Kellan pulled me into a hug and let out a long, shaky breath as he held me. "Promise?" he whispered.
I squeezed him just a little bit tighter. "I promise." Pulling back, I rested my forehead against his. "Not loving you isn't possible. Trust me, I tried." Kellan smirked, then gave me a soft kiss. Our tender moment was interrupted by someone clearing their throat. Kellan and I both glanced over at my dad standing in the doorway, watching us.
"Something going on?" he asked, trying to keep his voice casual. But I could hear an undertone of disgruntlement.
Kellan let go of me and shook his head. Answering Dad, he locked gazes with me; the midnight blue depths were warm and untroubled. "Everything's fine . . . just getting ready to leave."
Dad brightened and clapped him on the back. "Well then, anything I can help you with?"
Kellan chuckled at his answer as he kissed my head. "No, I'm good, thank you."
He clapped Dad's shoulder as he walked around him and back into our room. I raised my hands at my father in disbelief. Seemingly perplexed, Dad glanced back at Mom. "What? I can't offer to help my future son-in-law?"
Sooner than I would have liked, the four of us were driving to Pete's bar. The band was meeting there for their send-off. Kellan refused to let me see him off at the airport anymore. He said watching the plane pull away with him inside was too dramatic.
Kellan sighed as he shut off the engine to his beloved Chevelle. He even gave the steering wheel a loving caress before glancing up at me. Eyes narrowing, he handed me the keys with clear reluctance on his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but I beat him to it. "I know. Be good to her, use the best gas, go slow. I got it." I snatched the keys out of his fingers, and Kellan frowned.
He cracked open his door. "We'll have to see about garaging her when you come join me. I don't want to leave her alone in the driveway for that long."
I cringed at his comment and looked back at my dad. I hadn't told him I was leaving Seattle. Dad's eyes were as wide as saucers. "Join him? Join him where?" he asked me.
I quickly opened my door. "I'll fill you in later, Dad."
"Wait, Kiera . . ."
I shut the door on Dad's argument. Kellan gave me an apologetic shrug over the top of the car as Dad popped out of the back. "For how long, Kiera?"
I sighed, really not wanting to discuss it with my parents right at that very moment. Luckily, an excellent distraction pulled up. Griffin's Vanagon parked in the spot right next to the Chevelle. Anna climbed out of the passenger's side. She held on to the doorframe like she was going to explode if she moved too fast. The rear door slid open, and Matt hopped out. He waved at us, then extended his hand back into the vehicle and helped his girlfriend, Rachel, out of the van.
I still found it hard to believe that Matt and Griffin were related. Matt was more like me: quiet, reserved. Griffin was more like . . . a genuine d-bag. I sometimes wished my sister had hooked up with Matt instead of Griffin. Okay, I often wished that. But Matt was happy with Rachel.
Matt greeted me with a courteous nod, then clapped Kellan on the shoulder. Griffin walked around the van to join where our group was congregating behind the vehicles. He sidled up behind Anna, grabbed her hips, and pulled her into him with an unmistakable thrusting motion. Dad's face turned an unflattering shade of red, and he immediately forgot all about the conversation he'd been trying to have with me.
As he walked over to stop Griffin from dry humping his eldest daughter, Evan's car pulled up. The engine shut off, and both doors opened simultaneously. Hand in hand, Evan and Jenny walked over to where we were gathered.
Evan and Jenny were Kellan's and my best friends. Kellan loved all of his band members, even Griffin in an odd way, but Evan was the one he opened up to the most. The tatted, pierced, and buzz-cut rocker was one of the sweetest men I knew. We'd bonded from the very beginning. Jenny was my closest friend and confidant. She was cute as a button, blond, and perky, the kind of girl men noticed. She also had the biggest heart; her sweetness rivaled her boyfriend's. Out of all of the couples I knew, Evan and Jenny were the ones I didn't have to worry about. They were going to make it together; they were too perfect not to.
I told Jenny everything, even things I probably shouldn't tell her. But she'd always accepted me, good and bad, and she'd stuck by my side through all of the ups and downs in my life since I'd moved to Seattle. I was going to really miss Jenny when I was on the road with Kellan.
As she approached me, I suddenly realized that I hadn't told her the good news yet. I was beaming as she and Evan joined us. Her lips compressed when she noticed my elated expression. I usually wasn't peppy when Kellan left me. I was usually sullen, downcast, depressed . . . a real buzz kill. And I was a little sad about him leaving soon, but my news was too exciting to keep me melancholy. I was bursting at the seams with joy.
I didn't say anything to Jenny, just held up my left hand. She saw my ring and understood immediately. She squealed, startling my parents, and left Evan's side to wrap her arms around me. We were both hopping up and down while the men looked at us like we had suddenly lost our minds. Curious, Rachel peeked her head over. The girl was shyer than even I was, but she gasped and hugged me too when she figured out what all of the fuss was about. Anna joined our circle, and they all examined my wedding ring. It sparkled in the sunlight, its glimmer matching my cheery disposition.
Rachel sighed as she held my hand. "You're engaged." Her eyes drifted over my shoulder to Matt, before quickly refocusing on my ring.
I shook my head. "No . . . we're married."
Jenny snapped her head up. "What? You got married? Without me?" Jenny's hurt expression matched my mother's, and I was sure I now had two wedding planners.
Anna snorted. "Relax. They exchanged rings at the bar. They're not really married."
My parents were a little behind Anna, and I could clearly see a tiny smile form on my dad's lips. Kellan was next to them, and he frowned at Anna's assessment of our relationship status. I did too. "We're married in our hearts, where it matters. The legal stuff will come later."
Griffin broke away from a suddenly pale Matt to join our conversation. Just like Anna, he snorted. "Please, you guys aren't married." He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Kellan. "No bachelor party, no marriage. That's the law."
I matched Griffin's posture. "That is not a law, Griffin."
He swung his head around to look at me. "Well, it should be. No T and A, no ball and chain." There was an annoying smirk on his face, and I really wanted to smack it off of him. I resisted, though.
Anna helped me out by smacking the back of his head. He narrowed his eyes at her. "What? It's a fair sacrifice. If you've got to be with one chick for the rest of your life, then you should at least get to go out with a bang. Or two. Or three."
Anna raised a perfectly arched brow. "Really? Would you want some jackass to do that with our daughter?" Her hand caressed her belly, and Griffin's eyes shifted to where his child was peacefully growing.
"Fuck no. I'll chop the little bastard's balls off if he tries that kind of shit on my girl," he scowled.
"Hmmm." Smiling, Anna kissed his cheek and let the conversation die. I could tell Griffin was still pondering what she'd said, though. And he clearly didn't like the scenario he'd imagined for Kellan when it was applied to his child. I shared a secret smile with my sister. Maybe there was hope for Griffin yet.
Our group headed inside the bar to have a congratulatory toast for the band before their taxi arrived to take them to the airport. The night crew wasn't on yet, but a few familiar faces were around: Hun, Sweetie, Emily, and Troy, the bartender with a never-ending crush on Kellan. He perked up considerably when we walked in together.
When we all turned to head to the band's usual table, I stopped in my tracks. A man I knew very well was sitting at the table, waiting for the band. Denny Harris, the ex-love of my life. Kellan noticed who had my attention and stopped too. Denny stood up, hands casually tucked in the pockets of his jeans.
Denny had changed a bit since coming back to Seattle. He seemed older, more mature. There was a confidence in the way he carried himself, and his dark brown eyes simmered with self-assurance. He just seemed to know who he was and what he wanted, and that wasn't me anymore. He was hopelessly in love with his girlfriend, Abby. It had hurt at first that he'd moved on-but I had too, and I couldn't be happier for him now.
Denny grinned at us as Kellan scoffed in astonishment. We crossed over to him, and Kellan immediately pulled him in for a one-armed hug. "You came to see me off?"
Denny shrugged. "You guys are about to hit it big. This might be the last chance I get to see you."
Kellan looked away, a small smile on his lips. "I don't know about that." He looked back at Denny. "But I'm glad you're here."
I stepped up to give Denny a hug after the two friends pulled apart. Since I was sure Kellan was still a little uneasy about me being too friendly with Denny, regardless of how many times he'd told me he was fine with our friendship, I kept the hug as brief as politely possible.
Denny turned to the other band members once he'd greeted me. As everyone squished around the table, I took a seat catty-corner to Kellan. When Denny was finished congratulating everyone, he took the only empty spot, next to me on the end of the table. Ironically, Denny, Kellan, and I were sitting in the exact same seats as the first time Denny and I had joined the band for a beer.
Denny looked over at me as Kellan ordered the table of round of shots. I saw a soulful expression pass over my ex's face. Maybe he too was pondering how drastically things had changed for us. I raised an eyebrow at him in silent question, and his contemplative mood evaporated. With a slight chuckle, he shook his head and turned to watch Emily approaching our table with our drinks.
Kellan was watching me as shot glasses were set in front of everyone. I didn't feel the twinge of guilt I used to feel when we were all together. Instead, I grabbed Kellan's hand and kissed his fingers, letting him know that I was his, bound in my soul.
Kellan gave me a smile that was loose and easy. He understood. My mom watched the dynamic between the three of us with a crease on her brow. I think it still blew her mind that we were all friends, especially since she now knew exactly what had transpired between Kellan and me.
When everyone had their shots-except my sister, of course, who was at the other end of the table staring at a cup of apple juice like it was toxic-we lifted them to make a toast.
Matt opened his mouth to speak, but his loudmouthed cousin beat him to it. "To fame, fortune, and scores of loose women!" Griffin downed his shot while the rest of us stared at him; Dad glowered, but then again, he usually did around Griffin.
When Griffin smacked his empty glass on the table, Matt continued with his toast like nothing had happened. "To good friends and good music. May we always have both."
"Here, here." We all clinked glasses, Denny and I stretching across the table to reach Anna and Rachel, then we downed our potent drinks. It burned, but Matt's well-wishes made the sting worth it.
We all talked, reminisced, and enjoyed each other's company until a sullen Troy walked up to the table. Eyes on Kellan, he told the group, "Your cab is here." My heart sank a little, and I fortified my stomach. Goodbyes were just a way of life with Kellan, and I had to get used to them.
Matt glanced at a clock on the wall and smiled; being the pseudo-manager of the group, he had made all of the travel arrangements. Keeping his motley crew on task and on time made him happy. Kellan helped me stand up, and we all headed out to the parking lot. Sure enough, the taxi Matt had arranged for them was there.
The band began their goodbyes. Kellan gave me a quick kiss before turning to say goodbye to the people he wasn't sure when he'd see again. He hugged my mom, shook hands with my dad, and rubbed Anna's belly. He gave Rachel a friendly hug, lifted Jenny a foot in the air while she giggled, and clapped Troy on the shoulder. Troy's grin was glorious after that. While Kellan was busy, I said my goodbyes to Evan and Matt. Evan gave me a huge, lung-crushing bear hug, Matt a gentle, reserved squeeze. I kept my distance from Griffin, waving at him from the other side of the group. Then Kellan was standing by my side again.