forty-two | will
FORTY-TWOWill
I’m standing in my living room, talking about walleye and perch. With Declan Murphy.
After Knox left, I was about to go inside when a black SUV pulled up next to my truck. The driver, a tall, slender woman with hair the color of cherry cola, got out first. She walked around the car and opened the passenger side door, so I expected to see an elderly person or a child get out.
Instead, it was a Declan Murphy look-alike in jeans, a western-style shirt, and a cowboy hat.
I couldn’t believe Emberly had hired an impersonator. It was a brilliant idea, but couldn’t she have found someone who didn’t look like he’d just come off an all-night bender?
It turned out that nope, this Murphy was real. The guy whose photo was on the front cover of a magazine at the grocery store checkout was standing in my front yard.
The woman—who’d introduced herself only as Skylar—hustled him into the house before the girls came back. Then she’d disappeared.
“I wish I had time to do a little fishing.” Murphy doesn’t sound like he’s being polite. He sounds like he means it.
“That would be great.” I’m totally being polite. Because I don’t want Declan Murphy to stay one minute longer than necessary.
If that makes me sound jealous, it’s because I am.
What did Emberly do? Call the artist who’s dominating the country music charts and say, “Hey, can you stop by this obscure little resort in northern Wisconsin and sing at a kid’s birthday party?”
From where I’m standing—which happens to be right next to him—there’s more to their relationship than Emberly was willing to admit. And the fact that Murphy agreed to come here tells me that he didn’t rearrange his schedule for Cab.
He moves on from the trophy wall and stops in front of a photo that I took right before Bright left for college. She’s standing on the dock with Reeve and they’re making goofy faces for the camera.
Murphy smirks. “Nice scenery around here, too.”
I want to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he’s talking about the lake.
I also want to stuff him in a closet.
The shriek of a microphone makes me wince. A loud, off-key version of Abba’s Dancing Queen filters through the screen door.
Murphy and I move to the window at the same time.
My sister and Reeve are on stage, both of them wearing bright red feather boas.
I want to take a video to send to Knox, but Murphy beats me to it and pulls out his phone.
“Don’t put that on social media to embarrass them,” I growl.
“Embarrass them?” Murphy shows me the photo. “If they were on stage at one of my concerts, no one would pay any attention to me.”
He might be right. But they’re also my sister and one of my best friends, so all the hip-shaking and hair tossing reminds me of Juni after I give her a bath.
The door opens and Skylar pokes her head in.
“Fifteen minutes, Mr. Murphy.”
I’d assumed she was a girlfriend or a groupie, but her tone, crisp and professional, blows apart that theory.
“Thanks, Skylar.”
The door closes behind her.
Dad used to say, ‘if it feels good, don’t say it’, but I have to ask.
“Bodyguard?”
Murphy chuckles. “Pilot. She owns a private charter service.”
“Sky Chauffeur.” The same one that brought Emberly here.
Murphy nods. “You’ve flown with them?”
I want to wave my arms and say, “Look around, buddy. Do you think I can afford a private jet?”
What I say instead is, “No.”
A cheer that sounds like Packer stadium on a Sunday afternoon erupts as another girl hops up on the stage.
Emberly plays DJ as all the girls take a turn at the microphone. They don’t have a clue a celebrity is hiding out in my cabin, but it’s obvious they’re having a blast.
The flatbed truck has been completely transformed and there’s a box filled with props—boas and hats and rhinestone sunglasses—for the girls to wear.
“Which one is your sister?” Murphy asks.
“The one in the cowboy hat.”
“I approve of her choice.”
“Cab … Iris … is a big fan.”
Murphy grins. “That’s why I’m here.”
No, he’s here because of Emberly.
I haven’t let myself think about her leaving tomorrow, but the thought crashes over me, almost takes me out at the knees.
“We have one more surprise this evening.” Emberly’s voice crackles in the microphone.
“I think that’s my cue.” Murphy slaps my shoulder like we’ve been friends since elementary school. “Sorry I’m on such a tight schedule, but my agent set up a breakfast meeting tomorrow morning, and Skylar has another client.”
“It’s all right.” Murphy has no clue how all right, but it doesn’t matter how long he stays. Unlike me, I’m sure he’ll see Emberly again.
It’s getting dark and the girls’ attention is focused on Emberly, so no one notices as we walk toward the stage.
“It’s time to wrap things up—” Emberly pauses and waits for the groans to subside. “But I think one last song for the birthday girl is in order. Iris?” She holds out her hand and Cab’s friends applaud as she joins Emberly on the stage.
Her gaze meets mine for a moment and then she picks up another microphone. “How about a duet?”
Cab nods, her smile wide. I know she’s assuming that Emberly is going to sing with her, but she hands the mic to the man who walks through the curtain of Christmas lights.
And then the screaming begins.
“Happy birthday, Iris.” Murphy’s southern drawl is more pronounced now. “Emberly said you like my music.”
She nods, frozen.
“Do you have a favorite?”
“Home for My Hometown Girl.”
“Sing it with me?”
“O-okay.”
Cab’s initial shyness melts away as Declan puts on a pair of dark glasses and transforms a sparkly baton into an air guitar. The background music on the karaoke machine is drowned out by the group of seventh-grade back-up singers.
Murphy sings one more song, a shortened version of Where I Want to Be. His gaze shifts from his audience to Emberly.
And I want to be anywhere but here.
Unfortunately, Reeve intercepts me before I reach the porch.
“Don’t worry about the flatbed.” She’s all business, less than impressed that a country star has graced us with his presence. This is why we’re friends. “Owen is coming over in the morning to pick it up, and Knox and I will help you put away tables and chairs after pancakes tomorrow.”
Tomorrow.
My gut starts to churn again.
“You okay?”
“Fine.”
We both know I’m lying, but Reeve doesn’t push.
“I think the parents are starting to arrive.”
Reeve’s not the only one who noticed the headlights. Murphy tips his cowboy hat, sweeps it off his head, and presents it to Cab.
“I’m glad I know CPR,” Reeve mutters as the girls start squealing again.
“You aren’t a Murphy fan?”
“I’m not a fan of make believe.” She shrugs. “I like real.”
I look around for Emberly because I’m a glutton for punishment. She and Skylar are walking with Murphy to the SUV and something breaks inside of me.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Will.”
I drag my gaze away from Emberly. “Thanks for your help tonight, Reeve. I know this isn’t your thing.”
“My thing is the people I care about.” And she punches me lightly in the arm, a reminder I’m one of those people.
Cab’s friends surround her to say goodbye and I know I should be greeting parents. I retreat to the cabin instead, separating myself from the happy chatter.
Brighton finds me in the kitchen a few minutes later.
“Oh, good. I was hoping there was some cake left!” She doesn’t bother with a fork. Just picks up a slice and takes a bite. Hums. “Emberly should be an event planner. She’s amazing.”
She’s also a really good kisser.
And now I’m back in the moment. I don’t even have to close my eyes to remember how good, how right, Emberly felt in my arms.
“Will?”
I realize Brighton was still talking to me when she waves her hand in front of my face.
“Sorry. What?”
“I said Iris is going to remember this night forever. It was great, wasn’t it?”
My teeth snap together. Because if something feels good, don’t say it …
“Will?” She prompts.
And I say it.
“Don’t you think the whole thing was kind of over-the-top? And what happens next year, when the best I can do is cake and balloons? Is Cab going to be happy with that?”
“Iris?” Brighton chuckles softly. “The only answer to that question is yes.”
Point for Bright, but I keep going, even though there’s a part of my brain yelling just stop talking! in the background.
“And I guarantee none of Cab’s friends will have a famous country singer at their birthday parties. All Emberly did was make Cab a target for their jealousy.
“Emberly’s friends resent her playing fairy godmother because it makes them want what they can’t have. They booked a cabin at Pinehart because they thought she’d skip the reunion. It’s why they tried to ditch her every chance they got last week. Do you want Cab’s friends to resent her, too?”
Brighton’s smile disappears. She’s staring at me like I’m a stranger. Which makes sense, because I don’t recognize myself.
“You can’t just … sweep … into someone’s life, wave a magic wand, and make everything okay.” And then leave.
I know I’m being unreasonable. I know that some of what I’m saying isn’t true. But right now, the reality is that I can’t have what I want, either, and it’s making me crazy. And angry at myself. I knew what would happen if I fell for Emberly.
“Will … stop.”
Bright isn’t looking at me now. I hear the telltale creak of the floorboard as her gaze locks on someone behind me.
I exhale a jagged breath that shreds my lungs. Great. Now Cab will have another memory of her birthday celebration.
But it isn’t my sister standing in the doorway.
It’s Emberly.
I search her face, but there’s nothing in her expression that hints she overheard our conversation.
“I … I was just talking to Skylar and realized it makes more sense for me to leave tonight, so she doesn’t have to make another trip back here.”
She’s leaving. Tonight.
Brighton glances at me, but I don’t say anything. She crosses the space and hugs Emberly.
“Thank you for everything. Iris had such a great time.”
Our eyes meet over Bright’s shoulder and Emberly’s smile frays a little at the edges. “Thank you for letting me be part of it.”