Page 128 of Every Chance After

“But I want her to know that…here comes the sun,” he sings, “and I say, it’s alright...”

More laughs and cheers at the familiar Beatles song before Luke’s guitar riff fades, and Grady speaks again. “Marina, you said to let you know when I’m sure…I’m sure… This is for you. Thanks for saying yes.”

My heart leaps from my chest and does fifty somersaults as I stumble, rising from my chair. His hands dance over the keys, moving me closer on weak knees. The familiar notes tickle my heart. “Romeo and Juliet” by Dire Straits, a sweet oldie that I’d know anywhere since the CD sits in my AM collection at home.

I am awestruck—Grady Tripp can sing!

“You and me, babe… how ‘bout it?” he croons, low and husky, looking straight at me. Luke’s guitar picks up the riff, but I can’t take my eyes off Grady and the sly smirk planted on his face. He’s so proud, so comfortable, so sweetly happy. “Juliet…”

Can someone overdose on romance? If so, I might be in serious trouble. I bounce on my feet, giddy with it. Hyper on it. Desperate for him.

A crowd gathers around the stage, moving tables aside, especially as the song picks up its pace. But I stand just below him, devouring him, aching for him.

I’ve never felt more loved or special. Not only that, I’ve never felt so worthy of feeling loved and special, either. He makes mewantto be seen, heard, regarded, valued, loved, and admired, revered and feared, pirate-like—all I’ve missed in mybeforelife.This is after.My happily ever? I don’t know. But certainly, with the wreckage cleared and finding each other through the losses, he’s the closest I’ll get to one.

“I love you like the stars above, love you til I die… Juliet,” he sings, and I melt. “You and me, babe. How ‘bout it?”

As I get bumped by the people dancing next to me, I glance toward Ashe’s table, where he and Cora engage in a heated discussion, rendering them too busy to notice. Or they’re trying hard not to. It doesn’t matter. I meant what I said to Grady—they no longer have power over me. I feel free to be me. Free to love Grady. Free to be loved by him, too.

As the song trails to its gentle end, Grady switches seamlessly into the mellow bounce of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity.”Grady laughs sheepishly as the audience recognizes it.

“It was high school,” he shrugs.

Luke takes over the vocals, and the audience chimes in for the chorus.I like the way you work it. No diggity.I giggle like a middle schooler at a Taylor Swift concert, especially when Grady’s eyes find mine when he sings,“She’s a perfect ten.”

Everyone laughs while I blush. The crowd coos and cheers as they dance.

As that song ends, Grady switches to Tupac’s “Changes.” Luke is surprisingly deft at rapping—his voice pairs perfectly with Grady’s elaborate piano work.

And the crowd goes wild for it—it’s no longer a restaurant but a concert.“That’s just the way it is… Things will never be the same.”

“Excuse me!” Cora’s irritated voice again draws my attention as she pushes through the crowd with her party behind her. They’re leaving—their table sits empty, their drinks abandoned.

My smile widens, shifting my eyes back to Grady.

The song changes again, slowly. “Last one before the real band takes over,” he says. “Come here, Marina.”

I hesitate, but the crowd pushes me up there, cheering me on as I go. He takes my hand, pulling me around the instruments until I’m beside him. From this vantage point, I spot Wade, Christie, and Roy at the bar’s end, beaming at us and cheering louder than anyone.

“Help me get her to say yes to a second date, huh?” he grins, instigating the crowd as he starts playing “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls. I match his slow swaying beside him, my arm drifting naturally around his waist.

His fingers bang the keys. The crowd dances, lifting their drinks. It’s a celebration.

The song switches midway, transitioning perfectly into “Slide.”

I wanna wake up where you are… I won’t say anything at all… So, why don’t you slide?

His words fade, and the song transitions again into “Better Days”—a Goo Goo Dolls compilation that somehow makes sense though they’re three different songs.

‘Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again.

The words hit home as I stand beside the man I want to Super glue to my side for the rest of eternity. Tonight feels like a new start, a new world, a better us now that we’ve let each other in.

Thunderous applause and raucous cheers bring the song to a close, but it grows even louder when he wraps me up in a wild kiss.

“Looks like a yes to me!” someone yells, rousing the crowd to cheer again.

When our lips part, we’re laughing.

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