The Perfect Love Story

Chapter 8

I sighed softly as I finished straightening my hair. I put on some pink lipstick and took a step back to look in the mirror. I really loved the way that I looked in this dress. We were having a small dinner party with our closest friends and family to celebrate mine and JJ's engagement. I wish my parents could be here to see this.

"Hey, babe?" I asked JJ when he came out of the bathroom. He had a towel wrapped around his waist since he has just gotten out of the shower, and I had to avoid looking at him so that I wouldn't rip his towel off.

"What's up?" He asked as he grabbed his suit off the back of the closet door. He ran his hand through his damp hair, and I took a deep breath. I just needed to talk to him really quick about what I wanted to talk to him about and then I could go downstairs and see how Melody was doing with setting up.

"So, what happened last week has me thinking. It would be nice if we got married before Baby Girl got here. Not the big wedding that the both of us would love to have but we could go down to the courthouse with Melody and TJ and get married really quick? And then in a little while, after Baby Girl is born and is big enough to be our flower girl and be around people, we can do a big ceremony?" I took a deep breath and rubbed my stomach. I had been thinking about this ever since I had that first Braxton Hicks contraction.

"I think that's a great idea." JJ grinned. "We can go first thing Monday morning if Melody and TJ are up for it. That way we get married before Baby Girl comes and before training camp starts." He kissed me softly and just like always, he took my breath away. "You can go downstairs now before we never leave the bedroom." He gave me a teasing smile before going back to the bathroom. I smiled and rolled my eyes and then headed downstairs. The lights were dimmed and Melody was lighting a bunch of white candles with pretty gems on them. The dining room also had 8-10 jeweled vases with white roses.

"This is beautiful, Melody." I brushed my fingertips over one of the roses. They were real and the dining room smelled beautiful. I heard Milo and Toro playing together in the giant doggy playpen that JJ had gotten for them. There were champagne and sparkling apple cider bottles chilling in buckets of ice. Melody did go all out for this. "What's for dinner?" I asked her softly. I was starting to tire a lot easier in my third trimester. I sat down in one of the chairs and rubbed my stomach softly.

"TJ went to go pick it up. We got BBQ from that restaurant we ate at when we first moved here." She took some serving trays out of a box that she ordered for today.

"That's nice of TJ to help you." I smiled slightly. "TJ seems really sweet." I did not look at her when I spoke. I didn't want to make myself so obvious.

"Yeah, he does seem sweet." Melody's voice sounded a little disinterested. I glanced up at her and she gave me a slight smile.

"So, JJ and I talked about it, and we decided that we want to get married on Monday. At the courthouse. Will you come?" I asked her softly. She smiled and nodded her head quickly.

"Yeah, of course. I would not miss it for the world." She hugged me tightly but carefully and I smiled at her. I ran my hand through my hair and Melody went to go help TJ with the food when he started coming in through the garage door. The doorbell rang right when JJ started coming down the stairs. He helped me up from my chair and went to go open the door.

"My baby boy is engaged!" Mrs. Watt instantly smooshed his cheeks when she came through the door. Mr. Watt looked a little embarrassed as he followed her but did not stop her either. Derek and his wife were right behind them, all hugging me as they came in. A couple of JJ's close friends from the team came a few minutes later and then we all sat around the dining room table.

"Dad, you want to lead us in prayer?" JJ asked his dad, and he nodded his head with a smile, and we all held hands.

"Thank you, Lord, for bringing us here today. Our JJ isn't getting any younger." His dad smiled slightly at his own joke. "And thank you for blessing us with the beautiful miracle growing inside of our future daughter-in-law. Please bless this food that you have provided for us and bless their engagement. Good food, good meat, good God, let's eat. Amen." There was a soft clatter as we placed our napkins on our laps and started passing the BBQ chicken, baked mac and cheese, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, and cornbread all around.

"Leanna, you are absolutely glowing. Is everything okay with the baby?" JJ's mom asked once everything settled, and we were eating. JJ sipped his wine and smiled softly at me.

"She's doing great. We did have a scare last week, we thought that she was coming a month and a half early, but it was just Braxton Hicks. It woke JJ and I up. We are trying to enjoy every second together before she gets here. I know that we will be happier than ever once she's born but we want to also enjoy time with just the two of us before she's here."

"I completely understand Leanna. Soak up the time together while you can." She nodded her head. "Are the two of you going to get a nanny?" She asked softly as she started eating her food. I took a sip of my sparkling water as I thought about it.

"I do not think so. I'm not doing anything right now since I'm not cheerleading anymore, and my sister already told me that she is here to help me, so I don't think that we need one." I smiled softly at JJ.

"As long as you're happy, that's all that matters." She smiled at the two of us and we all went into our separate conversations as we continued to eat our dinner. Melody got up when it was over so that she could get the dessert, sparkling cider, and champagne for toasts.

"When Leanna first told me that she met someone, I had my worries." She started once everyone had a glass. "I had recently had a falling out in my own engagement, and I was broken and down on love. It had just been me and Leanna for a while, so I was not sure how I felt about her new man coming into our lives. When I met JJ for the first time, he was the kindest, sweetest, and most understanding person I had met, and I knew that he was the one for my sister. When they found out that they were pregnant, he was there for her without a single hesitation. I cannot imagine two people who belong to each other more. To JJ and Leanna." She raised her glass, and we all did the same. I was the only one who needed sparkling cider, but JJ had a glass as well to support me. Derek stood up next, smiling at his family.

"3 years ago, I got to marry the love of my life. I have loved every single moment of every day ever since. JJ, I'm so grateful that you get to experience this same happiness. You are the best big brother anyone can ask for and I know that you're also going to make a great dad and husband. Congratulations." He sat down and TJ stood up.

"First of all, thank you JJ and Leanna for letting me stay with you while I get everything figured out here in Texas. Seeing the two of you interact together, I know that you both have found your best friends for life and you are both incredibly lucky to have each other. I hope that one day I can be as happy as the two of you and Derek. I love you both, congratulations." He sat back down, and everyone passed out the mini chocolate lava cakes that Melody ordered for today. I dabbed my face with my napkin, hoping to get all my tears without ruining my makeup. I must admit, I was just as excited about the cake as I was about the toasts. That was the pregnancy brain speaking of course. I think. We finished dessert and had some small conversations for a while before everyone went home. As beautiful as tonight was, I was looking forward to getting into my pajamas and getting some sleep.

Melody's POV

I walked into my bedroom after cleaning up from the dinner and Jacob was laying on my bed, one of my stuffed animals covering up his personal business. He smirked at me as I walked into my room. He had a week's vacation after the day we had all gone out to lunch and I had not seen him since.

"How was the engagement dinner?" He asked as I unzipped the skirt to my dress. I was glad that I had worn a cute matching set under my dress tonight. I peeled off the top and kneeled over his lap.

"It was good. Emotional. His family enjoyed it." Jacob kissed my neck, and I closed my eyes as he wrapped his arms around me. I tangled my fingers in his hair as he buried his face in my chest. He pushed my panties to the side and pushed into me with them still on. He nearly ripped my bra, took it off, and held onto me tightly. I could find in Jacob what Leanna found in JJ.