Now he was here, but she had no idea where he stood. About her or God or anything.
Reese slapped down her final King on the pile of Aces between them. “I won!”
“Best out of three?” Sterling asked. Reese nodded, and they began shuffling again.
Her sense of competition reared up in the last hand, but his did too. A few times they slapped each other’s hands in a race to lay cards down on the Aces. She was giggling, and he was too by the time Sterling slammed down his final King.
“Yes!” he shouted. “I win.”
“Congratulations.” Reese set down her cards. “Now do you want to explain what’s going on?”
In a swift move that startled her, Sterling picked up the coffee table and moved it to the side so that it was no longer between them. He sat down again, their knees touching. “Is it wrong that I wanted to see my girlfriend?”
“What?”
Sterling’s look was teasing. “I wanted to see my girlfriend. This is my second-longest relationship ever. Coming to see you after I got home from my super-successful tour—thanks to an excellent social media manager—was a given. Did you not expect me?”
Reese tried to make sense of this conversation. “Sterling, I’m not your girlfriend.”
He smirked. “When did we break up?”
“When you left me that morning ….” She thought back through their conversation in Santa Monica. He had not broken up with her. He walked away angry. But he had not said it was over. “I just assumed.”
Sterling made a clucking sound with his tongue. “You really shouldn’t assume things, girlfriend.”
She shook her head, trying to clear the muddled thoughts. His smile and close proximity were throwing her off. “But we—you—I thought. No. There is no way. That’s a technicality.”
“Sorry, Reese. But according to the rules of life, unless we break up, we are still together. I asked you to be my girlfriend. You said yes. We did not break up. Therefore, logic dictates that you are still my girlfriend. Sorry if that upsets you.”
Tears pricked her eyes. It did not upset her. But she was so overwhelmed that she didn’t even know how to respond to his flirtations and teasing. Maybe she just needed to flirt back. “You are the very worst boyfriend I have ever had,” she said.
His eyes seemed to light up. “I was hoping you’d say that! Or something like it. Really, I planned out like three options for this. All the bases covered. Wow. Listen to me ramble. I sound like you! Anyway, Reese, you need to stand up.”
“What?”
“Stand. Up. Please?”
Reese stood. At this point, she would do anything Sterling asked. He was here, in her apartment. He had come for her. Despite the silence between them since California, it felt like they were right back where they left off. She didn’t want to question it, or him. She wanted to follow him wherever he led.
Of course, that’s what got her in trouble in the first place with Sterling.
Lord, help! Strength, direction, guidance. Guard my heart and give me wisdom, please.
When Reese stood, Sterling got on one knee. It took her a moment to recognize the posture. Then her hands flew to her face. He could not be doing this. But even as her brain fought against believing it, her heart was singing.
“I know I’m the worst boyfriend ever. What would you think about changing titles? What would you say to letting me be your fiancé?”
Reese sputtered, staring down at him as he grabbed her hand in his, then pulled a ring box from somewhere. She barely glanced at the glittering stone inside. Her eyes were fixed on his. “But … what … you …”
“Reese Montgomery, I know that we have had the shortest and probably worst dating relationship of your life. I know that the last time we talked in person, I was horrible to you. I meant what I said in the letter—I am so incredibly sorry. Before you give your answer, I have a few more things to say. I’m sure this proposal would sound like a bad idea to most. But you know what? I don’t think so. I’ve been praying about this almost since the day you left. And your dad said yes. I flew to Texas and I asked him.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. “You asked my dad?”
“I did. Scariest moment of my life. Give me a packed stadium and a stage any day. I told him that you were a force of nature, which he agreed with. I explained how you won me over. How you fought with me about the most important things and pushed me to grow. You put me first, even when I didn’t deserve it. Reese, you have no idea the impact you had on my life. I want to tell you all about it. Have you still been praying for me?”
Reese nodded. Her prayer life had never been so good. She had only Sterling and her desperation to blame. She couldn’t speak through the tears that were turning quickly into something more serious. Happy, but serious. She nodded.
“Good. I’m glad. You know what else? I meant it when I said I had been praying for you.”
Reese could no longer hold back the sobs. She was so glad that Sterling had chosen the safety and quiet of her apartment to do this.
“You can’t fix me,” Sterling said. “I’m still a broken, hot mess. But I love you, Reese. I want to grow in faith and grow as a man right beside you. With you. I’ve had a lot of time to think about this and I’m sure. I love you. I want to wake up every morning to see you with your messy hair, your pajamas, and your beautiful face. I want to have you on tour with me, waiting in the wings. I want to build a home with you and come home to you. I want to have a teeny, tiny wedding and then spend the rest of that day being yours. Then I want to spend every single day being grateful that God gave me a second chance and that you did too. Reese, will you marry me?”
While he was talking, Reese had been praying for God to make the answer clear. She wanted this so much that she didn’t trust it. Sterling said all the things she wanted to hear. But doubts and fears rattled her. He was a famous rock star—what kind of life would this be? Could he really love her? He was new in his faith—was it genuine? Things moved too fast before—was she making the same mistake again?
As Sterling finished, Reese felt her fears and doubts suddenly disappear, like fog burning off in the sun. It felt like in place of every doubt or fear she’d had, God placed a sense of peace. The kind she had come to recognize as being from him. A verse popped into her head from one of the gospels: Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you. It was the confirmation she needed.
“Nothing would make me happier,” Reese said. “Yes, I will marry you.” The next thing she knew, Sterling had her in his arms, lifting her up and pulling her close. Staci and Moby appeared from somewhere and were hugging them and cheering and crying too.
Sterling pulled back just enough that Reese could see his face. “Did I say yes already?”
“You did. And I won’t let you take it back. I know I was the very worst boyfriend ever, but I promise that I will be the very best fiancé and husband you’ve ever had.”
“I believe you,” Reese said.
When he pressed his lips to hers, Reese felt like it was a confirmation of all her prayers, all her hopes, all her feelings. He wasn’t perfect. She wasn’t perfect. They would be two imperfect people, playing alongside one another, imperfectly.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Why did I let everyone talk me into a big wedding?” Reese groaned, sinking into a chair.
She smoothed out the front of her dress and the glittering pink diamond on her left hand caught her eye. She had never been big on jewelry, but the ring Sterling had picked out blew her away. She didn’t even notice it at first when he proposed, more distracted by the man himself.
Staci sat down on the nearby couch. “Seventy-five people is not a big wedding.”
“I wanted ten. Maybe fifteen,” Reese said. “Something intimate.”
“Even your families would have been more than fifteen people! This is a happy medium. It’s still you. And, at the end of the day, I think you’ll have a lot of something intimate.” Staci wiggled her eyebrows.
“You’re not on a stage. You’ll be at the front of your church. With just family and some close friends supporting you.”
“On the stage.”
“You are impossible,” Staci said. “Just remember—this is you and Sterling. Let everything else fade away.”
Reese’s heart sped up and she couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, that’s easy. Everything fades away when I look at him anyway.”
“There you go. See? Everything will be fine.”
The door to the bride’s room opened and Reese’s older sister Rachel walked in, followed by Morgan and Sterling’s sister May. All of them wore dresses made of some kind of layered, gauzy material in various shades of pink. Reese had forgotten the name. Chiffon? These kinds of details were not her strength.
Though Rachel pitched a fit, Reese had asked Morgan to help with most of the planning, especially the styling and clothes. Rachel would have found some way to make the bridesmaids look like cotton candy, poufy and too sweet. Morgan found an affordable designer that let each woman pick her own style in the same fabric. Together, they looked fantastic, but it gave them each a little distinction. It had been Morgan who suggested that Reese wear a pink sash around the middle of her white dress. At first, Reese’s mother had protested, but everyone agreed that the pop of color suited her.
“Are you ready, little sis?” Rachel asked. “You look beautiful and the church is perfect. I had May help me double-check all the flowers.”
Rachel linked her arm through May’s, smiling. May nodded and smiled but gave Reese a look that pleaded for help. Because Reese hadn’t let Rachel help with as much of the planning, she let her sister have free reign over florals and a lot of the décor. Mostly because Reese did not care at all about flowers or what the reception looked like. She had requested pink and white and nothing too crazy. Which probably meant giant blooms everywhere.
“Thanks, Rachel. You’re a lifesaver. Where’s Mom?”
“Helping with Grandma. She said she and Dad would be here in just a few minutes. They were getting a few photos together.”
“Perfect. Hey, everybody, could I get a few minutes with May?” Reese asked.
“Let’s move, people,” Staci said. She ushered everyone toward the bigger, attached room where they had all gotten dressed.
Morgan squeezed Reese’s shoulder before she left. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks to you,” Reese said. They shared a smile and Reese was again thankful that they had remained friends after everything. Morgan had completely moved on with a guitarist in another band and had been nothing but supportive. Next to Staci, she had become Reese’s best friend.
May sat down on the couch where Staci had just been. “Thank you for rescuing me. Your sister is, um … ”
“Like a hurricane of energy and positivity?”
May laughed. “Something like that.”
“When they say everything’s bigger in Texas, they had Rachel in mind. She means well, but I know she can be a lot. Thanks for letting her drag you around.”
“I’ve learned a lot about different kinds of flowers,” May said. “And place settings. I’m sure that will come back to help me in life somehow.”
“Definitely. Lots of job potential when it comes to flowers and place settings.” Reese smiled and touched May’s hand. “I didn’t want to be too sappy, but I just wanted to say that I’m glad to be adding another sister to my life. I’m glad it’s you.”
May bit her lip and nodded, her eyes filling with tears. In the past six months since Sterling had proposed, Reese had only gotten a little time in with May. She and Sterling had planned the wedding date around her release from the recovery center, giving an extra month after so it wouldn’t be pushing May into an immediate change.
May looked even healthier than the last time Reese and Sterling had flown out to visit her. They had gone to Calming Waters a few times a month since their engagement. The first time, Reese had been incredibly nervous, but she and May hit it off right away. Sterling had come up with a way to add a third person to Double Solitaire, making it Triple Solitaire. It was a little awkward and they had to adjust seating a little, but it worked. May was as competitive as her brother and the games often ended in the three of them getting shushed by the staff at Calming Waters.
Each visit, May looked a little bit better. She had gained weight and her hair looked shinier and fuller, her skin clear and bright. Most of all, though, Reese could see it in her eyes. The first time they met, May still had a haunted and restless look about her. It eased over time and today she seemed like a different young woman. Free and light and beautiful.
“I don’t know what you want to do when you finish the course work for your diploma, but I want to remind you that you’re welcome to move out here with us. Sterling’s house, as you know, is ridiculous, and there is an apartment above the garage. If you want a job, Staci and I could totally train you for social media management. We’ve got clients coming out of our ears. You could start as a virtual assistant and work up. Totally up to you, but I want you to know that the offer is open.”
May squeezed her hand. “I don’t know what I’m going to do yet, but I appreciate it. I’ve given Mom such a hard time that I hate leaving her. Everyone else has, you know?”
Reese nodded. This was something Sterling told her that he had to work through. As he had been examining his life and his anger, he realized that he carried an enormous guilt for leaving his mother the same way his father had. Both Reese and his therapist had insisted that the way he left was not the same way his dad did, but Sterling still struggled with it.
“Sterling also offered for your mom to come here. Not live with us, though.” Reese laughed. “I like your mom, but I’m pretty sure I couldn’t live with her.”
May giggled. “I don’t blame you. I’ll think about all of it and talk to Mom. But thank you. You’re good for him, you know.”
Reese felt tears beginning. Exactly the reason Staci insisted she wear waterproof makeup. “We’re good together.”
It was true. Though the engagement had been quick and their relationship unconventional, Reese had continued to sense the peace and confirmation from God at every step in their relationship.
There was a knock at the door. May beamed. “That will be my brother. And it’s my cue to get out of here. You two may be good together, but sometimes you’re a little gross with all the love and happiness.”
“Thank you,” Reese said, giggling. She stood and hugged May, who went through the side door to join the other bridesmaids.
Sterling knocked again. “Do I need to worry about a runaway bride?” His voice was muffled through the door.
Reese stood just on the other side, her hand on the knob, heart beating madly. “I’m here,” she said. “Just a minute.”
Though she had always been against the idea of the groom seeing the bride before the ceremony, Reese had requested to have time with Sterling beforehand after seeing the guest list grow. She wanted something private between them, not in front of the whole church. The photographer waited on the other side of the door to get Sterling’s first reaction to Reese in her dress, but he would take a few shots and leave them alone.
“I’m going to open the door,” Reese said.
“I’ve got my eyes closed,” Sterling said.
The plan was for him to come inside, eyes closed, and let the photographer set up for a few shots. Having him there made Reese feel awkward, but she knew she would want a record of this moment later. She tried to remember Staci’s reminder: It’s just me and Sterling.
She opened the door. Sterling had a huge grin on his face with his eyes squeezed shut. Reese drew in a breath and heard the photographer clicking away. Sterling had never looked more attractive or so happy.
“Hey, there, handsome,” she said. She too
k his hand and pulled him into the room.
“You know that it’s not fair that you can see me right now and I have to keep my eyes closed,” Sterling said.
The photographer closed the door and nodded to Reese that he was ready. “You can open them,” Reese whispered.
Sterling opened his eyes slowly, as though just waking up. He met her gaze first, still grinning. Then he stepped back and took her in, his smile falling. Reese’s stomach fluttered, and she pressed her palm to it, feeling suddenly nervous. He didn’t speak. Did he not like the dress?
“Sterling?”
His eyes flew back to hers. They had tears poised to fall and his face held an intensity that she had never seen before. He stepped forward so quickly that Reese gasped. He cupped her face with his hands, his gaze intent on hers.
“You have never looked more beautiful,” he said. Reese closed her eyes as he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. It was barely more than a caress, a promise of things to come. When she opened her eyes, he was smiling. His gaze held so much love that it made her chest ache with longing.
“Thank you,” she said. The sound of a door closing startled her, but it was just the photographer leaving.
“Are you shaking?” His hands slipped from her face and wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. “Are you nervous? Do you have a fever? Are you okay?”
Reese was shaking. Her hands trembled, and she felt her whole body shudder once until it stilled in his warm embrace. “I think I’m just overwhelmed,” Reese said. “I’m not nervous now. You came in looking so serious and I was feeling anxious about being in front of all the people.”
Sterling pulled back enough that she could see his face. He smiled. “And people call me an introvert.”
“I know. It’s so silly.”
Managing The Rock Star (Not So Bad Boys Book 1) Page 25
