Our Kind of Love by Kait Nolan

Chapter 17

Kyle tore his attention away from the artist currently on stage. “Anything?”

Griff shook his head.

It was a long shot that Abbey had gotten his message. Longer still that she could get here if she had seen the statement. Eden’s Ridge was four hours away. But he needed to know she was okay. That she’d give him a chance to explain and make up for the shit show of today.

Kyle turned back to the stage, gaze skipping past the female duo currently captivating the audience to scan the faces in the first several rows, as if they’d somehow changed in the past couple of minutes. Harry Cafferty’s new label commanded a hell of a crowd. While the styles of music showcased tonight varied widely, the musician in him appreciated that they all shared that indefinable something he thought of as soul. This music all said something. It was exactly what he wanted to produce, and he felt like joining Harry’s label put him in good company. His gut said it was the right call for his future career.

But he couldn’t think about his career right now. Not when he still compulsively scanned the crowd for a familiar blonde head.

“Mr. Keenan, you’re up next.”

A muscle jumped in his jaw. He didn’t want to do this now. Not yet. Not without knowing she was here.

At the flash of blonde hair in his peripheral vision, his heart leapt into his throat. But, of course, it wasn’t Abbey. It was Deanna. She wove through the equipment and people backstage, cutting toward him.

Wiping his hands on his pants, he met her halfway. “Did you get ahold of Abbey?”

“I tried, but the calls kept going straight to voicemail. I sent a few texts, told her you’d be here, but she never responded.”

It didn’t necessarily mean the worst. But Kyle’s heart sank nonetheless. She was probably upset. She absolutely had every right to be. But even if she tried to cut him off again, he wouldn’t just accept it this time. He’d go back to the Ridge. He’d camp out and make her listen. Just as soon as he could shake loose here.

At the sound of applause, he recognized he couldn’t afford to wait anymore.

Showtime.

Grabbing the borrowed guitar, Kyle took a breath and strode out on stage. At the sight of him, the crowd stirred. Yeah, there were people here who’d heard, who wondered. But plenty still cheered and applauded as he took his seat on the lone stool they’d set out for him.

“Good evenin’! I’m Kyle Keenan, and I’m delighted to be a part of Two Lane Records’ showcase tonight. But before I introduce you to my music, there are some things I need to say.”

He paused, still scanning faces, though the bright lights from the stage kept him from seeing more than vague impressions. “You probably think I’m a bit overdressed for tonight.” He’d made the call to keep on the tux, though he’d gotten rid of the tie. “The fact is, I was supposed to get married this afternoon.”

A surprised murmur swept through the venue.

“There are rumors flying around that I jilted my fiancée at the altar. The truth is, I was accosted by paparazzi while picking up my tux and her dress. It seems that my estranged mother gave an interview alleging... well, a whole boatload of things. People are questioning whether I’ve been lying all this time. About who I am. What I believe. The kind of man I am.”

He hated spilling this out. But he remembered what Abbey had said. That shame was like a shadow. It couldn’t exist in the light. It was time to stop hiding from the past.

“I’ve just been trying to live my life. Be a regular guy. I didn’t want people to know where I came from. What I came from. My parents are troubled people, and when I was thirteen, I turned them into the police for embezzlement and drug crimes.”

In the silence, Kyle could hear the hum of speakers. He absolutely had their attention, and it didn’t feel half as scary being the one to deliberately command it. Not when he was in control.

“I’m not getting into the details of that. The ensuing investigation thoroughly substantiated my accusation, and they both went to prison. I went into foster care. And it was one of the best things to ever happen to me. I got a huge supportive family out of the deal—one I thought I had to distance myself from in order to keep the rest hidden. I’d like to publicly apologize to all of them for that. My brothers and sisters are some of the best people I know, and I’ve missed the hell out of all of you.”

He paused again, gaze sweeping the crowd. But he wasn’t really seeing them anymore. He just wanted to take the moment to measure their temperature, give them a second to absorb his words. This was a statement, not an apology, and they’d better get used to it.

“I’m done hiding. I’m done letting the shame of where I came from be the driving force behind my actions. The woman I love has been calling me on that for twenty-five years, and it’s long past time for me to acknowledge she’s right. I’m not my parents. Their mistakes aren’t mine. God knows, I’ve made plenty of my own. But stopping them from hurting some of the kindest, most hard-working people I’ve ever known wasn’t one of them. So, if all of this means you can no longer think of me as county music’s Captain America, that’s fine. I’m just Kyle Keenan. The guy who really hopes he hasn’t blown it with the most important person in his life.”

He shifted the guitar, fingers slipping into place. “This song was one we wrote together years ago, and I only wish she was here tonight to hear it.”

Without giving the audience a moment to react, he began to pick out a melody that had lived in his heart for as long as he could remember.

* * *

As the firstnotes of the song rang out, Abbey resumed her fight to get to the stage. She could’ve taken advantage of the absolute silence while Kyle had been talking, but she didn’t want to do anything to distract from or minimize the impact of what he’d said. He’d taken control, taken a stand, removing his mom’s leverage once and for all. Abbey had never been prouder.

She needed to get to him, but here were so many people in her way, and she kept turning back to check on Granddaddy.

He squeezed her elbow. “Go get him, Butter Bean. I’m fine.”

“We’ve got him,” Emerson promised, linking her arm through his. Fiona took the other.

“C’mon. I’ll get you up there.” Caleb used his broader bulk to clear a path toward the side stage.

Abbey stayed close in his wake as Kyle continued to sing.

They weren’t moving fast enough. She wasn’t going to make it before he finished.

But then something miraculous happened. People in the crowd began to actually see her. Some recognized her and stepped aside, making room for her to pass. Who ever would have imagined she’d be glad her face had been splashed in gossip magazines and on TV?

A pair of burly guys in black T-shirts blocked access to the backstage area. Venue security.

“Look, I have to get back there. I’m his fiancée.”

“Sure you are, sweet cheeks.”

She’d made it too damned far and was too damned close to let a couple of over-grown Neanderthals stop her from getting to Kyle. But before she could do something that would make a scene, Griff appeared at their backs.

“Thank Christ. She’s with us. Come on.” He tugged her past the guys and up the stairs. “He’s been going out of his mind.”

“Same. I need a mic.”

“You what?”

“I need a mic. Right now.”

Deanna fell into step beside them, her brows drawn together. “What are you doing? I thought you don’t perform.”

She could see Kyle out on that stage, just a couple dozen feet away, and her heart lifted. “I don’t. Get me a mic before I lose my nerve.”

Somebody put one in her hand and turned it on. Abbey didn’t stop to think, didn’t look around, didn’t take her eyes off the best friend she was never walking away from again. She began to sing, adding in the harmony as he reached the second chorus. Kyle’s head whipped up from his guitar in shock, though he didn’t skip a beat. When she strode on stage to join him, it was easier than she’d imagined because, with all the lights, all she could see was him.

Shock and joy spread over his face as he spotted her. And it was worth the noodle knees and pterodactyls swooping in her stomach to be here, surprising him like this. She met him center stage, keeping her focus entirely on him, as his was now on her.

When the last notes died away, they stood there, breathing hard, staring at each other. Kyle finally set the guitar aside and closed the distance between them. His eyes were suspiciously shiny as he cupped her cheeks. “You sang.”

“Just to you.”

Then he kissed her, and the crowd lost its collective mind. All of it faded as she wrapped around him. Relief and love crashed through her. They’d been derailed but not broken. They’d made it back to each other, and in the end, nothing else mattered.

He eased back, pressing his brow to hers. “I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

The cheering and whooping finally sank in, and Abbey actually looked at the audience. The stage did a slow dip.

Kyle locked his arm tighter around her. “Nope. No passing out now. You already did the hard part.”

She still couldn’t quite believe she’d done it. Now that it was over, she really, really needed to get away from all these people before she embarrassed herself further by passing out or hurling. Lifting the mic, she addressed the crowd. “I’m sorry, y’all. You’re going to have to excuse us. My groom here has a prior engagement, and he’s really, really late.”

Beneath the renewed cheering and laughter, Kyle murmured, “We’re still doing that?”

“Damned straight.” As he escorted her off-stage, she said, “Although we seem to be snake-bit when it comes to eloping, so maybe we should do something radical this time and actually plan a wedding. Preacher. Family. The whole shebang.”

Kyle brought her hand to his lips. “There’s nothing I’d love more.”