Proving Paul's Promise

Their last dance is next, and while they’re still sort of clumsy, they have so much more form than the younger group that it’s kind of artsy to watch. I need to ask them next year if I can paint their backdrops, because they need something a little more creative.

Next year? Am I really planning for next year with Hayley and Paul? I suppose I am.

Jacob seems to be pretty content sitting in my lap, and I love having him this close to me. I never dared to dream that I could have a life this wonderful. I was homeless, pregnant, lost, and fearful. Now I have Henry, an honorary grandfather figure by my side, my son in my lap, my boyfriend and his daughter on the stage, and all of his brothers and their girlfriends and wives. My f**king cup is running the f**k over. And I wouldn’t change a thing.

When Hayley is done, I set Jacob to the side so I can give her a standing ovation. I put my fingers in my teeth and whistle, and I hear a whistle from beside me. I look down and see that Jacob is doing the exact same thing. He whistles loudly. Kelly covers her ears in front of us.

“Do it again,” I whisper with a grin. He does, and Kelly scowls. “That’s enough for now,” I say.

I sit back down, and he crawls back into my lap.

The teacher comes to the microphone and makes a quick announcement, thanking the girls. After some of the older, much more talented students have danced, she tells us there’s one more performance.

She grins. “We had to convince these guys to perform, but they were easy to win over.” She points to the curtain, and it opens slowly. “I give you the Reeds, performing to Taylor Swift’s ‘You Belong with Me.’”

The curtain opens, and Paul, Matt, Logan, Sam, and Pete are all standing in a line. They’re all dressed in jeans and sleeveless T-shirts, and you can see all their tattoos and they’re so f**king handsome that I can’t even believe they’re mine. I see Hayley, Joey, and Mellie standing on the side of the stage, all waiting anxiously to watch their daddies and uncles.

Seth starts the music, and he’s underlaid some kind of hip-hop track beneath the beat, but you can still pick out the music. It’s a song about unrequited love and realizing that what you wanted was right there in front of you the whole time, but you were being too stupid to see it. It’s told from a girl’s point of view, so some of the words don’t exactly fit the boys, but it makes it all the funnier.

The Reeds have moves. Serious moves. I think everyone woman in the auditorium sits forward in her seat so she doesn’t miss seeing the shaking hips and flexing muscles. Paul even picks Matt up and spins him around one time, and Sam does the same to Pete. I can’t stop laughing. Even Logan dances, and I can imagine the kind of work it took for him to learn this routine when he can’t even hear the music the same way everyone else can. He can appreciate music, just in a different way.

As the song starts to close, Matt, Pete, Logan, and Paul all point out at the audience when the words, “You belong with me,” play. Matt points to Sky. Pete points to Reagan, and Logan points to Emily, who is holding the baby in her lap. And Paul points in my direction. Those four men jump off the stage and come toward us. They sing and dance all the way down the aisle.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kelly get up to intercept Paul, but he doesn’t even notice her. He points past her, and sings out the last line, “You belong with me,” in my ear. He picks me up and spins me around, and I have never felt more happiness in my whole life.

The music stops, and everyone looks to the stage. Sam has sat down on the side of it, and he looks pretty dejected. He’s holding a sign above his head that says, Available.

After this, he won’t be available for long, because every woman there now has a crush on all the Reeds, and he’s the only one who isn’t taken.

I love that they can be so silly, and so loving, and so…them. They don’t hide it. They don’t make a game of it. They just love. They love hard.

“I love you so hard,” I say to Paul.

His eyes jerk to meet mine, and he almost looks surprised. “You do?” he asks.

I nod. “I do.”

“Will you come home tonight?” he asks quietly.

I nod.

“Good. That’s where you belong.”

Paul

I’ve missed having her in my arms so much. I swing Friday around and clutch her tightly. I want to squeeze her ass and hoist her against me, but there are too many people around. I lift up the edge of my T-shirt and wipe my brow. “You belong with me,” I tell her, as the song dies down.

She does. She belongs with me, and I never, ever want to let her go.

I reach out and give Jacob a gentle fist bump after I put Friday down.

“I have to stay and help put away the props,” I tell her.

“That’s okay. I have to take Jacob home.”

I brush a lock of hair from her temple and tuck it behind her ear.

“Then I have to go get my suitcase from Henry’s.”

“Then you’re coming home.” I say it again because I like the way it sounds on my lips. Home. Our home.

“Yes, I’m coming home.” Her face colors, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s thinking what I’m thinking.

I feel a squeeze on my arm and look up. Kelly is standing there, and she doesn’t look very happy. “Can I talk to you?” she asks. She taps her foot and blows out a breath. Her fiancé has left, apparently, because I don’t see him anywhere.

“Can it wait?” I ask.