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21
LYNDI
Our group was pretty much the only crowd at the tiny karaoke bar Layla had found, and I was so happy I could scream. It was exactly what I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself. A little night out with the ladies, a cold seltzer in my hand, and everyone but me singing their heart out to our favorite girl-power songs.
Layla got up there and wowed everyone with a few songs by herself—she really had an amazing voice. Then she and Clara had chosen to sing “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”together, and I sat cackling at Clara’s off-tune singing the entire time. As gorgeous and sweet as she was, our cousin couldn’t sing to save her life.
“This was such a great idea,” I told Layla when she sat back down after her sixth song of the night.
She flipped her hair and took a sip of her beer. “I know, I’m brilliant. Plus, I knew you’d enjoy it a lot more than some of the other stuff we could have done around here.”
“Well, yes,” I replied, bumping her shoulder with mine, “I am. And that’s why you’re my favorite person ever.”
“Good. It’s nice to see you loosen up and forget about Beau for a while.”
The idea that I couldforgetabout him was laughable, but the distraction of being here definitely helped. I loved watching the words on the screen while people sang, tracking to see how on or off they were. I loved how confident they looked even when they were scared. And if it wouldn’t be incredibly weird, I’d bring my camera to stuff like this so I could capture all the little things I was lasered-in on to drown out the rest of the noise.
“I really wish Aria and Shelby could have come to Charleston with us,” Layla said with a pout. “I miss them.”
“I miss them, too. But I’m sure Aria is exactly where she wants to be now that they have Oliver.”
Just as Will had predicted, Oliver proved to be the perfect distraction for workaholic Aria—she now had more important things on her mind and holding her newborn son was a beautiful reason to stop and smell the roses. She seemed to be in no rush to go back to work, as much as she still loved it. But I had a feeling when she returned it would be with much more delegation in place, which would work wonders for her work-life balance.
“You’re right. I can’t wait to get back to town and snag some squishy baby snuggles. I have serious baby fever these days,” Layla said with both hands pressed to her chest. “I can’t wait to add another little one to our family.”
I rubbed her back. “I can’t wait to become an auntie again.”
“I’ll try to make it happen before he gets stationed somewhere else so you can be with me. I can’t imagine going through pregnancy and childbirth and new motherhood without you with me.”
Nerves swirled within me, but I pushed them away, focusing on my happiness for my sister. “Fingers crossed. But if not, I promise I’ll come visit.”
As soon as that thought left, another one showed up. Why the heck was I so determined to stay in Bluffton without Layla? Fear. Fear was why. It was an easy answer, but that didn’t mean it would be easy to overcome.
“Speaking of topics that remind me of Beau,” Layla said, looking pointedly at me, “despite the fact that I’d love nothing more than to keep encouraging you to pursue him like I have been all year, I’ve chosen which big-sister road to take.”
“You have? I don’t remember answering you when you asked me which one I wanted you to take.”
She waved a hand. “Yeah, well. Take it or leave it, sissy, but I’m choosing the one where you shut this downnow. It’ll be better in the end if you really don’t want to leave.”
I hated to admit it, but she was probably right. Just because I could acknowledge that fear was what was keeping me in Bluffton and self-consciousness was what made me compare everyone to book boyfriends didn’t mean I was strong enough to overcome either of those things.
When I didn’t reply, Layla put her arm around me and rested her cheek on my shoulder. “I’m really sorry, Lyn. I wish things could be different. I wish he was just some local guy, some dude who wasn’t in the military, and could choose to stay. But he’s not. And I’m sure you’ll find the right guy someday. So, the sooner you can start getting over Beau Devereux, the better.”
I started to reply, but then the first notes of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’”by The Righteous Brothers began to play, and I sat up straight. “No way.”
Layla hadn’t even been fazed by the way I’d pushed her off my shoulder. She clapped her hands and screamed, “Ah, I love this song!”
“Me too,” I whispered, eyes searching the dimly lit bar for something I almost couldn’t believe I was crazy enough to be looking for.
And then I saw him, microphone in hand and Zac at his side, each of them wearing sunglasses despite the low lighting in the bar.
I grabbed my sister’s thigh and pointed toward the stage. “Layla, look.”
“What—oh my gosh,no freaking way.”
The first verse popped up on the screen, and Beau sang first, his voice smooth like butter and that accent I’d thought he’d nearly lost surprised me by edging his words while he sang.
Then Zac took the next verse, pointing right at Layla, causing her to swoon beside me. “I think I’m going to fall out of my chair.”
