Just A Small Town Girl (27 page)

“Are you sure we’re allowed here?” Patricia Fisher asked me for what felt like the millionth time.
“Yes Mom,” June and I said in unison. My own mother hadn’t wanted to mend things with me even when Fisher and I visited Sam’s family in Meadow Views and I’d attempted to introduce her to her grandchildren. Patricia insisted that I call her Mom and began mothering me just as much as she mothered June and Fisher. It was actually kind of nice.

“I just want to be sure,” Patricia clucked, shifting Lia on her hip. Riley stood next to me, clinging to my leg while June and I chatted with the opening band.

We were backstage at the first show of Fisherman’s Wharf’s first headliner tour. The venues were still midsized, but the pay was better and the guys got to play their own music, which was nice. They’d been building a fan base and had one song on the radio, things were looking promising and as evidenced by Patricia’s presence she was even warming to the idea. I wasn’t sure she would accept his career as more than a hobby before they were packing Madison Square Garden, but I also wasn’t sure that was too far in the future.

“Baby,” Fisher sighed in my ear, hugging me from behind and startling me from my daydream.

“Careful,” I sighed, snuggling in, “you don’t want my boyfriend to see you.”

“Oh yeah?” he answered, turning me around, “then I better do this quickly,” he dipped his lips to touch mine briefly before raising his right hand to show me two pairs of noise cancelling ear muffs.

“Perfect,” I smiled at his thoughtfulness before turning to slip one pair onto Riley while he slipped the other pair onto Lia and greeted his mother.

“Nervous?” I asked once the children were settled and June and Patricia were deep in conversation with one another.

“Nah,” he smiled, “The crowd loves me.”

I smacked his arm and shot him a look.

“Your words, not mine,” he chuckled out, “What about you?”

“Me?” I shrugged, “What do I have to be nervous about?”

“I was asking if you love me too,” Fisher laughed again, nudging me with his shoulder.

“You know I do,” I turned to face him, my hand resting over his heart, my promise ring catching a bit of the stage lights as the opening band warmed the crowd up, “I love you so much Travis Fisher.”

“And I love you Piper Fisher,” he dipped his head down to kiss my lips.

When we pulled apart I gave him a look at giving me his last name. We weren’t married yet or even officially engaged, but Fisher considered that a technicality and called me his wife as often as possible. I got used to it and managed to only roll my eyes and give him a look now. It made him feel good and I was willing to let him have that.

The opening band worked through their set as Dustin and Kyle joined our huddle. It was soon time for the boys to take the stage and I proudly watched my man take his place behind the mic stand, the guitar I’d gifted him strapped to his chest.

“We’re Fisherman’s Wharf,” someone from the crowd interrupted Fish with a scream, “thank you,” he smiled, “We’re Fisherman’s Wharf and I’ve spent the last two Octobers falling in love with the women in my life. Last October my daughter was a newborn, the year before I was falling for her mother. It seems to me October is for love,” he paused dramatically and wiggled his eyebrows, “and that is exactly why I want to ask the woman I love to come out here with me.”

June placed her hand on my back and I lurched forward onto the stage, Riley being dragged behind me as he clung to my leg. I bent down to scoop him up and held the little boy to my hip.

“The mother of my children,” Fisher announced, gesturing toward me and prompting a round of applause. Kyle pumped out a drumroll until I stood in front of Fisher, blush spreading across my cheeks.

“I wrote her a song a while ago and I’m hoping this time it will be better received,” Fisher winked at me before Kyle clicked his drumsticks together and they launched into a song I recognized. My eyes grew wet as Fisher crooned about the steps of our relationship and by the time he reached step four I was biting my lip to stop myself from shouting ‘yes’ before he finished.

“I don’t have a ring this time,” he said when the song was complete, “to be honest, I’ve been thinking of that ring on your finger as much more than a promise ring for a long time now. Piper,” he dropped to one knee and the crowd awwed, “Will you marry me?”

“If I don’t say yes you’ll just keep asking,” I sassed, a brilliant smile capturing my lips, “Of course I will marry you Fisher.”

“Finally,” he smiled out, jumping to his feet and wrapping his arms around me.

His lips met mine in a mind numbing kiss. It made me feel like it was just the two of us in the room, in the world and honestly I wasn’t too sure that was too far off. It was Fisher and me against the world, raising our children and living our lives. As long as I was with him I knew we would both get the happily ever after we had earned.

Thank You
To the reader, I appreciate your taking the time to get to know Fisher and Piper, this story was a long time in the making and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading. This is definitely not the last you’ve heard of Fisherman’s Wharf or the Fisher family ;)

To everyone who read Crash Into Me, you inspired me to keep writing. I appreciate the support and hope to keep writing for you for a very long time.

About the Author
J.E. Hunter always told her mother she would not be called by her first or middle names when she was published because they are not spelled traditionally; of course, when she said that her mother expected her first publication to be in a psychology journal. J.E. is a recruiter, writer, pescatarian (which is not a religion or technically a ‘real’ word), sorority sister, dedicated Baltimore Orioles fan, and puppy-mommy to her Yorkshire terrier Remington. When she’s not writing or watching baseball she likes to spend time with her family and friends whether it’s by the pool or at the gun range. J.E. was born in Montana, but resides in Florida, enjoying the TB views. When people ask where she’s from the answer is always “Well, it’s a complicated story.” She’s a fan of writing, tea, randomness, fat animals, reading, country music, all music, cocoa dyno bytes, recreational shooting, homework, coffee, penguins, and did I mention the Baltimore Orioles?

Crash Into Me

2012
 

I'm the kind of girl who goes to class, runs her own business, and comforts her emotionally wrecked friends.

I'm not the kind of girl who falls in love with guys she barely knows. I'm also not the kind of girl who crashes her car into a motorcyclist of all things.

Ryan Jones challenged all of that with one easy smile (and one roadside accident).

Swing Swing-All American Rejects

The Best of Me (Acoustic)-The Starting Line

I’m Taking You With Me-Relient K

Heels Over Head-Boys Like Girls

Stay Stay Stay-Taylor Swift

Slide-Goo Goo Dolls

How Far We’ve Come-Matchbox 20

Her Diamonds-Rob Thomas

I Want You-Savage Garden

Don’t Take the Girl-Tim McGraw

Home- Phillip Phillips

I Won’t Give Up-Jason Mraz

Polaris-Jimmy Eat World

The Adventure-Angels & Airwaves

Always-Blink 182

The Only Exception-Paramore

Beer Money-Kip Moore

Meet Virginia-Train

By Your Side-Tenth Avenue North

You’re So Last Summer-Taking Back Sunday

Nothing-The Script

Only Hope-Switchfoot

I Hate this Song-Secondhand Serenade

Jesus-Brand New

Can’t Have it All-Jay Brennan

Head Over Feet-Alanis Morissette

Jimmy Eat World-Sweetness

Kid Rock-Picture

When She Says Baby-Jason Aldean