I start, while Leo watches, lip singing along with me, his eyes bright and happy and encouraging, and I offer him a sassy smile as I start the song.
Forever can never be long enough for me
Feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do
Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
He joins me for the chorus. This tall, tattooed rock star, singing a sweet love song. It looks all wrong, but God, his voice is amazing. As his voice joins mine in perfect harmony, goose bumps break out on my skin and I smile widely at him.
Marry Me
Today and every day
Marry Me
If I ever get the nerve to say
Hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
I lower my mic to my side and watch Leo take over the next verse. I’ve always loved to watch him sing, even when I was very young, in the first foster home with him. He would sing to me all the time, and then let me play his guitar, showing me so patiently where to put my fingers and make the sounds perfect. He taught me how to control my voice.
He taught me everything I know about music.
As he sings these lyrics, I can’t help but wonder if he has a special woman in his life now. I hope so. He deserves one, although I know his trust issues go deeper than mine.
Together can never be close enough for me
Feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you
And you're beautiful
Now that the wait is over
And love and has finally shown her my way
For the last half of the song, we sing it all in harmony. I hear Jack, our original pianist, join the guitar and I’m just completely swept up in the moment. We step closer together, passionately singing about this sweet love, just inches apart.
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Promise me
You'll always be
Happy by my side
I promise to
Sing to you
When all the music dies
We smile at each other after that last line, and then finish the song.
And marry me
Today and everyday
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Marry me
Mm-hmm
The music fades and Leo smiles at me, offering me that secret smile he used to give me when we were kids and we knew we might get into trouble for something we planned to do.
But he never got me into trouble. He always protected me.
He pulls me into a tender hug, then pulls back and gazes down at me. I don’t hear the applause around us, or the audience asking for more.
Leo leans in and whispers in my ear, “I’ve really missed you, Meg-pie. I love you.”
He kisses my cheek, right next to my lips, and backs away, and I grin at him. “I love you too.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
~Will~
I stand transfixed and watch the woman I adore sing my favorite love song with another man. And even though I know she loves Leo as a brother, I want to punch him.
Hard.
Her sweet voice fills the air, and I am even more in love with her in this moment than I was before she walked up on that stage, and I didn’t know that was possible.
She’s so fucking talented.
And sexy as hell in that dress, with her hair up, showing off her slender back and soft neck, and the diamond earrings I bought her a few weeks ago. I can’t wait to get her out of it and make love to her. I just never get enough of her.
Forever can never be long enough for me.
Damn if that isn’t the truth.
The song comes to an end, and Leo pulls Meg in for a hug, whispers something to her, and because I’m standing straight ahead, I can’t tell if he kisses her on the cheek or the edge of her lips.
My hands tighten into fists.
Then he pulls away from her and she mouths the words, “I love you too.”
Fuck me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
~Meg~
I wave at the crowd and carefully walk down the stairs in my heels. That felt fantastic. I didn’t realize how much I missed playing in front of an audience, especially with Leo. I hope I get to see him again while he’s in town.
I cross the dance floor, and Jules and Nate meet me in the middle to hug me.
“Thank you so much. That was so beautiful,” Jules murmurs in my ear as she hugs me.
“You’re welcome.”
“Thank you, beautiful girl,” Nate hugs me close too. Wow, holy muscles on this one. I smile up at him shyly.
“My pleasure. Congratulations, you guys.”
The family all hugs me and tells me that they loved the songs, but my eyes are searching for Will.
“You didn’t tell me you knew Leo Nash, girl,” Samantha mutters with a grin. “I’m going to want to hear this story.”
I laugh. “We’ll get together soon and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Finally, I find Will, standing back from the crowd. His face is sober, hands in his pockets, and the light has gone out of his eyes, and my stomach falls into my feet.
Something is very wrong.
“Hey,” I say as I approach him.
“Hey,” he responds.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, but he just shakes his head.