Page 42 of Loving Callie
Callie’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Miss what?”
From behind Callie, Jake’s deep voice interrupted, “Turn around, Gorgeous, I figured your best friend should be here for this.”
Callie turned around and gasped to see Jake down on one knee.
“I know she’s always been the sister you wished you had. In many ways, she was the first family you chose. But now I’m here too, and I’m asking if you’ll let me be a part of your family forever. Callie, I love you more than I ever thought possible. I cannot be the man I want to be unless you’re at my side. Will you please give me a lifetime of mornings together?”
When he opened the little black box he was holding, to reveal a stunning ring with three glittering diamonds set in a beautiful rose gold band, all Callie could see was Jake, and the love beaming from him. She sank down on her knees and held his face in her hands. With a gentle smile, his thumbs came up to gently wipe away the tears she hadn’t realized were streaming down her face.
“Of course I’ll marry you. You are my family; you are my heart and my soul. You are everything to me and I would be so honored to spend my life with you.”
As Jake slid the stunning diamond ring onto her finger, he folded her hand in his and pressed a kiss onto the back of it. When he looked up at Callie, she melted even more as she saw his eyes also shining with tears.
With a soft whisper of congratulations, Reagan left the cinnamon buns on the table in the entryway and quietly walked out of the door to give them this moment alone. Callie knew she would be giving her best friend a massive hug, and a hard time for keeping this secret from her, but at the same time it had been so perfect. Reagan was her ‘sister from another mister,’ the closest thing to family she had ever known. For her to witness Jake asking her to start a new life with him, was more special than she could have ever imagined.
Callie finally felt her life was complete. She had created her own family, made up of people who loved her dearly for exactly who she was. There were no ridiculous expectations or conditions placed on that love, it was pure and true. And she knew without a doubt that her life, the life she had always dreamed of, was now beginning.
Epilogue
New Years Eve was in full swing at The Lucky Strike. Jake surveyed the crowded bar with satisfaction. He and Ryan had achieved success far beyond their expectation. The room was filled with loyal customers who had enthusiastically purchased tickets for the “New Years Cheers with Beers” event the two friends had organised.
Jake had to admit, Ryan had done most of the planning for the event. He had been far too wrapped up in Callie, lost in the haze of love and lust that seemed to always surround them. He looked over at his new fiancée, as she sat at the bar beside Reagan. Just seeing her there, knowing she would be his forever, brought a smile to his face. Letting his heart lead the way, he swiftly walked over to her and leaned over the bar top to pull her face closer to his for a kiss.
“Just practicing for midnight.”
Callie grinned, as she placed her left hand on his cheek, the diamond ring sparkling on her finger. “Feel free to practice as much as you think is needed, babe. We want our first New Year’s kiss to be the best.”
Ryan came up beside Jake and shoulder checked him out of the way so that he could lean in front of Callie and Reagan then said, “What about me ladies, who am I going to kiss?”
Jake mock growled at his best friend, knowing Ryan was all talk. He might be the biggest flirt around, but Ryan would never make a move on Callie. “Find your own woman. This one’s taken.”
Ryan put his hands up in surrender, “Okay okay, I got it. Relax,” he turned to Reagan, with a teasing grin. “How about you, Reags, save a smooch for me?”
As Callie and Jake laughed, Reagan rolled her eyes in response, “Down boy, you are so not my type.”
Ryan looked wounded and placed his hand over his heart. “Damn, that hurts. Fine, I know when I’m not wanted.”
Jake pulled Ryan away with a teasing smile, “Come on, playboy, we’ve got customers to serve.” He winked at Callie as he turned to go and fill drink more orders. “See you later Gorgeous.”
Standing side by side the two men worked as a team to fill glass after glass, pitcher after pitcher. Tracy, one of their newly hired waitresses, handed a large order to Jake. He gave her a smile, as he started pulling beers.
“How’s it going out there, Tracy? Everyone treating you ok?”
Tracy nodded, barely glancing at Jake as she gave Ryan a flirtatious smile. “Oh yeah it’s all good, Jake. Hey, Ryan, have you got anyone to kiss at midnight?”
Jake watched, curious to see how Ryan would handle this. He’d caught his friend watching him with Callie and had seen what seemed to be a wishful expression on Ryan’s face at times. Jake wondered if maybe Ryan was tiring of the single life. Flirting was a necessity at times in a job like theirs, and with Jake newly engaged, Ryan had stepped up to take the brunt of the female attention. Normally, this would have been Ryan’s idea of heaven. But something had changed in his friend, so Jake could not predict Ryan’s reaction. While they had no set rules about dating among coworkers, it wasn’t exactly something Jake wanted to encourage. Thankfully, Ryan seemed to feel the same way.
“Nah, not this year, Tracy. I’m going to be kissing a nice cold pint tonight.”
“Well, if you change your mind, come and find me,” Tracy replied coyly.
Jake watched Ryan closely, and saw a grimace of discomfort flash across Ryan’s face. Clearly, Ryan wasn’t into the brazen waitress. “Thanks for the offer, but you know I can’t do that. I’m your boss remember?” Ryan’s tone was gently teasing, but direct enough that Tracy got the message. With a disappointed nod she stood up straight from where she had been leaning on the bar, took her tray of drinks and headed off into the crowd.
“Dodged that bullet, thank god,” Ryan sighed.
Jake had to laugh at the relief in his friend’s voice. “You sure did. Nice job handling that. Although I have to say, I’m surprised you don’t have a beautiful woman lined up for midnight.”
Ryan shrugged in response, “What can I say. Watching you fall stupidly in love, seeing how happy you and Callie are, suddenly one-night stands don’t seem so appealing.”
