Chapter 35
The weeks have slipped away faster than I could keep track. Brant and I had fallen into this comforting routine that just felt right. He would pop into the bakery every morning with his usual smile, making my heart flutter a bit more with each visit. He grabbed his favorite treats—an Americano and a blueberry crumble muffin—and we exchange a few words before he’d head out, promising to see each other later.
True to his word, he always came back. As the day wound down, he’d return with a smile on his face. Brant insisted on helping me close up shop, locking the door behind us, and then it was our time. Our evenings together have become special, our little tradition.
Most nights, we keep it simple. We’d swing by Sunny”s for takeout, our usual spot for comfort food. With our dinners in hand, we head to the gazebo in the town square. The air was alive with the buzz of conversation and laughter, and we settle in on the benches, enjoying the warmth of each other”s company amidst the gentle glow of the streetlights.
Sometimes, Brant surprised me and took me back to his place to cook dinner together. His farmhouse is beautiful but definitely a work in progress. The front porch looked remodeled and ready for a big, cozy swing. I could envision slow Saturday mornings sitting on a comfy porch swing sipping coffee together.
The inside of the house was a little dated, but I enjoyed hearing Brant talk about his plans to renovate each room of the house. A few acres of land surround the home, making it the perfect location to raise a family. Part of me longed to be a part of that future I could so clearly see when I was at his place. I knew Brant was determined to see where this thing between us goes, but that didn’t indicate he was ready for any serious commitment. I needed to stop any thoughts about the future until I know where he stood. My heart couldn’t take any more heartache right now.
When we”d go back to his house, we spend our evenings working side by side, cooking. The playful banter came so naturally with him. As we lost ourselves in conversation, time seemed to stand still. It was as if we”d been doing this forever and carved out our own little bubble where nothing else mattered but us. Time spent with Brant felt like coming home, like finding that missing piece of myself I never knew was missing. It”s simple and beautiful and everything I never knew I needed.
”We”ve lost her,” Eden”s words brought me out of my daydreaming.
”Who have we lost?” I asked, turning my attention to the women sitting around the table with me.
Mia, Eden, Aspen, and I have been getting together a few times a month to hang out. This evening, we were at Lucky”s. When it first opened years ago, it was a pool hall, but it had slowly developed into a place with a variety of entertainment options. There were still a few pool tables, but now Lucky”s had a karaoke stage, arcade games, and darts. You could even order little appetizers.
Saturdays at Lucky”s were karaoke nights, and we dragged Aspen here for the first time with every intention of making her get up on stage and sing.
”You, Karis. We”ve lost you,” Mia rolled her eyes with a smile.
I’ve been spacing out more lately, but I blamed Brant for that new development. He’s taken up residence in my mind, and I couldn’t seem to get rid of him. Although, if I was being honest, I didn’t really want to.
”I”m sorry! I promise I”m here. I will be present all night!” I looked at my sister and friends apologetically.
Aspen was still new and too sweet to say anything, so she only laughed, giving me a kind smile.
”I”m going to order some chips and salsa before the karaoke starts,” Eden climbed down from her chair at the high-top table where we sat.
”Y”all ready for karaoke tonight?” I asked, clapping my hands in front of me. I was ready for a night out with these girls where I could forget about the sorrow and just have fun. I knew that”s what Mom would want.
Mia”s eyes lit up, her grin widening from ear to ear. ”Oh, you know it! I”ve been practicing my go-to song all week. I”m going to rock the mic tonight!”
Aspen chuckled, shaking her head. ”I can”t carry a tune to save my life, but I”m trusting you girls to keep me from embarrassing myself.”
I couldn”t help but laugh at Aspen”s self-deprecating humor. ”Hey, it”s not about how well you sing. It”s about having fun! Besides, we”ll cheer you on no matter what.”
Mia nudged me playfully. ”Speaking of songs, what are you going to sing tonight, K? Do you have any surprises up your sleeve?”
I grinned mischievously, keeping my choice under wraps for now. ”Oh, you”ll just have to wait and see. But I promise it”ll be a performance to remember!”
Eden ambled back to our table with her hands full of chips and salsa. ”What”d I miss?”
Mia was practically bouncing in her seat. ”We convinced Aspen to sing tonight!”
Eden”s face lit up with a smile as she looked to Aspen for confirmation. Aspen laughed and shrugs her shoulders, drawing a round of laughter from all of us.
We munched on chips and salsa while watching the performers take turns on stage. The atmosphere was electric, with the air buzzing with anticipation and excitement. Each singer brought their own unique flair to their chosen songs, some hitting every note with precision while others added their own improvised twists and turns.
Mia leaned in closer, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she whispered, ”Did you see the guy in the Hawaiian shirt butcher ”Livin” on a Prayer”?”
Aspen stifled a giggle behind her hand, nodding in agreement. ”And what about the girl who attempted ”I Will Always Love You”? She definitely had the passion, but let”s just say Whitney Houston”s crown is safe for now.”
I couldn”t help but laugh at their commentary, my gaze wandering around the room. Lucky”s was packed to the brim, with people of all ages and backgrounds coming together to share their love for music. Some swayed along to the beat, while others cheered on their friends from the sidelines.
After a few more performances, Mia was up next. Her infectious energy lit up the room as she launched into a spirited rendition of ”I Will Survive.” Her voice rang out confidently, filling the space with a sense of empowerment that had the crowd clapping along to the beat.
Next, it was Eden”s turn, and she commanded the stage with her soulful rendition of ”Respect.” Her voice was like honey, smooth and rich, drawing the audience in and holding them captivated until the very last note.
I couldn”t help but smile proudly as I watched her shine under the spotlight. Eden and I grew up singing in the church choir, and I”d always loved listening to her sing. We were both still grieving, but watching her get up on stage tonight and laugh made my big sister heart happy.
Aspen was next to take the stage, bringing the house down with her lively performance of ”Walking on Sunshine.” She may not have the best voice, but her energy was contagious, spreading throughout the room like wildfire as she danced and sang with abandon. It was like seeing a new side of Aspen tonight. She mostly kept to herself at work, but tonight, she was letting loose and having fun.
I passed Aspen on my way to the stage, and my heart pounded with a mix of nerves and excitement. It was finally my turn to take the spotlight, to share my voice with the world. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies fluttering in my stomach, and stepped forward, gripping the microphone tightly in my hand.
As the music started, I let the familiar melody wash over me, grounding me in the moment. I closed my eyes briefly, centering myself, before opening them to face the crowd. And then I began to sing.
The words flowed from me effortlessly, carried by the music and the raw emotion in my heart. I poured my soul into the song with each note, losing myself in the music and the memories it evoked. The world around me faded away, leaving only me and the melody suspended in time.
Just as I reached the song”s climax, a familiar figure caught my eye from the corner of the room. It was Brant stepping through Lucky”s door with that lopsided grin. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, a rush of warmth flooding through me.
I faltered for a moment, thrown off balance by his unexpected arrival. But then I smiled, feeling a surge of confidence coursing through me. With renewed determination, I focused on the music, letting it carry me through to the end of the song.
As the final notes faded away, I looked down to find Brant making his way towards me, applause and cheers echoing in the background. I hurried off the stage, stopping in front of him.
”Hey, Peach,” a smirk tugged at the corners of Brant”s lips.
”Hi,” I breathed out, feeling a little breathless from that song—or was it the man in front of me?
”I didn”t realize you could sing.”
”I”m not that good,” I smiled, shaking my head. ”What are you doing here?”
Brant tipped his head to the table where I left Eden and our friends. Standing next to the table were his brothers, Brock and Brooks. And based on the look on Mia”s face, she wasn’t thrilled by the intrusion.
”We better get over there before they kill each other,” I rushed out as we made a beeline for the table.
”What are you even doing here?” Mia shot Brock a scowl, crossing her arms over her chest.
”Can”t a guy go out with his brothers?” Brock shrugged his shoulders, not even trying to hide his cocky smirk.
Mia sent me a pleading look. In return I gave her an apologetic smile.
”Hi, Brock, Hi, Brooks. This is Aspen,” I introduce my friend, who was fidgeting in her seat.
”Hey, Aspen,” Brock sent her a wink.
”Hey,” Brooks replied, his tone gruff.
Aspen raises her hand frantically, refusing to make eye contact.
What was that? I needed to remember to ask her about that on Monday.
“Did I miss your song, Mia?” Brock asked, wagging his eyebrows at her.
Mia sighed and rolled her eyes. ”Thankfully.”
”What do you guys say about a round of pool?” Brant asked, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
I couldn’t help but melt into his embrace. ”That”s a great idea!” I said a little too excitedly.
Everyone agreed to play, but Mia sent me a weary look. I flashed her my puppy dog eyes, which earned me an eye roll, but she reluctantly agreed to play.
As we gathered around the pool table, Mia and Brock still threw jabs at each other. It was like watching two boxers circling each other in the ring, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Meanwhile, Aspen seemed to be doing her best to avoid any contact with Brooks. He didn”t seem to notice, but it had my mind spinning with curiosity. One day soon, I would get to the bottom of this situation.
As we laughed and joked, celebrating each shot and teasing each other mercilessly, I couldn”t help but feel grateful for moments like these. Brant had stuck close to me all night like he couldn’t stand the thought of being away from me. The feeling was definitely mutual. No matter how much time we spent together, I just couldn”t seem to get enough. That thought was both terrifying and thrilling.