30
It had been great to marry Riley and Phoenix and to witness their happiness. It’d also been great to visit with Gail, since he didn’t get to see her very often. Kyle always enjoyed hanging out with his friends, but he’d had enough socializing tonight. He was ready to go home, except that he didn’t feel free to leave. The reception wasn’t over. They’d eaten and taken pictures and had the toasts and special dances, but the live band was going to be there until eleven, which was more than an hour away, and the bride and groom hadn’t yet left for their honeymoon. He stood by the champagne table, his tie loosened as he leaned against the wall, watching his friends dance with their brides or hold their babies. Only Baxter stood near him.
“A lot’s changed in the past five or six years,” Baxter mused.
“Yeah. But for the most part, everyone’s happy,” Kyle responded. “That’s what’s important.”
Baxter selected his own glass of champagne. “Are you happy?”
Kyle shrugged. “I’m doing better now that the plant is almost repaired.”
“That’s not what I was talking about.”
“I know.” He sipped from his glass. “How’s your father?”
“I’m worried about him or I wouldn’t have moved home. I love it here, love being with all of you. But I wouldn’t have come back if it wasn’t for my father.”
“I guessed as much,” Kyle said. “I’m sorry. It’s shitty timing, shitty luck. I hope he pulls through.”
“He’s just ornery enough to do it.”
They continued to observe the revelry until Kyle had finished his champagne. “Do you think they’d notice if we left?” he asked as he put down his glass.
Baxter checked his watch. “It’s too early,” he said. Then Callie came over and drew him away. She’d met someone who had a question about a particular stock, and she thought Baxter might be able to answer it. That provided Kyle with the perfect opportunity to slide over to the exit. He’d done his part. The fact that they’d all helped decorate had saved Riley some money, but the cleanup would be handled by Riley’s parents, some of their church friends and the staff here at the venue.
Kyle had just stepped outside, finished removing his tie, which he stuffed in his pocket, and taken a deep breath when a different song started. A woman was singing this one, which was odd, since he didn’t remember seeing a woman in the band. It made him curious but not curious enough to go back. He started toward his car and would’ve kept going, except that a second later, he recognized the voice.
*
Lourdes had never been so nervous about a performance. It wasn’t just that she was crashing a wedding. By coming back to Whiskey Creek, she was putting her whole future, her entire career, on the line—as well as her heart. After achieving success, losing it and wanting it back so badly, trusting her instincts had been especially difficult. She’d walked away from her best chance at success when she got on the plane to come here. But she knew she wouldn’t be happy, even if she returned to the top of the charts. Not if she had to live without Kyle.
Besides, showing up and taking the stage didn’t really count as crashing, since she would’ve been invited to sing if she’d stayed.
She’d seen Maroon 5 crash weddings on YouTube to sing their song “Sugar,” and everyone loved it. So she hoped this would go over just as well. She couldn’t think of a better way to debut the song she’d written for Kyle.
“All the things I never knew...until I met you,” she sang as she began the first chorus.
Everyone had stopped talking. They’d even stopped dancing. She recognized many of their stunned faces as they turned toward the stage, including Phoenix’s and Riley’s. Noah and Addy, Ted and Sophia, Brandon and Olivia. They were all there, and the rest of Kyle’s friends, too.