Her smile glittered up at me as she slid her arm through mine. “You can’t.”
I led her onto the dance floor, and she looped her dainty hands around my neck. An overwhelming sense of pride came over me—a pride I wasn’t sure I had a right to feel. Gazing at her in her elegant peach gown with her blonde hair piled atop her head, I became aware that Grace had transformed into a young woman right before my eyes.
I didn’t have the honor of watching her grow up, but in the time I’d known Grace, I’d gotten to watch as she took her last steps out of high school and her first into college and the professional world. Her presence was unassuming and sweet, and everyone who got near her soft glow couldn’t help but love her and feel uplifted by her gentle spirit. Myself included. Sure, she’d been an asset to the label, but more than that, she’d snuck into my heart and turned the light on in some of its darkest corners. She’d become like family.
“I’m very proud of you, Grace,” I said. “ You’ve really come into your own the last year at the label. Starting Carrie On Records was a huge undertaking, and I couldn’t have done it without your help.”
After getting a behind the scenes look at what the music industry was like through Liv, Grace wanted to pursue a career in the music business, and I was happy to teach her everything I could.
“I appreciate you taking a chance on me. I’ve got a lot to learn, but you’ve taught me so much already.”
“You’ll always have a place at the label,” I promised. I thought about how empty the office would feel once she left for England. “It’s not going to be the same without you this summer.”
Her mouth twitched into a grin. “I’m going to miss you too.”
“I want you to promise me you’ll be extra careful while you’re gone, and you know I’m only a phone call away if you need anything.”
“Look at you getting all protective on me.” She laughed, but her face softened.
I nodded. “Damn right I am. People prey on beautiful young ladies traveling alone.”
“I’m not traveling alone,” she insisted. “I’ll be with Sam and the crew.”
“And they all know they’re to protect you with their lives, or I’ll fire every last one of them.” I chuckled, but I absolutely meant it. “About Sam…”
“Uh-oh.” Grace feigned indignation. “My mom has already told me I’m not allowed to date till I’m thirty. Are you about to tell me you agree with her?”
I shook my head. “No, not at all. I just want you to be careful is all. Take your time. You’re so young, Grace. You have the whole world ahead of you and so many beautiful things left to experience.”
“I know.” Her gaze turned to where Jax and Liv danced nearby. Their foreheads touched, and they swayed to their own beat as though they were in their own little world. “Trust me, I’m not looking to get married anytime soon. I just... I look at Aunt Liv and Jax and see how in love they are, and… I know I want that one day. And maybe I’ll get my heart broken, but I think it might be worth it to know what that kind of love feels like.” My chest twisted as I thought about the innocence of her words—words that were tainted with the dark blue of losing someone you love. Grace knew a thing or two about unspeakable loss and the echoes that death left behind. Losing a parent at an early age was something we had in common. “That’s why I’m so proud of my mom for getting back out there, and Ryan seems like a pretty cool guy.”
I raised my brow at her.So, Matthew McConaughey has a name.“Does this mean you approve of him?”
“I didn’t say that,” she amended quickly. “I don’t think it’s serious with him or anything. I just think she’s ready to give the whole dating thing a try. After she lost my dad, she really dedicated her life to me. She deserves to find someone that makes her happy.”
I swallowed hard. “Yes,” I agreed. “She does.”
The song faded to an end, and a Black Eyed Peas song began to play. Our swaying came to a stop, and Grace looked at me earnestly. “So do you, you know. You both deserve that.” She threw her arms around me and kissed my cheek. “Thanks for the dance. I’m going to go find Sam.”
She tossed a smile at me from over her shoulder, leaving me wondering if maybe she was right. If Grace could still have hope even after the loss she had experienced, maybe I could too.
Three
Ella
I gulpeddown my third glass of champagne and sighed. At least I thought it was my third. It could have been my fifth or seventh for all I knew. The party had been going strong since about seven-thirty. If there was one thing consistently true about musicians, it was that they knew how to throw down.
For the first part of the reception, I’d stayed busy making sure everything went smoothly for the cake cutting and the toasts. After that, I found myself holding down a table next to the dance floor with Ryan who apparently wasnota dancer. I felt a pang of jealousy as Dallas and Katie swept by us, which was only made worse when I saw Sam dip Grace as though they were onDancing With The Stars.I mean, who actually dips people? Calm down, Fred Astaire.
“Are you sure you don’t want to get out there?” I asked, flashing Ryan a flirtatious grin as the band started to play “Unforgettable.”
“I’m not much of a dancer, sweetheart,” he drawled. He wasn’t much of a talker either. When I found out he worked for Gibson Guitar, I assumed that meant he would be a musician, and as far as I was concerned, all the musicians I knew were pretty fun. Ryan, however, worked in Accounting. He’d never picked up a guitar in his entire life, and he was decidedly un-fun.
Ryan checked his phone for the twenty-seventh time in an hour and a half. Perhaps I wasn’t as interesting as I thought I was.Fuck that. I’m a peach.
“Hey, Ella.” I looked up at the sound of Derek’s voice. I smiled as he turned his attention to Ryan. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Derek.”
“Ryan,” he replied. “Nice to meet you.”
