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Riley watchedJalen pace the floor backstage, his fingers twitching. “Calm down. You’re going to be fine.” She handed him a cold water bottle from out of her bag.
He unscrewed the cap and took a long drink before handing it back to her. “Thank you. You always know just what I need.”
She pulled him to her and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You need to be confident. You’re going to go out there and kill it.”
He cringed. “I’ve never walked out on stage without my mask before.”
“You took your mask off in front of everyone last year, at this very resort. That had to be difficult.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Yes. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.”
“Only one of the hardest things?”
“Yes,” he said, grinning. “The hardest was when I had to confess to you that I was actually the one that had sent off that article.”
She laughed and shoved his chest. “I’m glad you confessed. We might not be here had you decided not to.”
He pulled her to him and lifted her hand to his lips. “I would have sought you out eventually. I was smitten with you the first day I met you.”
She made a face. “Even though I’m not a famous novelist?”
“I much prefer you as a famous reporter.” He placed his hands on her hips, and she felt the same attraction she’d had when they’d first met. Only, this time she had a respectable job, working for a Los Angeles news station.
“Good. Because I’m not giving up my job.”
He leaned down and pulled her closer. “Are you nervous about the wedding tomorrow?”
Riley grinned. “Not at all.” How could she be nervous? She was marrying the man of her dreams in a double wedding with her father. She couldn’t wait to see her father and Mrs. Lewis finally tie the knot. They’d been flirting with each other forever. “Do you think Dad is?”
“Absolutely. I don’t think he would have proposed had you not pressured him.”
“Well, it was about time. With the transplant out of the way, he was needlessly dragging his feet.” She joked about it, but inside, she was so relieved. It had been such a stress to wait on the transplant list. And the surgery was a whole other worry. She was so glad to have that all behind them. The doctors said he couldn’t have had a better reaction to the new heart.
“Do you think your mother will show up at the wedding?”
Riley closed her eyes, unable to stop the wash of pain over her. “I don’t know.”
“It’s a good sign that she checked herself into that center.” Jalen caressed her cheek. “Maybe she will come.”
“Maybe.” Riley still had so many mixed feelings about her mother to sort through. It was good that she sought out help, though. It did give her hope.
Someone came on the loudspeaker. Riley looked up at Jalen. “I think that means it’s almost time for you to go on.”
“I think you’re right.”
She gave him a kiss. “You’re going to rock this.”
“Thank you for always being there for me.”
Emotion swelled in Riley. She couldn’t imagine life without Jalen by her side. He was her rock. Her everything. She loved him with all of her heart and soul. He was her best friend and her confidant. She gave him a gentle shove toward the stage. “Stop dawdling. Get out there.”
He gave her a small wave and blew her a kiss before picking up his guitar and heading out on the stage. The crowd cheered, louder than she’d heard before. This was going to be good. She knew it.
* * *
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