phone buzzed. Leaning up on one elbow, he squinted to see who’d texted him. It was Riley Stinson, the most recent of his close friends to find a mate.
You still up?
Kyle had missed a call from Riley earlier. He hadn’t gotten back to him, so although he was exhausted, he shoved himself into a sitting position.
I am. Sorry I missed your call today. Got a tenant for the farmhouse. Been handling that. What’s up?
Kyle wasn’t sure why he’d asked what was up. He knew what was up with Riley. After months spent trying to atone for their difficult history, Riley had finally talked Phoenix Fuller into marrying him. They’d set the date for December 30 and were planning a big wedding. It was all Riley could talk about. And, if Kyle was being honest, that made him a lot less eager to take Riley’s calls. Now that Riley was settling down, Kyle would be the only single member of their group, except for Baxter—and, as Noelle had pointed out, his relationship with Baxter wouldn’t be very conducive to meeting women.
Instead of texting back, Riley called. “Hey, you rented the farmhouse, huh?”
Kyle could hear the wind buffeting the trees against the house, but the worst of the storm seemed to be over. “I did,” he said as he dropped onto his pillows.
“To who?”
The words “Someone from Nashville” were on the tip of his tongue. That was what he planned to tell most people. But Riley was one of his best friends. He could trust Riley with his life. “Lourdes Bennett.”
“Lourdes who?”
“Bennett. She’s a country-western singer—sings ‘Heartbreak’ and ‘Stone Cold Lover.’”
“That Lourdes Bennett? Are you kidding me?”
“No, but don’t tell anyone she’s in town. She’s trying to keep a low profile.”
“I won’t tell a soul. But if Lourdes wanted to move here, why wouldn’t she buy her own place? She’s got to have the money.”
“This is just a short-term thing, until she finishes writing the songs for her next album.”
“Don’t most major artists buy songs from songwriters?”
“I’m sure some do, but I guess she prefers to come up with her own material.” He heard the toilet flush down the hall. Lourdes was still up—which didn’t surprise him. Derrick had called as they poured the last of that bottle of wine. She’d probably just finished talking to him. “Did you need something when you tried to reach me earlier?” he asked Riley.
“Mostly I wanted to check in, see what you’ve been up to. Seems like we’ve both been so busy with work we hardly talk anymore.”
It wasn’t because of work. It was because Riley’s private life was doing what it should and Kyle’s wasn’t. But he didn’t comment on that. No one enjoyed hearing other people complain about something they couldn’t have. “We’ll see each other tomorrow morning at Black Gold, won’t we?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there. So will Phoenix. But besides checking in, I was hoping to talk to you about the wedding.”
The wedding. Of course. Olivia was planning it, so Kyle heard about it even from her. “You’re down to what...four weeks? That’s crazy.”
“It’s coming up fast, which is why I’m in sort of a hurry.”
“To...”
“I was wondering if you’d marry us.”
Kyle nearly dropped his phone. Riley’s teenage son would be best man. He hadn’t expected to do anything other than standing in Riley’s line, along with the rest of the guys in their group of friends. “You mean...perform the ceremony?”
“That’s exactly what I mean.”
“Doesn’t that require a preacher?”
“Apparently not. I was remodeling a kitchen the other day when the guy who hired me said he’d performed his daughter’s wedding. He told me all he had to do was sign up online.”
“Where?”
“I’m sure it’ll come up if you look for it on Google. If you can’t find it, give me a call and I’ll ask him.”
“And Phoenix...she’s okay with having me play that role?”
“You know how Phoenix feels about you. She was thrilled when I suggested it.”
“But your parents will expect you to use their minister, won’t they?”
“This isn’t their wedding. I plan to make sure it’s everything Phoenix wants.”
Kyle smiled even though Riley couldn’t see it. “You really love that girl,” he said, and he could understand why. He’d taken a special liking to Phoenix, too—wished he’d written to her while she was in prison so he could’ve offered some emotional support. What she’d been through was terrible—to be convicted of something she didn’t do. Yet she’d stood tall and weathered those tough years completely on her own.
“She’s the one for me,” Riley said. “I can’t explain why she’s different from all the other women I’ve dated, but she is.”
“I’m happy for you.” He seemed to be saying that a lot lately. He was happy for Brandon and Olivia and their perfect marriage. He was happy for Riley and Phoenix, happy that they were finally getting together—something that would’ve happened years ago if life was fair. He was happy for Callie and Levi, too, who were expecting their first baby, and Eve and Lincoln, who’d had their first child a few months ago. Everyone had something to celebrate.
If Noelle could find another love interest, maybe he’d have something to celebrate...
“So you’ll do it?” Riley asked.
He tried to imagine standing at the altar with Riley and Phoenix and felt ill equipped, but how could he say no to one of his best friends? “I can honestly say that performing a marriage is something I never pictured myself doing. But sure. Thanks for asking me.”
“Glad you’re willing. And you have my promise that I’ll do anything you ask me to when you get married.”
“Are you expecting that to happen soon?” he joked.
“You never know, man. You could be married right now if you weren’t so damn picky.”
His father told him basically the same thing. But in his mind, he wasn’t being picky, he was being careful. He’d rather be a confirmed bachelor for the rest of his life than make another mistake. The last one had been a pain in his ass for six years.
He thought of Noelle calling about her water heater, and the money for her boob job and for her utility bill. She was still a pain in his ass. He should never have married her—but he had the sneaking suspicion that if he hadn’t, she would’ve gone ahead and had the baby, forging an even stronger bond.
