A line was forming behind DeShawn. News had apparently spread that we were leaving and everyone wanted to say goodbye. Every Dupree, including all of Anna’s cousins; Mr. Llewellyn, the lawyer that had formalized the custody agreement for Lemon, Silas and Anna, along with his wife. Next was Mrs. Ross, my tenth-grade English teacher. Behind her were all my Knoxville and Virginia Tech coaches and teammates. Oh, and the pastor at the Duprees’ church, who was still irritated that we’d let Ashton perform the ceremony instead of him. Ash had married Lemon and Silas after getting ordained online. Then he’d married Holden and Christy. Who were we to break tradition? The only people of importance not there were Lemon and Mom.
Every hormone in my body was thrumming from want and every one of those people was standing in my way. I dropped Anna’s hand, turned and bolted back for Ford. When I made it to the massive trailer, I saw him winking at Lemon’s friend Peyton, former Miss Seddledowne. She rolled her eyes and spun away from the stage, in the arms of her husband.
With a leap, I hurdled over the lip of the stage, walked right up to Ford, and held out my hand for his mic. He kept singing, his eyes trained on Peyton.
“Seriously, man? I saw that.” I shook my head. “She’s married.”
He leaned the microphone away from his lips. “Hush. You saw nothing. And I’ve had a crush on that woman since I was in elementary school.”
“She’smarried,” I repeated.
He cocked a brow. “I think you forget who you’re talking to.”
I huffed out a chuckle. Did he think I cared that he was famous? I’d seen him first thing in the morning before a cup of coffee. It was not a pretty sight.
He popped me in the back of the head. “I’m your uncle now, so don’t be smarting off. I wink at women. It’s what I do.” He gave me a sly grin.
“I’m glad you’re related tomywife.” Then I opened and closed my fingers in agimmemotion. “I need the mic for a sec.”
“A little respect please. We’re in the middle of the song. There wouldn’t be a wedding if it weren’t for me.”
“It’smywedding.” I threw my hands up. “I made you the best man.” Along with Colt and Madden. I couldn’t choose. “Now gimme the mic.”
He pursed his lips and reluctantly handed it over. Then he motioned for his band to quiet their instruments and voices.
I turned to face our friends and family. My gorgeous wife was standing at the edge of the stage grinning up at me. I winked at her and she blew me a kiss. “Can I have everyone’s attention please?” I waited for the crowd to quiet down. “It’s been six years, forty eight weeks, and two days since the first time I laid eyes on the love of my life.”
In unison, half the women there said, “Awwwww.”
I chuckled at Anna’s pink cheeks. “That’s a very long time to wait for someone.” I put a hand on my hip. “We’ve had the best day of our lives, thanks to you all. Truly. But we’re ready to have the best night of our lives, ifyouknowhatimean.”
Peyton scowled and covered her son’s ears. A couple of my former and current teammates hooted at that. Brion’s catcalling drowned them out.
Now Anna’s cheeks were red. I’d make it up to her shortly. “Please forgive us for jetting out of here without saying goodbye to each of you. This is your goodbye.” I waved at them. Anna turned and waved. “So if you could make a path for us we would greatly appreciate your cooperation.”
“You want a path?” Lemon who had appeared out of thin air, cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone. “Give us thirty seconds. Stay right there.” Mom standing next to her, jammed two fingers in her mouth, letting out an ear-splitting whistle. As if it was some kind of signal, the crowd scattered. Moms rounded up kids. Men pounded each other on the back as they moved out into the night. Even Ford and his band took off, leaving us completely alone in the tent.
“What is happening?” I stepped down from the stage and slid my arm around Anna’s back. “Thirty seconds for what?”
“They’re making a path, I guess.” She gripped my shirt in her fists and looked up into my eyes. “I know how we can spend the next thirty seconds.” Then she kissed me. Hard. I slid my arms around her waist and returned the sentiment. It was the first time we’d been alone as husband and wife. This kiss felt different. Anna wasn’t holding back. At all. Her fingers untucked my shirt and trailed across my stomach, shooting goosebumps across my chest. Oh, I was so here for it.
Probably three minutes later, Brion hollered, “Yo, Blue! Y’all are good to go.”
My eyes fluttered open as Anna stepped back.
She reached for my hand. “You ready?”
“I’ve been ready.”
Together, we turned to see an alleyway of sparklers waiting for us. Not gonna lie, it was pretty magical. All our friends and family were there, wishing us well as we walked through the thoroughfare of silver, flickering sparks. I looked over at Anna whose eyes glittered in the shimmering lights.
Mom stepped out of the crowd and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Congrats son. Go exchange that sweatshirt.”
“Oh, it’s not a sweatshirt anymore.” Anna laughed. “We’ve upgraded to a whole sweatsuit.”
Mom patted us both on our cheeks. “Go exchange that sweatsuit.”
“Oh, we will. A bunch of times,” I said. Mom rolled her eyes and laughed.
