Reed's Reckoning

I run my hands up his bare chest and finally get a look at the ring he put on my finger. I am paralyzed, it’s beautiful, it’s flawless, and it’s HUGE! My entire lower knuckle is taken up with the diamond encrusted solitaire surrounded by baguettes. My expression must give me away because Reed chuckles.

“It’s you, Ari, every diamond on that band represents the times I thought about you ten-fold when we were apart. I told Luke what I wanted and he helped me with a jeweler in Jacksonville today. And soon, you will have the matching band that will tell you how much I missed you.”

“Reed, I don’t think my hand can handle any more.” I joke.

“Honey, you need to get used to handling more. This is just the beginning.”

I smile up at him and soak in everything in the last hour. “We’re getting married.” I whisper.

“Sure the fuck are. And no one—I mean no one—is stopping us this time.”

He lowers his mouth and kisses me with determination and desire. I tug both our towels free and urge him back to the bed.

Even with all the shit that happened this morning, he made this the best day of my life.

Reed

Reed Matthews responded publically today about the accusations made against him regarding infidelity. While he prefers to keep his personal life private, he vehemently denies he was in a relationship with another woman. Reed confirms he has a son with fiancée, Ariana Williams. Any claims regarding him fathering another child are completely false and unfounded. He asks for privacy and respect.

—Online Reporter

I read the statement out loud for everyone at the breakfast table. We invited Jack, Katy, and Sophie for a celebration breakfast. Ari’s eyes bulge when she realizes I made the statement before I asked her to marry me.

“Reed, honey, how’d you know she’d say yes?” Grandma Katy asks.

She’s a sly one. I went to her first, well after Luke, and asked her permission. She encouraged me but gave me a stern warning. I called my mom on the way to Jacksonville yesterday and told her my plans. She cried with excitement.

“Katy, I was taking a big chance. But I had several alternate plans if she said no. I would have convinced her eventually. Even if it took all night.” I wink and Katy laughs.

“Can I finish my food without vomiting? I already had to deal with your pussy ass yesterday. I don’t want to hear about your sexual antics, ever.” Luke grumbles.

Ari’s face is so red I worry if she’ll remember to breath. “Angel, deep breaths.”

“I’m going to kill you both.” She points between Luke and me. “First of all, don’t discuss our sex life with my grandmother! And Luke, if I hear Davis use the p-u-s-s-y word, I will personally strangle you.”

We all laugh at her, which pisses her off more until the tornado known as Sophie rushes through the door screaming. “Let me see!” She reaches for Ari’s hand.

“Jesus Christ! Reed, did you pick this out on your own? Have you seen how small Ari’s hands are? This thing swallows her finger.”

“I tried for a larger diamond, but they didn’t have one in stock. I wasn’t waiting.”

“Yeah, being in a jewelry store with him was torture. He whined like a little bitch until he got his way, then nerves of steel when a man holds a needle to his shoulder for an hour.” Luke tells everyone.

Ari’s eyes get misty at the mention of the tattoo and she smiles at me.

“So yesterday was complete shit. What do we do today?” Sophie asks.

“Yesterday wasn’t complete shit.” Ari corrects her and looks at me with a face full of love.

“Jack is coming up and we’re going to celebrate our last day here. I’m going to pack up tomorrow and go ahead and give up the beach house a week early. I’m not going to practice tomorrow but the rest of the week will be hell.” I answer.

Ari and Katy are done cleaning the kitchen when Jack walks in. He and Sophie share a look that tells me they are both glad he is here. Davis runs up to him and plows into his legs and they go to the floor wrestling.

“Congrats, man! Heard you’re getting hitched,” he yells from under a pile of arms and legs.

I nod my confirmation and tug Ari into my lap. She leans down and kisses me briefly, which causes a stir in my shorts. I can’t get enough of this woman. She knows it too because she wiggles a few times before jumping up and running to the bedroom to change. It takes two whole minutes before I can stand up and not embarrass myself in front of Katy. I don’t give a shit about Sophie.

All the guys carry the stuff to the beach and I try to set us up away from everyone else. Unfortunately, there are people everywhere but I put us close to a family with a boy about Davis’s age.