We all looked at each other and I was pretty sure Ellie was about to throw up.
“I just don’t even know what to say to that, Emma,” Ellie whispered.
Emma threw her head back and laughed.
“Emma, what was it like for you? I mean, when you first met Garrett…was it love at first sight?” Heather asked with a huge grin on her face.
The smile that spread across Emma’s face almost caused me to suck in a breath of air. You could almost see it on her face…feel it in the air…her love for Garrett.
She shook her head and gave a slight chuckle. “Oh girls…I don’t think I could even put it in words what I felt the first time I laid eyes on Garrett Mathews. My heart literally stopped. All he did was smile at me and his smile about knocked me over. Then I saw his eyes. ” She began fanning herself with her hand as she giggled. “Damn those eyes. If I hadn’t known any better I would have thought he looked into my soul and captured my love on the spot. ”
“Oh, how romantic,” Ellie purred.
“Was Garrett romantic like the overly romantic-ass Gunner?” Ari asked with a wink toward Ellie.
Emma let out a laugh. “Oh yes. But, I was stubborn. Very stubborn and I refused to let him for the longest time. ”
“Why?” we all asked at once.
“Girls, it was so long ago and it’s such a long story. Garrett and I will have to sit down one day and tell y’all our story. ”
We all nodded our heads like little kids being told they were going to get candy soon.
“That would be amazing, Emma! I’ve always wanted to know how y’all fell in love,” I said as I put my hand to my heart.
Ari let out a gruff laugh and said, “Shit. What I want to know is did Garrett’s grandfather have a sixth sense and knew when y’all were getting it on and interrupt your asses!”
Everyone snapped their heads over and looked at Ari and then busted out laughing.
Including Emma.
Chapter 6: Brad
I sat back and watched Gunner and Jeff swinging Ellie and Ari around as they danced to “Jingle Bell Rock” by Blake Shelton. Amanda was holding Maegan and dancing and Meg was laughing so hard at how Amanda was bouncing her around.
I’d never been so damn happy in my life. I watched them both and was captivated by their smiles. Amanda looked beautiful and the glow on her face made my stomach drop.
I felt someone come up behind me and give me a light tap on the back. I turned to see Josh sitting down.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you smile more than I have this morning, dude,” he said with a small laugh.
I let out a small chuckle and nodded my head. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy before. I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am about Amanda being pregnant. ”
I glanced at Josh who was watching Amanda dancing with Meg. He smiled and said, “I’m really proud of you, Brad. ”
My mouth dropped open as I continued to look at him. “Why?”
He turned to look at me and winked. “Brad, you stood up against something that could have very well have knocked you down and kept you there. You fought like hell to get your life back. I see how you look at Amanda and I know for a fact you’ve never looked at another woman the way you look at her. I see you with Meg and I only hope that I’m half as good of a father as you are. You put them both first and I think that says something about you as a man, a father and a husband as well. ”
I felt the tears building in my eyes. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I’d always looked up to Josh. He always seemed to have his shit together and he knew from the beginning what he was going to do with his life.
“Josh, I can’t even begin to tell you how this makes me feel to hear you say those things to me. You of all people. Dude, you’re an amazing father. I mean…” I looked back out at Heather. She was holding Libby, and the smile on her face was unreal as she danced around with Amanda and Meg to “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. ” “Look at Heather, Josh. ” Josh glanced back out to where they were dancing and he smiled. “That smile on her face says it all. ”
He nodded and let out a laugh. “I guess we’re all lucky sons of bitches, aren’t we?”
“Hell yeah we are. Best damn Christmas of my life,” I said.
Nat King Cole’s “O Come All Ye Faithful” was playing on the radio, as Amanda and Maegan were fast asleep in the car. I smiled to myself thinking about how much fun it was to spend Christmas morning and afternoon with all of our friends. Ellie mentioned how it wouldn’t work once the kids were older. “They’ll never be able to hold out on opening presents,” she said. Then Gunner said, “Hell, I won’t be able to hold out. ”