Page 73 of Mistletoe Kisses

People cheered again.

“I’m going to sing a little tune for them.”

My heart was in my throat as I watched him bring his shaking hands to his guitar. Lucas had carried an air of confidence since I’d met him. I hated that this had unsettled him so much.

“We just remodeled. Don’t destroy the park,” someone behind me heckled. There was some light laughter.

I turned and tried to spot the person but couldn’t find them. Shame. I wanted to glare them down.

Lucas didn’t comment on the heckler, and I hoped he hadn’t heard them, but I saw his Adam’s apple bob. He began strumming and opened his mouth to sing, but nothing came out. His fingers kept playing the opening on repeat, but still no words.

My heart thundered in my ears as Lucas fought his demons in front of hundreds of people. After a few moments, murmurs began racing through the crowd, and I saw Warren shoot Reed a concerned look. Then, a few laughs broke through. Couldn’t people see he was struggling? There were inconsiderate jerks even in a place as great as Dahlia Springs.

Lucas squeezed his eyes closed and bowed his head. Without realizing it, I was moving toward the stairs. Fortunately, I was already standing in front of the stage, so I didn’t have to push through a crowd. That might’ve done my nerve in.

When Lucas saw me approach, his eyes locked on mine like I was his lifeline. That gave me the courage to haul myself up the stairs and walk onto the stage in front of a crowd that might as well have been a million people with how badly I shook. I placed my hand on the small of his back because I needed the connection, probably more than he did. We shared a smile, and he stared at me with grateful eyes.

My gut dropped as I turned to the horde of people watching us. I quickly spotted Ron, Karen, and Judith in the crowd. When Lucas started the song over, I opened my mouth and sang to my family. It was easier to sing to three.

The next few minutes were a blur. I focused on Lucas’s voice and trying to survive the song.

* * *

LUCAS

My pulse was fast enough that I should ask the audience if there was a paramedic around. After managing to get out a few words, someone had to heckle me. Of course. My attention kept going back to Arlo. He was safe. He wouldn’t laugh at me for messing up again.

I tried to ignore the crowd as my fingers played the chords out of habit, but no words left my mouth.Will the stage collapse? A lightning strike? Maybe a bird will shit on my face?

I got stuck in a loop of the opening notes, unable to move forward in the song, unwilling to greet the doom waiting for me. What part of the song flipped the switch to impending disaster? The first verse? The chorus? Finishing it? Maybe if I didn’t move forward, nothing bad would happen.

Dammit. I can’t do this again. I can’t ruin Warren’s proposal by overshadowing it with another one of my failures.

After looping back to the beginning again while trying to think of my exit plan, I noticed Arlo moving toward the stage. I wasn’t sure what he was doing until he climbed the stairs, face white as a sheet. I couldn’t look away from him. I had no idea what was happening, but having him near me already made me feel better.I can get through this if he’s by my side.

Arlo shook like a leaf in front of all those eyes, but he was there. For me.

His touch on my back jolted my confidence like a defibrillator.

Arlo smashed the dam to smithereens, and the words flowed from my mouth. I turned my head and smiled at Arlo as we sang. He had a lovely, soft voice that I wanted to hear more of. I pictured us unwinding after a long day while cooking and singing songs together in the kitchen. It was so natural to picture a future with him.

I found Warren and Reed in the crowd and sang to them with all the love I had for them and the hope I held for their bright future together. As I stood next to Arlo, I knew I wanted to stand by him for a long time. Having him there with me made the moment even more special. I had such a good feeling about Arlo, and I wanted to follow it through.

I looked back at Arlo as we finished the song, and the crowd erupted with applause. I paused for a moment, held my breath, and waited for the catastrophe. Nothing happened except Arlo clutching the back of my coat in a death grip.

Warren raced up the stage and tackled me with a hug. “I’m so proud of you. Thank you for doing this for me. I’ll never forget it. You’re the best brother ever.” The sound system caught Warren’s words through the mic.

“Hey! I heard that!”

I laughed at Eddie’s shout. I caught our younger brother’s eyes over Warren’s shoulder, where he stood with the rest of our family in front of the stage. Mom wiped her eyes.

After hugging me, Warren looked over at Arlo with gratitude in his eyes and hugged him too. Though he was still shaking, Arlo stepped into Warren’s hug and smiled at me over his shoulder.

I’m falling in love with this man.Anyone who would do that for me and to help my brother was a keeper. I just had to figure out how to keep him.

Chapter32

Arlo

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