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“You guys.” Della’s heart swelled with affection. Not only was she thrilled to see her best friend so in love, but she was really happy with her decision to move here.
Rhys reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “It means a lot to her that you chose the WY.”
She supposed all universities had their nicknames. She just wasn’t so sure she loved The WY for the University of Western Wyoming. “Well, I haven’t gotten in yet, but there’s honestly nowhere else I’d rather be.”
A man with a lot of facial hair and cowboy boots took the stage. Reaching for the mic, he grinned and waved to the audience. “Thanks for coming to our surprise gig, y’all. This is a special event, and we’d sure appreciate it if you’d respect our request for no pictures or videos. With that said, let’s bring out our special guest.” He gestured to the side of the stage where a tall man with tousled dark hair loped up the stairs.
Della’s heart thundered. Blood roared in her ears. “What’s he doing here?” Bex. She whacked Micky’s arm. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
But her friend beamed a huge smile up at the performer.
“Thanks for coming out, everyone.” Bex sat on the stool, adjusting the mic. “I appreciate you showing up so last-minute.” And then he looked right at Della.
Her heart exploded.
She hadn’t thought she’d see those eyes again, and now she wanted to leap up on that stage and kiss the ever-loving hell out of him. Tell him she was sorry, and she’d never make a mistake like that again.
But the applause continued, people shouting out for Van Claybourne, and he turned his attention to the audience. “Hang on a sec. Gotta clear something up.” The crowd quieted down. “I’m not Van Claybourne. I just look a lot like him. And that’s because I’m Bex, Van’s twin brother.”
Shock skittered across the room.
“But I hope you’ll give me a chance.” He strummed his guitar, and she suspected if it had been any other tune, the audience would’ve continued talking about the bomb he’d just dropped.
Van Claybourne has a twin?
But this melody was so lovely, it got everyone’s attention. As he strummed, he leaned into the mic. “I’ve got some big news for you, and you’re the first to hear it. Van Claybourne’s retiring. We’ve had a great run of it, but now it’s time for my brother and me to pursue new dreams. I hope you’ll come along with me on mine.”
He’d done it. He’d quit the band. Della couldn’t believe it.
No, she could. She could because she believed in him. In his talent.
In us.
She watched him, her body buzzing, her hands shaking. And then…he started singing.
And she listened.
Secrets and lies
And you’re my alibi
Watching you fold
I do what I’m told
I’m a good little boy
And he’s the decoy
I did this for you, Mom
I did this for you
But now the sunshine’s broken through
And I can’t crawl back into the dark
I met a girl, and she changed my world
