She turned her attention back to her new sister-in-law. Jewel was stunning in her simple white wedding gown.
After last month’s fiasco, Joseph hadn’t wanted to wait to marry her, but they had waited until today as so much was going on. Joseph, had won the election. He was sworn in and began to serve as one of the tribe’s four council members. Then Jewel’s brothers had their graduation ceremony. And Jewel had wanted the focus on them and not have her nuptials take away from their celebrations.
“And thank you for letting us have the wedding here. I know your grand opening is tomorrow and you must have so much to do,” Jewel added as her husband joined her. They were both grateful.
“It was no trouble at all. Everything is ready for tomorrow night. I’m sorry that the band showed up right in the middle of the ceremony.” She rolled her eyes remembering how the band had burst in when Jewel was about to say I do. “I wasn’t expecting them until tomorrow.”
Jewel’s eyes wandered over to where the five member band was setting up on stage. “Not at all. Stryker is amazing. Levi came by to apologize and said he’d perform a song later, once they get their instruments ready. It’s so exciting, I can’t believe you nabbed that band. They are fantastic.”
Joseph looked down at his stunning bride affectionately. “Should I be worried?” he teased placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.
“Not at all,” she blushed. “They are a great band, and Levi Stryker, well he is hot. I must admit I had a tad of a crush on him back in high school.”
“High school?” Eve asked surprised at this revelation. She hadn’t known the band had roots in Lantern Hill.
“Yes, I was in school with him in Ledyard. That was before they opened the high school on the reservation.”
That made sense. Levi was a few years older than both her and Jewel. But surely if he had gone to her high school, she would have remembered him. “So he’s local?” she stated more so to herself than anyone. He had mentioned he had family in Connecticut, but she hadn’t thought it would be so close.
“Yes, and a nice guy too from what I remember. But he was so into his music we never really traveled in the same circles. I was a freshman when he was in his senior year.”
“Lucky for me,” Joseph piped in. He had to admit that he felt a twinge of jealousy that his wife had a crush on the up and coming rocker. He wore tight black jeans, his hair short, but spiky in front. His white t-shirt clung to him. And he was tall and lean. But it was those green eyes that really must have had the ladies swooning. The rocker locked gazes with his sister Eve, and gave her a smile that spoke volumes.
Joseph saw the smile that he gave her and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. It was knowing. He looked between the two and knew instinctively Eve had something going on with the man.
Eve cleared her throat before speaking, avoiding her brother’s questioning glance. “It seems he’s ready to perform a song for you.”
Joseph glanced up and saw the man was giving him the thumbs up sign. That was the sign for him to lead his bride onto the dance floor.
Once he had Jewel in his arms, he forgot all about the rocker until he spoke.
Levi Stryker tapped the mic. “Hey folks. Again, we are sorry for crashing the party. But hey, we would love to make it up to the bride and groom by singing and performing for you all. I just wrote this a few months ago, and I think it’s perfect for this occasion. It’s called The Promise.”
The sound of the band began to fill the club. For a new song, it sounded great, like they had practiced it before, many times. Eve loved the sound of Levi’s voice as he cupped the mic lovingly and poured his heart into the words of the seductively slow love song. When he looked up from the small crowd his green eyes sought her out, and then he sang, directly to her.
“Promises are made
And promises are broken.
But never in a million years
Will I break my promise to you.
I promise you this.
I promise you this.”
Something fluttered in the pit of Eve’s stomach. The words were beautiful as he sang the melody once more then told the story of two young lovers who’d met and from the very beginning new they were destined to be. It was the perfect wedding song, she mused wryly, though her lips twitched suspiciously. The lyrics were telling her more. She knew exactly why he was singing this song, why he’d written it, and why he was singing it now.
Her promise. To him. She had made a deal with the devil to get him to perform at her club for the next three months. And now the devil had come to collect his due.
“Promises are made
And promises are broken
But don’t break me
by breaking yours.”