Stay

Stay - Chapter 5

FAST FORWARD ONE YEAR

Happy's POV:

I was getting ready to leave T&M when Bobby called out to me from the garage.

"You headed out already?" He asked, lighting up a cigarette.

"Yeah, I've gotta stop and get stuff for the party. Adriana's got a few last minute items she asked me to pick up on my way home." I smirked. "You coming over tomorrow, right?"

"Wouldn't miss it, brother. How many are you expecting?"

"Damn. Pretty much everyone from here, plus their families. Adriana has been cooking and cleaning for the past three weeks. It makes her happy to have family over, to cook for everybody and see everyone have fun. She loves this shit."

Bobby grinned and shook his head. "Things good at home then, I guess? You guys doing okay?"

"Better than good," I could feel myself beaming with pride, the way I always do whenever someone asked me about Adriana. "She's getting big. The baby will be here in a few more months. I think it's a boy."

Bobby stepped towards me and squeezed my shoulder. "When you think about how broken that girl was when she first got here, and then look at where she is now...damn, Hap! She's like a completely different person. You probably saved Adriana's life. Without you, she would have traveled down a bad road. You realize that, right Happy? You saved that poor girl."

I shook my head. "Nah, you got it all wrong, brother. She saved me."

Bobby looked surprised. "How so?"

"She might have been broken, but I was the one who needed saving. I didn't have a clue what life was about until Adriana came along. I was barely living, Bobby. She changed all that for me. She made me want to live. For the first time."

I started up the bike and nodded a goodbye before taking off.

"See you tomorrow," I heard him call out over the roar of the engine.

Not really sure how to feel about it.
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you.
Yeah, it takes me all the way.
I want you to stay, stay.
I want you to stay, oooh.

Adriana's POV:

The sauce was bubbling in the pot and the smell was making my stomach growl. I knew Happy was going to be home a little later than usual, making a stop at the grocery store for me on his way home from the garage.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. Even though Happy should have been home by now, I wasn't worried. Sometimes after the garage closed, Clay would ask him to take care of club business on his way home. Or he may have stopped in the clubhouse to have a beer with the guys before leaving. It was not unusual for Happy to be late once in a while.

My stomach growled a second time. I was starving. Tara had warned me I was eating for two now, but it felt like there were a few more in there, as hungry as I had been these past few weeks. Once I got over my morning sickness, I had been eating enough to sustain an entire football team. But I wanted to sit down and have dinner with Happy tonight, so I would just have to wait it out a little while longer.

The roar of his bike pulling into the driveway brought a smile to my face. "Just a few more minutes, kiddo," I said, running my hand over my belly. "As soon as Daddy gets in, we'll eat."

The dog ran to the back door to greet Happy as soon as he entered the house. Harley's tail thumped against the linoleum and his ears went back when Happy leaned down to pet him.

"Hey, baby," he smiled, tossing the plastic grocery bag onto the kitchen counter. "How is my family today?"

He walked over and stretched a hand across my stomach as he kissed me hello.

"Was the grocery store crowded or did you make another stop? You're late and I'm starving!"" I laughed. "I hope you're ready for dinner because I know I am!"

"Yeah, I did. And not just yet," he answered both my questions at once, pulling out a kitchen chair and motioning for me to sit. "I need to talk to you first."

"What's wrong, babe? Is everything ok?" My heart sank, immediately assuming that Happy had bad news.

"No, no. It's all good. I promise." Happy broke out into a grin, bigger than any smile I had ever seen on his handsome face before.

"You're up to something, Mr. Lowman," I chuckled, glad to know all was well. I plopped my pregnant body down into the chair. "Spill it. What's up?"

"You've been living here with me for almost a year. We're a family now – you, me, Harley and Little Killa here," Hap smiled, touching my belly again.

"NOT Little Killa," I scolded, reminding him of my distaste for the nickname Tig came up with for the child I was carrying.

"Ok, Ok," Hap nodded. "But seriously, Ade. You came into my life and made it complete."

"I love you, Happy," I assured him.

"I know. I love you, too. So that's why..." He reached into his cut and pulled out a small box. "...I think we should get married."

Happy opened the box to reveal a beautiful princess cut diamond. It was perfect – not so big that it was showy, but not small by any means. Exactly what I would have picked out myself.

"Happy! Oh my God..." I began to cry.

He took the ring out and slid it onto my finger. "Please say yes, Adriana. I love you, and I can't even imagine ever living without you. Marry me?"

I thought back to how my life was prior to meeting Happy and how that road lead me to this moment. And it was then that I realized - Happy Lowman saved my life. He may have been a hardened criminal, a killer and an outlaw; a womanizer with no desire to be tied down to a family or any sort of relationship. He partied too hard and at times had no moral compass to guide him. But still, he managed to find the strength to reach out and pull me up from rock bottom. He saved me. He was broken, but this amazing man kneeling before me somehow managed to save my life.

And that life was good.

"Yes, Happy. I will marry you," I promised him as the tears began to fall.

Happy grabbed my face in both hands and kissed me. As he pulled away, he turned his head and wipe his arm across his face.

"Happy Lowman, are you crying?" I asked, not believing my eyes.

"Hell no," he sniffled, trying to choke back a sob. "I think I'm getting a cold."

"Babe, you're way too pretty to be ugly crying like that," I said, laughing.

"God, I love you, Adriana. I don't know what I'd ever do without you."

"I love you, too, Happy," I replied. "And you won't ever have to find out. I'm here to stay."

xxx