by Riley Rhea
We pull into her parent’s driveway and hop out of my truck. By the cars in the driveway, Brenna’s mom and grandfather are already here. Tucker, Brenna, and his parents were about to leave when we did, so they should be here shortly. Vance, Missy, and my parents are following Tucker since they’ve never been to Upton before.
As soon as we step into the back yard, I see Sam by the grill. Lexi tells me she’s going inside the house to let her mom know she’s here, and I know this is my chance to talk to her dad alone.
“Hey Sam, you need any help?” I ask.
“Naw, I’m just standing here pretending to cook so Alice doesn’t put me to work in the kitchen.” Sam grins.
“Smart man.” I laugh. “Can I ask you something?”
Sam turns to look at me and I think he knows what I’m about to ask. “Sure. Let’s grab a beer and have a seat. I’ve got a feeling I’m gonna need both.” Sam grabs us both a beer and hands mine to me as we take a seat on a bench under a shade tree. “Alright, son, I’m ready.”
Taking a deep breath, I go for it, “Sir, I know Lexi and I have only been together for three months, but I plan to ask her to marry me, with your permission of course.”
Sam sips his beer and stares off into the back yard for a moment before turning in my direction. “Spencer, do you love my daughter? Do you promise to protect her physically and emotionally and be true to her and only her?”
I don’t even have to think about my answer, “Yes, sir I do.”
“Then you have my blessing.” Sam extends his hand to me.
“Thank you. I promise to take good care of her.” I promise as we shake hands.
“Oh, I have no doubt about that, son, because if you don’t then you’ll have me and Drew to answer to,” Sam says sternly.
“You have nothing to worry about, Sam.”
Lewis joins us a few minutes later, and I sit and listen to them joke and tell stories until the others arrive. When I see Tucker’s truck pull into the driveway followed by my parents’, I’m on my feet and headed his way. He better not’ve forgotten Lexi’s present.
* * *
Lexi
Not only is today my birthday, it’s also mine and Spencer’s three month anniversary. I know that may not seem like much to some people, but when you find that person that you are meant to spend your life with, every single moment is special.
My parents always have a cookout for my birthday and this year I get to share it with my new extended family. I haven’t heard from Drew since the day we talked almost five weeks ago. I have no idea if he will show up today or not.
I’ve been in the kitchen helping my mom and Caroline ever since Spencer and I got here. It’s not too long before Ellen, Brenna, Missy, and another woman I haven’t met join us in the kitchen.
“Y’all this is Willow,” Brenna says as she takes a seat at the kitchen table.
“Hi, Willow, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Lexi, this is my mom Alice, and that’s Brenna’s mom, Caroline.” I introduce us all.
“It’s nice to meet you all. I hope you don’t mind that Vance brought me.” Willow says.
“Absolutely not, the more the merrier,” my mom responds.
“Thank you. Can I help with anything?” Willow asks.
“We are about ready to carry everything out if y’all all want to grab a dish,” Mom says as she grabs a bowl and heads to the back door.
When we get everything outside and set up, I notice all the men around the table gabbing away like a bunch of women in a beauty shop. Guaranteed they are gossiping. “Come on, old men, it’s time to eat!” I holler at them.
I walk over to the table that holds my presents. I begin shaking them and inspecting them like a kid on Christmas, attempting to guess what’s inside the pretty packages.
“Who you calling old?” Spencer whispers in my ear as he wraps his arms around my waist.
“Never you.” I laugh as I lean into him.
“Come on birthday girl, let’s go eat so you can open your presents.”
“Do I have to? Can’t I just open one now?” Spencer shakes his head before he takes my hand and drags me away from my presents.
Everyone fills their plates and we begin eating. As per usual there is no shortage of gossip. I mean storytelling, as the men call it. Laughter is often and time flies. Before I know it, they are singing Happy Birthday and I’m blowing out my candles.
“It’s time to open your presents, Lexi,” my mom says with laughter in her voice. She knows this is the part I’ve been waiting for.
Gift after gift, I tear into paper and boxes. By the time I’m done, I look at the bounty before me. There are gift certificates to Victoria’s Secret, art supplies, cash, clothes, and a purse. I begin thanking everyone for my gifts when another box is placed in front of me.
Looking up I see Spencer smiling down at me. “Looks like you missed something.”
I pick up the small box and tear off the paper. When all the paper is gone, I open the box only to find a smaller box inside. Pulling it out, I rip that paper away too. When I open the lid to this box, my heart begins to pound. Turning the box upside down, a small velvet box lands in my hand. I slowly lift the lid to the velvet box, my heart beating wildly. Then when I see what’s inside, I swear my heart stopped. Oh my God!
“Lexi,” Spencer says softly while removing the box from my hand. Looking up at him, I wait for him to continue. “At one time, I thought time mattered, and I waited many years for someone that wasn’t worth all the time that I wasted. You have shown me that time doesn’t mean anything. These past three months with you have been the best months of my life. I look forward to every moment that we have together, and I want many more of those moments. You once told me that everyone needs someone to love. Now I’m asking you, Lexi, will you be my someone to love for the rest of our days?”
Tears stream down my face as I launch myself into Spencer’s arms, squeezing him as tight as I can. “Yes, Spencer. Yes! I will always be your someone to love.”
Spencer places me on my feet long enough for him to slide the ring onto my finger. Then I’m in his arms again and sealing our new step forward with a kiss.
“Well, looks like this just turned into an engagement party too,” I hear my dad say as he pats Spencer on the back.
Spencer releases me, and we receive hugs and congratulations from everyone. Today has been the perfect day. The only thing that would have made it better is if Drew had been able to make it. After everyone finishes looking at my ring, Spencer and I sit together on a bench and watch everyone around us. This is our family and it grows more and more every day.
The past few months have changed my life so much. I graduated college, met this amazing man, watched my best friend get married, tried to break my neck on stairs, met my nephews I never knew existed, moved in with the man of my dreams, and now he’s my fiancé. It’s been an amazing ride, and Spencer’s ‘right time’ doesn’t mean a thing when you meet the right person. When it comes to that special person you’re meant to spend the rest of your life with, time is meaningless.
Epilogue
5 ½ months later….
Spencer, we have to go. That was Caroline. Brenna’s at the hospital. It’s time,” I say as I shake Spencer awake.
“Couldn’t she wait till a little later in the day?” Spencer grumbles as he climbs out of bed in all his naked glory.
“I don’t know, let me call her and see,” I reply while rolling my eyes at him. Spencer and I rush to get dressed. Caroline said that Tucker told her to hurry because he didn’t expect us to make it before the baby makes his entrance into the world.
As for Spencer and me, the past five and a half months have been amazing. We cherish every minute we have together. We decided to hold off on our wedding until this spring, my mom is having way too much fun trying to plan it. If it was up to me, we’d just elope. Spencer refuses to do that, though. He says my parents will kill him, and he’s probably right. So, we have given my mom
and Ellen full reign over the planning, and after Brenna is up for it, we are all going shopping for my wedding dress and my bridesmaids’ dresses.
Everything between Spencer and Vance is going great, and for that I’m thankful. I’m so proud of Spencer for letting down all his barriers and welcoming his brother back into his life. He is like a new person. He has his smile back and I love it.
“You ready, Spunky?” Spencer asks, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Yup, let’s go meet baby Wade.”
It doesn’t take long to get to the hospital and find the waiting room to the maternity unit, where we find Caroline, Lewis, Tom, and Anna.
“Has she had him yet?” I ask as soon as I walk through the doorway.
“Yes, she didn’t even wait for us to get here,” Caroline answers with a smile.
“Have y’all been back to see her yet?”
“Yes, we got to go back a little bit ago. They just took him to the nursery and will be bringing him back to the room in a few minutes,” Anna says.
“He looks just like his Poppa too,” Lewis gloats.
“No, he looks like his Pappy,” Tom argues.
They begin debating back and forth just who the baby looks like when Tucker walks into the room. “He doesn’t look like either of you. He looks like his daddy.”
“Well, who you think you look like, boy?” Tom questions Tucker.
“The milkman,” Tucker responds and we all begin laughing.
“Can I go back and see Brenna?” I ask Tucker when the laughter dies down.
“Yep. I was just coming to see if you and Spencer were here yet. Y’all follow me,” Tucker says as he begins walking down the hallway.
As soon as we enter Brenna’s room, Tucker slides on the bed behind her and wraps his arms around her waist. Brenna has a small little bundle in her arms and I can’t wait to get my hands on him.
“Hey, y’all. Come meet Eli,” Brenna says. She has a glow about her that suits her so well.
This baby is the most precious little thing I’ve ever seen. He is the perfect combination of his parents and he’s going to be so loved, and so very spoiled.
“We wanted to ask you two something,” Tucker says while looking between Spencer and me.
“Anything man, you know that,” Spencer answers.
“We want you and Lexi to be Eli’s godparents,” Brenna says.
I’m at a loss for words. I’m so touched that they would ask us to take that role in their child’s life. I look up at Spencer and nod.
“Of course, we’d be honored,” Spencer answers for us both.
Brenna holds out Eli for me to take, and I cuddle him against my chest and sit down in the chair against the wall. Spencer comes over and kneels beside me. He plays with Eli’s hand and a huge smile spreads across his face when Eli grasps his finger.
“You know what, little man? You are going to be so rotten the whole town will smell ya. But that’s okay because they will all love you as much as we do. And one day, you’re going to be all grown up and you’re going to meet someone who makes your heart beat fast and makes you want to run faster. That’s when you know you’ve met your other half and that will be your someone to love for the rest of your life,” I whisper to Eli.
This little man in my arms is a gift to his parents and to Spencer and I too, because had his parent’s not found their way back to one another then we wouldn’t have found each other. Leaning down I place a soft kiss against Eli’s forehead before I hand him back to Brenna.
Spencer wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into his chest. The love is this room can be seen, it can be felt, and it’s all because we followed our hearts and jumped in with both feet. Timing may be everything but it’s not really relevant when love is involved. When it comes to love, you have to grab it with two hands and hang on tight. It may be one hell of a roller coaster ride, but the thrill is well worth it in the end.
The End…
Want to know Vance’s side of the story and what his future holds? You will find out in his book, Worthy of Love.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18750901-worthy-of-love
Then it’s onto Drew and Missy’s story, Feel My Love. What happened to keep these two apart?
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18750903-feel-my-love
For updates on upcoming releases, teasers, and purchasing information subscribe to my mailing lists at www.rileyrhea.com
About Riley Rhea
Riley Rhea is your typical country girl, born and raised in the Bluegrass. In the last 30 something years, she has successfully brought into this world 3 children, which may or not be claimed by her, depending on their behavior.
Riley enjoys reading, spending time on the farm and quiet afternoons when those who call her mom leave the house. Riley also loves country music and drools over Luke Bryan. Riley’s biggest fears are crickets and banks.
Not just an avid reader, Riley is an active blogger and reviews many books during the span of a week when she isn’t writing about her loveable and sexy country boys.
She’s always had a background in writing, her mother being an author, and one day, out of the blue, 2 characters popped into her head and wouldn’t shut up. After some advice from a good friend, Remember Love was born.
Thank you all for taking time to get to know Riley a little better. You can always find her on Facebook if y’all want to chat a little more.
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Acknowledgments:
Writing the acknowledgments is by far the hardest part for me. There isn’t a way that I can say thank you enough to all the people that have helped me throughout this process. A simple thank you just doesn’t seem like enough.
I began writing Someone to Love many months ago and so many things have changed in my life since then. I try to make my characters from small towns that surround or are close to my hometown. Lexi is from Upton a small town about thirty minutes away from me. I wrote that part many months before I met the most amazing person I’ve had to the pleasure to meet. It’s funny how life works out. I met my someone to love from that same small town and am working on building my final love story. I have to give a huge thank you to him for supporting my writing and for pushing me to live my dream. Ryan, you are the best and I love you more every day. Thank you for being you.
Melissa Gill
There is no way in hell I could do this without you. You cover my books in amazingly beautiful covers, you take care of my fan page when I can’t, and you are ALWAYS there to help me when I’m stuck or just to read and give me feedback. You’re help and encouragement mean so much to me and our friendship is absolutely priceless. You are the best and I love your face! Thank you for EVERY SINGLE THING that you do!
Harper Sloan and Carlie Sexton
Thank you so much ladies for all the hard work and dedication that you put into your characters and making me fall in love with them. But most of all thank you for allowing me to use a piece of your work in this book. You ladies are awesome!
Mia Michelle
Thank you so much for all your help and input with Lexi and Spencer. You have no idea how much your input has helped me and how much your support means to me. No matter how busy you are you are always there to encourage me to write more. Thanks babe and know that I have mad love for ya!
Emma VonDielingen
You have absolutely no idea how much you help me. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to read my work and all the work you put into teaching me to show and not tell. You are a life save
r! MWAH!
Jennifer Zorko
You have been a huge help to me throughout both books. When my internet was out you were only a phone call away and went from a beta reader to a beta listener. Thank you so much you are truly the BFBFE. Oh and sorry to ruin that for ya! LOL
Jenna Tyler
Thank you for all your help. I really hope you broke your comma key this time. Love ya bunches hussy!!
Nicole Kelsey
Thank you for all the time and effort you put into making teasers for Someone to Love. I’m so glad you messaged me that day wanting a paperback because it sparked a great friendship and I look forward to having you on my beta team for the rest of this series and hopefully many more. Your beta notes have brought me so much laughter. I love that you changed Lexi’s name to your own and claimed Spencer as you own. You’re the best!
TO ALL MY BETA READERS
You guys are the best. You are always eager when I post a new chapter and you stay on my ass for the next chapter. I’m lucky to have y’all and I can’t wait to start a new book. Hugs and kisses to you all!!
Bloggers
Thank you to ALL of you who have promoted me in any way. You put so much love and hard work into your blogs and I appreciate everything you all do, not just for me, but for all my authors’ friends. You All Rock!!
