I put on a confident face even though I’m shitting bricks. “Let’s go, guys.” I usher Kaylee and Chase toward the middle of the backyard, grabbing my guitar from where I stashed it under the cake table earlier.
As we take our positions to perform the song we’ve been practicing together, I take a deep breath.
I look out at the small group, and doubt begins to cloud my mind.
This is a mistake.
This is the worst.
I can’t believe I’m doing this.
Ryder’s smiling.
Harley looks confused.
My brother is just plain trying not to laugh at me.
He won’t be able to contain it soon.
“Okay,” I croak and then clear my throat. “Some of you probably don’t know how Ryder and I met.”
“Oh, I told everyone I know,” Ryder cuts in.
“Thanks. No, really, thank you. Anyway, I might have said something about boy bands being lazy, cliché, and, well, sucky.”
Brix puts his fingers in his mouth and lets out a loud whistle. Harley elbows him.
“While I still think their songs are a bit cliché, I’m not ashamed to admit I was wrong about the other two. Ryder’s one of the most hardworking people I know, and I can’t wait to begin this journey with him. Both professionally and personally.” I glance at my brother and Brenna. “Oh, by the way, I’m moving out.” I don’t give them a chance to react before I strum the opening chords to a song that should burn in hell. “Ryder, this one’s for you.”
The kids start with the Ooh, ooh, oohs.
I join in with the first verse, and everyone in the backyard erupts into laughter.
Yes, I’m singing an Eleven song.
And I’m not spontaneously combusting. Who knew?
Because I like you. Ooh, ooh, ooh. I like you.
My soul is dying.
But as I lock eyes with Ryder, I realize I’d sell my soul ten times over for that man.
I think I might’ve been a little bit in love with him since the moment he didn’t get offended at the rude, jealous comments I made the day we met.
I fell a little more when I saw him with his daughter.
Was completely enamored by the time he helped me with my demo.
Now?
We may not have said the actual words to each other yet, but I’m so in love with him it’s been hard to keep it in until I thought he might be ready.
And maybe he’s still not ready.
But it’s too late now.
The kids sing the last chorus—the one we changed.
Ooh, ooh, ooh. I love you.
I love you.
I love you …
The song finishes, and while everyone claps and cheers, Ryder’s eyes remain locked on mine.
I try to approach him, but my feet refuse to move.
He didn’t even blink at the notion of me moving in, but this? This is huge.
This is massive.
I want to put the words back in my mouth—take them back and continue to wait for him to catch up—but they’re out there now.
The world blurs around the edges as if tunnel vision is kicking in and only letting me focus on Ryder.
He’s the one to approach me.
My guitar drops to my side as I rest it against my leg.
Ryder stops so we’re toe-to-toe, his face a mix of fear and awe.
“I might’ve changed the words,” I rasp.
He huffs. “I like your version better. Especially if it was directed at me.”
Damn it, I wish I could read him better. I don’t know if he’s shit-scared right now or begging for me to answer truthfully.
“It might have been.”
He takes my hands. “Just in case it was, I love you too.”
A relieved whoosh leaves me. “Thank fuck for that.”
Ryder leans in to kiss me.
“Swear jar!” Kaylee’s little voice interrupts us. Of course it does.
I slump.
“That’s what life is going to be like living in this family,” Ryder says. “You up for it?”
“I’m up for anything when it comes to you.”
“I love you, Lyric.”
“I love you too. So. Fucking. Much.” This time I make sure to keep my voice low so little ears can’t hear my curse words.
“We’re about to start something massive together,” Ryder whispers. “Are you ready?”
“Forever ready.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Lyric
A few months later
My palms sweat. The stage lights are blinding, hiding the audience. That’s probably a good thing.
Singing, I’m good at. Talking … shit, I don’t even think I know how to do that anymore.
It’s my first appearance on a talk show, and I’m nervous as fuck.
Shit. Don’t say fuck on TV.
I swallow hard and think about Ryder and Kaylee at home in LA. Ryder said he’d let Kaylee stay up to watch it tonight even though by the time this airs, I’ll be in my hotel room watching it too.
Sean Rushton, the newest, fresh-faced host of the latest late-night show, smiles at me. The reason I got booked on this show is because of how new we both are.
Turns out, Harley Valentine knows this business better than I ever could’ve imagined. Three months after signing with him, I had a single on the charts and my face in the tabloids.
It’s been a crazy whirlwind I wouldn’t change for anything. Except maybe having Ryder and Kaylee here with me.
“So tell me,” Sean says. “I hear the way you were discovered is unique.”
I recite the rehearsed speech Harley gave me and that Ryder approved. “I was actually working as a nanny.”
“A nanny?”
“You might have heard of my boss, Ryder Kennedy.”
The crowd goes wild like only boy band fans do.
I laugh. “Harley was over at the house—”
“He says, like it’s completely normal to have Harley Valentine as a house guest,” Sean says.
“Exactly! I got used to seeing him and the guys from Eleven dropping by. They’re all still great friends.” Lies. I only recently met them all, and not all their receptions were warm, but that’s not what I’m supposed to be selling.
“So, Harley was over, and …” Sean prompts.
“He overheard me singing with Ryder’s daughter. Then he chased me down where I was gigging on weekends and convinced me to sign with his new label, Valentine Records.”
There you go, Harley. I got in that plug you wanted.
“I think a heap of struggling artists just signed up to nanny agencies across the country.”
I would tell them how I met Ryder for real, but we want people to like me.
“Is it true you almost appeared on Fandom, the reality show in which Denver from Eleven is a judge?”
“I did audition for that show.” And it’s laughable that I walked away from it because the producers wanted me to sing a Harley Valentine song, and now Harley’s not only the head of my label but my manager.
It’s only temporary until he finds me someone we both want to work with.
Sean holds out his arms. “Turns out, you didn’t need it.”