Page 12 (1/2)

I glanced up and saw A and just seeing how happy she was caused me to smile I was shocked when she had come home from dinner with my mother with a box full of baby pictures of me, and a smile on her face When I asked her hoent she replied back with "Great!" and then told me all about her dinner withher because she looked over and winked ats to Heather Heather nodded her head and Aht up to me and then sat down in my lap

"Hey baby," she purred into my ear as I moved my hand up her sweatshirt

"Hey back at ya," I said as I kissed her gently on the lips

Amanda looked around and said, "Jesus, did a puppy die or so with all y’all?"

"Got our man cards taken away by Lark," Josh said as he kicked the dirt Heather ca up andShe wrapped her ar to hi hi over and skidded to a stop "It’s alht! Eeepp! Gunner, will you throw a few more trees on the fire?"

Gunner jumped up and stumbled before Ellie reached out to him "How much have you had to drink?" she asked as she looked at Jeff with her hands on her hips

"Oh rown ave Jeff the evil eye and then turned back to Gunner "Baby, don’t drink anymore I need you to not be drunk so we can…well you know," she said as she winked at a srinned at Jeff

"Yuck Gross You’re a brat, Ellie" Jeff jumped up and made his way over toward Ari He walked up behind her and picked her up and spun her around before setting her down and turning her around to face him He kissed the shit out of her as she smiled from ear to ear

I rubbed Amanda’s back and said, "Gunner, I’ll help you throw a few trees on" Aave osh Just fifteen minutes!"

Gunner and I quickly threw threefro their way over to the bonfire

We all stood around the fire as each person said one thing that was for him or her, the best part of the last year Of course A I couldn’t pick one…I had so many When it was my turn I just smiled and said, "My wife’s love" It was her love that pulled me back from the brink It was her love that saved me from so much

We counted down to zero and then kissed our loved ones Before I kissed A and laughing I turned and looked into Amanda’s eyes

"Happy New Year, pumpkin," I said as I placed my hand on the side of her face

"Happy New Year, Brad," she whispered toher lips to mine As we kissed, every happy memory from last year just floodedbut happy memories and lots of love," Amanda said as she pulled away and looked up at rinned and noddedto be able to be honancy and buildto be a year filled with lots of happy memories and even more love

She tilted her head and looked at me "Do you think this year will be the best yet?"

I couldn’t help but ser and let out a s is possible with you by my side"

Amanda bit down on her lower lip as I leaned down and captured her lips withwe kissed for, but all I kneas I had never been so happy and so at peace in ht back to how Bryan had told th Believe in the love of my friends and family and believe that only I had control of my future

As I stood there and held ht about that word The definition of believe is to "accept as true"

I sht sky as I whispered,

"I believe"

Chapter 11: Amanda

The pain Shit, I don’t rerabbed onto the side rails and tried to ride out the contraction Brad was just about to tell h it when I held up my hand

"Stop! I swear To God If you telltothrough the pain," Brad said with a so find the dah gritted teeth

"Honey, are you sure?"

I snapped my head and looked at him