Ididn’t even hesitate for dramatic effect as I nodded against him. “You knew I’dnever say no,” I said as the tears joined my smile.
Iheld my hand out to him and he slid the ring onto my finger, solidifying thecommitment that had begun the moment we met. I wrapped my arms around his neckand climbed onto his lap, burrowing my face against his shoulder as he engulfedme in warmth.
“Ilove you, Kylie,” he said, his mouth against my ear.
Inodded and replied, “I love you too,” as I succumbed to the safety of his arms.
Becauseevery single story has a hero and Devin O’Leary would forever be mine.
EPILOGUE
TwoYears Later
Devin
Fifteen years ago,at a frat party I didn’t wantto be at, my eyes landed on the one woman that would change my life.
Shetalked me into singing to her, she gave me something to write my songs about.She encouraged me, she took me in, she gave me purpose and she gave me a dreamcome true.
Andshe thinks she’s done nothing for me.
She’swrong. So unbelievably wrong.
Itightened my tie, straightened my back and turned to Richard.
“Youready?” I asked him, and he clapped a hand to my back as he shook his head,reconsidered, and nodded with a laugh.
“Asready as I’m going to be.”
Ismiled encouragingly. “It’s going to be okay, you know.”
“Yeah,”he said, smiling. “Yeah, it will be.”
Trentwandered into the hotel suite with a to-go tray stocked with cups of coffee andhanded one to each of us. “You guys got a beautiful day out there,” he said.“Way better than the crap we got stuck with.”
Ilaughed my sympathies, remembering the persistent thunderstorms that traveledthrough the area the weekend of his wedding. They’d planned on an outdoorceremony at their house—finally finished and beautiful—until the very lastminute, but despite how quickly we all moved to get everything indoors,Brooke’s dress hadn’t escaped getting stained with mud.
“Itwasn’tthatbad,” I said, sipping my coffee. “You did have that famousguitarist there.”
“Uh-huh…” Trent rolled his eyes at the reminder of the sick harpist who was supposedto play as they walked down the aisle.
Luckyfor him, he had a best man that could stand in.
“And,”I concluded, nodding slowly, “you did have Billy there.”
Trenttipped his chin and sighed. “Yeah …”
Threemonths after Trent was married, our grandfather passed in his sleep. But notbefore he could give me the pair of wedding rings he and my grandmother wore,with the sentiment that he couldn’t think of anybody more deserving.
Ilifted my coffee and raised my eyes to the ceiling, hoping he was out theresomewhere with my grandmother, the love of his life. Watching and waiting witha chess table.
Richardlaid a hand over my shoulder and cleared his throat. “All right, big guy. I’mgonnago check on the bride. Ceremony is in ten. Don’t belate.”
Inodded with a chuckle. Richard would always delegate. It’s what he did, eventhough he no longer worked as my manager.
Justtwo months after I decided to cut my first tour short, Richard and Kylie’s momGrace were married and got their happily ever after. It was a small ceremony,held in a cathedral not far from the house Kylie grew up in, with me as theBest Man and Kylie acting as Maid of Honor. Wanting to start their lives togetherfresh, Richard retired from band management and Grace sold the house she onceshared with her husband.
Thenthey bought a place in River Canyon, to be closer to us.
