Kylie & Jack 1: Humble Beginnings

74. Friends Pt. 5

"Holy shit, that's one hell of a rock, Jack!"

"Congratulations guys!"

"Hey, bout bloody time, Jacko!"

"Jesus, who'd've guessed two of us blokes would've settled down?"

"Oh my god, Kylz! Congratulations!"

"Oh my god, I'm such a baby, look at me! I haven't stopped crying for like an hour!"

"That was just gorgeous! Kylie, you're so lucky!"

"Hey, congrats mate – Kylz, good luck, love!"

Cher, the vineyard owner had a small army of waitresses out on the grass within seconds of everyone's sudden appearance from beyond the darkness, each carrying a tray with champagne glasses and bottles of her finest bubbly.

"Oh my god!"

"Compliments of me! Congratulations you two, enjoy!" Cher declared at the top of her voice, beaming at the party of thirty one cheering, smiling people.

Kylie didn't have time to ask Jack anything, she was glued to his side and she was sure if he let her go, all her bones would turn to jelly and she would collapse on the grass, she was that excited – or perhaps overwhelmed. They all had a glass of bubbly in their hands and everyone was mingling around them, laughing, chatting, cheering.

Jim and Kerryn were there, looking fit to burst with pride; and so were John and Janelle. Tommo and Paula, with six month old Isabelle in her arms, Robbie and Tayla; Mike with Lizzie, Amy and Shaun, Shannon, Alicia and Lachlan; Loz, Ryan, Harry and Aiden. Loz's ten week belly showing happily beneath her dark midnight blue dress; Sophie looking just as expectant as Loz, already in her second trimester, shrouded in a beautiful lavender summer dress, with Dean constantly digging in his pockets for more tissues for her. Ali was a vision of happiness in a sunshine yellow maxi dress, that matched her bright blonde hair and blue eyes. Chris stood beside her, looking as uninterested as ever.

Jack's Campbelltown crew were there as well; Chaz and his wife, Jenna; Nate, Wog and Hendo. It took Kylie a while to realise that Jack was tugging softly on her elbow, edging her away from the celebrations.

"What's up?" she finally managed to ask him, feeling a breath of clean, clear air filling her lungs having stepped away from the centre of attention.

"I know that I'm yours and that for every other day you're ... well, ours –" he nodded at the gathered crowd who hadn't noticed they were slipping away.

"– but tonight, baby, you're mine." He sucked the breath from her lungs with an intense kiss that sent a perfect fever through her.

"... Jack ..." Kylie needed almost a full minute to regain her composure.

He just smirked at her, the pad of his thumb caressing her cheek.

"Jack, I am yours and nobody else's. I always have been."

Smirking, Jack poured all his deepest desires and affection for her into a single, drawn out smouldering look that definitely made her knees wobble.

"Sure about that?"

This time it was Kylie's turn to smirk.

She feigned naivety, shaking her head softly and saying, "what do I have to do to prove that to you?"

"I thought you'd never ask." He took her hand in his and began to lead her further away from everyone.

They arrived outside the furthest room, where Kylie had stayed after Sophie and Dean's wedding.