He grins and I swear I see a tear in his eye. Then he takes the ring and slides it on my finger.
“Jesus,” I breathe out. “Is it a sapphire?”
“It is,” Callum smiles and comes to his feet. “I didn’t want a diamond. Every girl wears a diamond. But you aren’t every girl. There is no one like you Amanda. You’re funny and quirky and talented and passionate and hot as hell. And you’re the only one for me.”
I wrap my arms around his neck and smile up at him through teary eyes. “And you’re the only one for me, Callum.”
Our mouths meet in the middle and the kiss envelopes us both. For a while, seconds, maybe minutes, maybe longer, we get lost in each other, reconnecting again. Making up for lost time. Lost everything. But as he lowers to his knees and presses his lips to my belly, my heart swells because I know we have all the time in the world now.
“Hey you,” he says in a low voice that warms my skin beneath his lips. “Sorry your mom and dad are a bit crazy. But everything is going to be okay now. For one, you’re a Hardin baby. And also, I’m not going anywhere. You’re going to be very loved.”
“Yes he is,” I say, and Callum looks up at me.
“He?”
“Just a feeling,” I shrug with a smile.
With that, Hardin full on grins. “Hell yeah. Hardin Records, Third Edition. Bring it on.”
Epilogue
Amanda
“Well, Aunt Shirly is officially banned from the table,” Kate shakes her head as she plops down into the chair on my right at the wedding party table. Her plum-colored satin dress is stretching over her baby bump, and I love it.
“Oh God, what did she do now?” I ask, setting down my wine glass.
“No. This is your wedding, no drama. Those were your rules, not mine. Just know that I’ve taken care of everything and people are getting along…more or less. Also, pretty sure there’s brandy in the punch bowl, but people seem to be okay with that.”
I laugh because right now, nothing can ruin my mood. My first quote unquote wedding to Callum was anything but extravagant. Though, considering it’s been a year and nine months since that day, I would be lying if I said it’s not a cute fond memory now that we often laugh at while lying in bed. This wedding, however, is over the top. That was very much not my doing. But when you marry into the Hardin family andyour sister is, well, Kate, there is no such thing as a modest get-together.
The wedding itself was held at the Biltmore of all places and while I found it to be decadent beyond words, I have to admit, it was beautiful. The reception, however, at my request is in the lobby of Hardin Records. The glass windows display the night city lights in all their glory, there’s a built-in bar and the walls are lined with music and art. It’s very alt and very me, yet still classy.
“I gotta admit, I don’t know how you did 9 months of this,” Kate sighs.
“Pregnancy isn’t so bad. Other than feeling huge. Getting kicked in the ribs. Always being hungry but nothing ever sounds good. Not being able to sleep–” I rattle off.
“I meant not being able to drink!” she blurts out. “My big sister is getting married, and I can’t even have a glass of wine.”
She laughs and put my arm around her. “How do you think I felt at your wedding?”
“Miserable,” she pouts.
“Here’s your mama!” Iris appears behind us with Dylan in tow, passing him off to me.
“I can’t believe he’s almost one,” Paul says, smiling over at him.
“It did go fast,” I coo, kissing his sloppy cheeks. Kate has him dressed in the tiniest tuxedo ever made, something I wasn’t a fan of subjecting my little man to. I did add one touch, just to make sure he looked like my son. Converse shoes.
“And to think, I’m going to be an aunt soon and I’ll get to spoil your baby as much as you’ve spoiled Dylan.”
“Oh, trust me, she’s going to be spoiled,” Kate says. “She’s not even born yet, and she’s already got daddy wrapped around her little finger.”
“She?” I ask and Kate smiles.
“Just a feeling.”
“I love the name Dylan,” Iris chimes in, taking a well-earned sip of her wine. She’s been on baby duty all day. Willingly. “Is he named after anyone?”
