And, as it turns out, I'm the inspiration for some songs she's written." I looked at him, my eyes going wide. "She's got a fantastic voice, so I want all of you to give her a big round of applause to convince her to sing one of her songs." I was amazed when the crowd burst into applause. Orion stepped away from the microphone. "I'm sorry, babe. I didn't mean to look through that book of yours, but it was sitting out and...this song is amazing."
"What...which song?" I asked.
"You'll know it when you hear it," Orion said. "Please sing."
I closed my eyes. I could have backed out, but something made me want to sing, so I nodded and opened my eyes. Orion smiled and kissed me, which made a huge applause erupt. He stepped away from me, giving me center stage. The band started up and, he was right, I knew which song he was talking about. Taking a deep breath I started.
I've been thinking a lot about you and me, baby,
We've been through so much pain and love.
We've seen the highs and lows,
Seen the darkest darks and brightest glows.
But there's one thing I know to be true,
I've come to love you.
I looked at Andy and smiled at him. He was yelling out cheers and clapping along with the crowd to the music.I kept singing my heart out and, between breaths, I
let my eyes wonder over to Orion to see him just standing there, watching me with a big smile. I laughed and looked out at the couples in the crowd. It was an amazing sight-almost everyone dancing seemed to have coupled with someone.
When my song was done, Andy helped me off the stage and I ran over to Orion, who knelt down to kiss my pregnant belly. He climbed up to his feet and brought his face within inches of mine.
"I love you," Orion whispered.
"I love you too," I whispered back.
I smiled and kissed him. It felt, for the first time, as if everything was perfect.
Epilogue
Can you believe it! I, Madison Summers, of all people, am actually at a completely happy point in my life. Of course, I had to go through an unplanned pregnancy, three years of raising an adorable boy and get pregnant again for this to happen.
So now here I am now, twenty-one years old, my nineteen year old brother next to me and my three year old son, Noah, standing in a tuxedo next to his father. Yep, I'm getting married to Orion. And, in my opinion (and Mom's), it's about damn time! I think it will be a nice surprise when I tell him tonight that I'm pregnant again. I want to enjoy it for myself right now, though. Noah began bouncing, his brown hair bouncing as well, and his bright blue eyes are shining happily as he sees me walking down the aisle.
"You ready, sis?" Andy asks.
"Do you have to ask?" I reply, smirking and waving back at Noah.
Andy laughs and hugs me, then takes my arm as we start towards Orion and Noah.
"You look beautiful," Andy whispers.
"Of course I do," I say.
We both laugh. I wave at Nora, my Maid of Honor. Andy has two roles: walking me down the aisle and being Orion's Best Man. There are only the five of us at the altar-no other bridesmaids or groomsmen. Well six, if you count Orion's dad. Who knew that he's licensed to perform weddings?
Mom, girls I worked with and Uncle Jack sit on my side, while the band members and some of Orion's friends, along with a few family members, are on his side. My life is at its happiest at this point. Sure, I'm kind of sad that Andy had moved out, even if he only lives a few blocks away in an apartment. He got Orion's old car and Orion got a new one before Noah was born. Andy now goes to college studying graphic design and we're all very proud of him.
"So, do you two want classic or something more your style?" Phillip asks. I look at Orion with a raised eyebrow.
"Our style," Orion says, smirking.
"Alright then, everyone sit," Phillip says. I look at the guests as they all sit in their chairs. "We're gathered here today because my son finally managed to ask the love of his life to marry him..."
"Three years late," I say.
"If I knew you wanted to do it earlier, I would have asked earlier," Orion says.
"Sure you would have," I reply.
"I'm not a mind reader, babe," Orion says.
"Save the arguments for after the ceremony, please," Phillip laughs. I giggle as Orion mutters an apology. "Today, Madison and Orion have written their own vows, I believe?"
"Yep," Orion says.
"Then you go first," Phillip instructs.
"What?" Orion asks. "I thought we agreed Madison goes first."
"Alphabetically you go first," I counter.
"What about last names?" Orion asks.
"Still you," Andy says.
"Wanna go with the Plan B vows, then?" I ask as I tap Orion on the shoulder.
"Plan B vows? Okay." Orion says with a smile. "That would be easier. Boys?"
The band members all jump up and run over to their instruments. We had rehearsed this change to Plan B secretly with Phillip and the guys, whom we had sworn to secrecy. Our guests look baffled as the band gets settled and started.
Orion turns my head to look at him and starts to sing the vows we had written together just weeks ago. I join in with the band and, when it's all over, both our families and friends are in tears.
"Well that pretty much sums it up," Phillip says, wiping away a tear. "Do you two take each other to be your lawfully wedded husband and wife?"
"Say yes, Mommy!" Noah says. His little voice is so excited and happy that everyone laughs.
"Thanks, Honey, I know what I'm doing," I say, smiling at my little boy. I look at Phillip. "I so do."
"Same here," Orion says.
"Alright, no objections?" Phillip asks, looking at the guests. "Good, Noah?"
Everyone looks at the little boy. He looks shocked to be the center of attention now.
"What?" Noah asks.
"The rings," Phillip says.
"What rings?" Noah asks.
Andy crouches next to him and pulls the rings out of his own pocket, before putting them in his nephew's outstretched hand.
"Here you are, Daddy," Noah says, handing Orion my ring. "Here, Mommy." He hands me mine. The ring exchange is just as exciting as the rest of the ceremony, since we finally kiss for the first time as husband and wife. Then Orion, Andy, Nora and I sign the wedding register before Phillip finally announces Orion and me as husband and wife.
"Mommy, Mommy, are you gonna tell Daddy now?" Noah asks, running over to us later on.
Orion and I are sitting on a bench watching everyone else mingle. I lift him onto my lap. Okay, so I wasn't keeping Baby Number Two a secret from everyone. Noah knows and so does Phillip.
"Tell me what?" Orion asks.
"Mommy was gonna tell you that she's pregunt...pragna..." Noah tries to pronounce the word, but fails rather adorably.
"The word is pregnant, Sweetheart," I say. "And I was going to wait until tonight to tell him, you little spoiler!"
"Oops, sorry," Noah says.
"Aw, I can't stay mad at you. Not with that cute little face of yours," I say. "Go find Uncle Andy." I put him back down and he runs off.
"Uncle Andy still sounds funny," Orion says. "So, pregnant again, are we?"
"We?" I ask. "Excuse me, who's the one who has to carry the baby for nine months and go through twenty hours of labor?"
"Point taken," Orion says. Noah took forever to be born and he was nearly two weeks overdue. He just did not want out. "So, let me rephrase it. Pregnant again, are you?"
"And again, excuse me?" I ask. "Whose fault is it?"
"How about I just stop talking?" Orion asks. "That work for you?"
"Very much so," I say and give him a kiss.
Like I said, this is the happiest point of my life. And I have a feeling there's going to be a lot more.
END OF BOOK ONE
BOOK TWO - TO KNOW YOU IS TO LOVE YOU
CHAPTER TWENTY
"NOAH, I'M GOING to kill you!" I shrieked at my broth
er.
"What did I do?" Noah asked, innocently.
"You jerk!" I yelled.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What's going on?" Mom demanded, walking out of the kitchen. Noah and I burst into explanations at the same time.
"Noah totally took off with some bimbo without waiting for me after school," I shouted.
Noah responded, "She was not a bimbo! And I had to get some gas."
"Oh, she so was!" I retorted.
"Hey...stop!" Mom shouted. I glared at Noah, before turning to my mother. Noah just shook his head.
"I had to catch the bus home because someone wanted to impress the school slut," I explained.
"You made your sister take the bus?" Mom asked.
"I was coming back!" Noah said. "If she had waited like five or ten minutes, I would have been there."
"Oh, bullshit," I said.
"Don't start up with me, Riley," Noah said.
"Oh, what happened? Didn't get what you wanted?" I asked.
"Enough!" Mom said. "Noah Curtis Pratt, next time wait for your sister or else the car keys will be taken away."
"Aw, Mom!" Noah whined.
"Ha, ha," I fake laughed, sticking out my tongue.
"Riley Anne Pratt, leave your brother alone," Mom said. I rolled my eyes. "Remember, Andy, Shauna and Bridgette are coming over for dinner."
"I know, Mom. Bridgette has been reminding me all day," I said. "I have some stuff to do, so call me when they get here, okay?"
"Sure, hon," Mom said. I ran upstairs to my room, turned on my computer and changed clothes. School dress codes are so picky. I changed into a red spaghetti strap tank top and a black pair of shorts, before sitting down to open up my messenger and music folders. I pulled my keyboard closer as I watched the screen.
"Speaking of Bridgette, she's online," I muttered to myself. I turned to fully face the computer and started an IM with my cousin.
LoveUhateU says: Shouldn't u b getting ready? Lord knows it takes u hours 2 get ready 2 come over 2 my place.
Kisses are 2 Die for says: Ha ha, very funny. I am getting ready. That doesn't mean I can't chat and do that at the same time. I'm the queen of multitasking.
LoveUhateU says: Yeah, u keep telling urself that.
KissesR2die4 says: I'll have u know I am doing excellently.
LoveUhateU says: Ur grandfather must be so proud.
"Hey Ri, you got any..." Noah asked, barging into my room.
"Get out!" I yelled, throwing my slipper at him. Then I got up and pushed him out of the room.
"I need a lock on my door, Mom!" I yelled, slamming the door. I sat back down.
LoveUhateU says: Bridgette, u r so lucky u're an only child.
KissesR2die4 says: Noah getting on ur nerves again?
LoveUhateU says: When is he not?
KissesR2die4 says: He's a guy, Riley, they're prone 2 think with their dicks.
I laughed and shook my head, before looking though my latest projects: writing songs and lyrics for the school's play. Every year there is a play in June and for the last two years I've been involved in them. The computer dinged and I clicked on the minimized window that held my conversation with Bridgette.
KissesR2die4 says: Hey, I'll see you in a few because we r getting ready to leave now.
LoveUhateU says: Okay, see ya.
I closed the window and turned my attention to the songs I was working on. I opened up my music mix software, before turning to my keyboard, then hit the record button and started playing and began singing. I stopped recording and turned to the computer to load in what I had.
"You're getting better." I tilted my head back to watch my dad walk in.
"Thanks, Dad," I said.
"So your mom tells me that you and your brother were fighting again." I shrugged and turned back to the screen, then started fooling around with the sounds and adjusting things. "Do I have to tell you again that your brother really does care about you?"
"If you think you do."
"Riley, you know that Noah cares about you. You make him panic often enough to know that." I didn't react to that.
"How was work?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Same as ever," Dad said. "Oh, I have some news for you."
I slowly turned my head from the computer to look at my dad, as he sat on my bed.
"They're looking for someone new to sign," Dad revealed.
I stared at him. At this point, I should probably tell you that my dad was an executive at a top recording company.
"Really?" I asked.
"I told my boss about you and the girls, so he told me to get a demo CD for him to listen to." I squealed and launched myself at him, hugging him and nearly causing him to fall off the bed.
"You are the best dad in the world-no, the universe!" I cried.
"Don't be thanking me yet. You still need to make a demo of at least five songs. Then we have to wait until we hear from the top brass.
"Yeah, I know, but you at least managed to make it possible to get the demo to them," I said.
"I do what I can for my girl. Now let's go downstairs, because Andy and family should be here soon."
I saved what I had, before turning off the computer and following Dad out of my room. When I reached the dining room, I went to the china cupboard to get dishes to set the table. I went into the kitchen to find some napkins and Noah was standing by the stove, mashing potatoes. I rolled my eyes and got out seven dinner napkins, the salt and pepper shakers, and candles for the centerpiece.
In a few minutes I heard someone yell, "Ding dong!"
"Uncle Andy's here," I announced, spinning around and running to the door to greet my uncle, aunt and cousin.
"There's my favorite niece," Andy exclaimed.
"I'm your only niece," I reminded him. I hugged him and then my Aunt Shauna. "Hello for the third time, Bridgette."
"Hi," Bridgette greeted me. She tossed her strawberry blond hair over her shoulders. Uncle Andy had light brown hair, while Aunt Shauna had a dark red head of hair, and Bridgette ended up with strawberry blonde.
"So, I hear there was a big fight between the two of you," Andy said. I looked over my shoulder to see Noah coming down the stairs.
"It wasn't big," Noah said. "Ri likes to exaggerate things."
"I do not!" I retorted.
"Hard to believe you two were practically inseparable when you were first born, Riley," Shauna said.
"Yep, it's true," Andy said. "You, Noah and Landon were so close. Then Noah turned twelve and it was just you and Landon."
"Andy," Mom said, "touchy subject!"
I frowned. Uncle Andy was always bringing up Landon. And I was so happy to see him up until then.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
"LOSER ALERT," I said under my breath, as I walked past the popular crowd in Kennewa High School-a private school just outside of Knightsbridge, a suburb New York. I locked eyes with Landon for a second and then I made sure to glare at him.
"Riley, come on!" Bridgette called. I looked ahead of me to where my cousin and two of my friends were. Truthfully, I had a several friends, but Bridgette, Alice and Faith were my closest allies. I glanced at the crowd now walking past me and stuck out my foot ever so carefully, causing one of the school's much-adored princesses to fall over before anyone could catch her.
"That bitch!" she shouted. I didn't pay attention to them and walked calmly over to my friends. Alice and Faith were pretty similar, except that Faith was about three inches taller. They both had chestnut brown hair and green eyes. Alice's-for lack of a better word-assets were more accented than the rest of us. She didn't like flaunting them, though. The rest of us were just average-sized compared to her, but that didn't stop us from trying to catch up with magic bras and tank tops. Alice's modesty helped, though.
"Point to Rap for knocking over the bad guy," Faith said.
I laughed and high fived her. My friends often called me Ri or Rap, rather than Riley. Rap is a common nickname because of my initials (Rile
y Anne Pratt).
"So what's with the looks between you and Mr. I'm-so-popular-and-hot-it-should-be-illegal?" Faith said.
"What? There were no looks," I countered.
"Well, he was watching you nearly the whole time you walked down the hall," Alice said.
"Maybe he's planning his revenge already," Bridgette suggested.
"Landon? No way! That boy doesn't even plan dates more than two hours in advance," I answered back, not thinking.
"How do you know?" Faith asked.
Not many people knew that Landon Callahan and I used to be inseparable childhood friends. I never really talked about it to anyone and the only people who did know were either family or had disappeared not long after Landon did. But that's all changed now.
"It's being a quarterback," I said, quickly. "Since when do football players think long and hard?" Faith started laughing. "Ew, get your mind out of the gutter!"
"It's a permanent resident," Faith confessed. I shook my head and pushed her.
"Oh guys, guess what," I said.
"What?" Alice and Faith asked.
"My dad says that his record company is looking for some new talent," I said. "We just have to make a demo of five songs and hope that the suits like it."
"With your vocals, who wouldn't?" Alice asked.
"Alice is right. You can sing practically anything, Riley," Faith added.
"Thanks for the compliments, guys. We don't have time right now, but maybe we can find some time soon to talk about making the demo, okay?" I suggested.
The girls nodded and we all went off to Drama class, which we did not enjoy because a majority of the prep squad was there. Trust me-we loved Drama, just not the people we had to be there with.
Class was almost over before the teacher, Mrs. Wilson, made the announcement: "Now I know you're all anxious to get going. But, as you all know, the tryouts for the school play, Freedom, are on Thursday and Friday of this week. This year's play is a musical, with lyrics and music done by Riley Pratt."
"Like that'll convince people to try out," I muttered.
My eyes were drawn to Landon who was, surprisingly enough, looking at me. When he saw me looking his way, he averted his eyes, not wanting to show he had any interest in me.
If I Never Knew You Trilogy Bundle Page 11
