The upper part of her arms are colored with half-sleeves of tattoos and it makes her even sexier. I really love her black knee-high boots with red ribbon lacing in the back, which forms a bow at the top. I watch her as she makes her way to the bar and Janet walks out to hug her, but soon they are in an argument. What the hell? Nobody has ever argued with Janet and got away with it.

“Okay. I haven’t been with a woman in a while and swore that dick was so much better. But with her I’d definitely give it a go.”

Startled, I look at Cory. “You’ve been with a girl? Oh hell! Never mind. I don’t want to know.” My attention is once again brought to the firecracker that is done raising Hell with Janet and is now making her way up the stage. And she looks pissed. She gets up there and the music stops before she yanks the mic from Lyric.
Oh shit!
He looks pissed too.

The audience is a mixture of catcalls and boos from the interruption, but she just gives them the finger. “Tell me one fucking thing and I’ll leave. Who the Fuck is riding the black 88’ Harley FXRS and is parked in the staff parking?” Her voice is familiar but I know I’ve never seen her before. This girl is like a redheaded sexed up Kat Von D.

Lyric walks over and grabs another mic from the bassist. He stares at the redhead with enough anger to set her on fire. “Me.”

Her angered eyes squint before she stares him down while slowly walking closer toward him. I feel a shake on my shoulder and look down to find Trudy. “Yeah?”

“Do you know who that is?”

I shake my head and turn back before she can answer. This shit’s getting good. You can feel tension in the air and it’s almost electric. When they are close and staring at one another all Hell breaks loose. The girl rears back and punches Lyric right in the mouth before she jumps off the stage and shoves past people, vanishing out of sight. Lyric stands there rubbing his jaw, watching her disappear into the crowd looking just as bewildered as everyone else. However, his look is more savage.

People are screaming and chaos is everywhere, but Trudy is still beside me trying to tell me something so I give her my full attention. “Who was that?”

Before she can answer Janet walks up and looks at Trudy and me. “Blaire’s back. And the girl is fucking pissed.”

Thank you, God, for all the blessings

Thank you, Jordan, for being an awesome supporter and the love of my life. Thank you, Bethani, for being my little princess and making me smile when you're around. And thank you to my future adopted son or daughter. I can't wait to meet you.

Mari and Juliana with Keepin' it Real Book Blog, thank you for becoming awesome friends and pimps for the stories I write. ❤️ you both.