Music of the Soul (Runaway Train, #2.5)(12)

“I know. I feel the same way.”

Pushing her hair away from her face, I then brought my lips back to hers. I wanted nothing more than to stay in that moment forever with the most important things in my life—my love, my guitar, and my music. But the sound of the front door bursting open caused me to pull away. It took only seconds for AJ’s booming voice to echo throughout the loft. “Yo, twatcake, are you up and at em? We leave for the airport in half an hour.”

I groaned. “It’s always an interruption, isn’t it?”

Abby giggled. “Sometimes I think I’m not just marrying you, but the boys, too. I mean, they’re so much a part of our lives.”

“Yeah, well, just remember you’re mine and only mine, got it?”

She kissed my cheek. “Yes, Mr. Possessive.”

With a wink, I said, “And don’t you forget it.”

AJ bounded over the side of the ladder, causing Abby to squeal and grab for the sheet. “Oh shit, I’m sorry,” he said, before whirling around.

“It’s okay.” Once she was wrapped as tight as a mummy in the sheet, she hopped off the bed and ran into the bathroom.

When the door closed, AJ turned around. He held up his hands. “I swear I didn’t know she was here.”

“It’s okay, man.”

“By the way, her mom is looking for her.”

“Oh shit,” Abby moaned from the bathroom.

I laughed. “You’re about to be a married woman, and you’re still worried about your mother?”

She poked her head out the door. “I’ll never be too old or too married not to worry about my mother.” She glanced at AJ. “Quick, get me a pair of Jake’s sweats and a T-shirt.”

“Why?”

Abby rolled her blue eyes. “Because I’m going to pretend I went out for a walk this morning to clear my head. The last thing my mother, least of all my father, needs to know is that I just spent the night with Jake.”

“Got it,” AJ replied, before heading to the closet. When he returned, he thrust some clothes at Abby.

“Thank you,” she replied, as she slammed the door.

“You don’t think they’re going to wonder why you’re wearing my clothes that are about two sizes too big for you?” I asked.

“I’ll say it’s because I missed you and wanted to be close to you. That also covers us if they smell you on me,” came her muffled reply behind the door.

AJ grinned. “She’s good. If we ever need an alibi, she’s our girl.”

Then Abby appeared from out of the bathroom. Her former bed hair had been tamed into a ponytail. She leaned over the bed to kiss me. “I love you, and I’ll see you this afternoon.”

“Yep, sunset on the beach. You’ll be the one in the veil, and I’ll be the one forced to wear a pink vest.”

“Hey, at least you don’t have to wear a full tux or suit,” she argued.

“Guess you’re right. But damn, Angel. Did you really have to choose pink?”

She gave me a teasing wink. “I’m a true steel magnolia, so of course, I wanted some blush and bashful in my wedding.”

My brows furrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Don’t worry about it. See you later.” She grinned and blew me a kiss before hightailing it down the ladder.

When the door slammed behind her, I tossed the notebook at AJ. “Got us a new hit.”

As he glanced over the lyrics, he bobbed his head. “Abby inspired, I presume.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Brayden will be glad to hear it. He’s feeling the pressure of the new album.”

“I have a feeling I might get even more inspired on my honeymoon.”

AJ grinned. “I say go for it. Just make sure you take the time to enjoy yourself.”

Throwing back the covers, I started for the bathroom. “Oh, I plan on enjoying myself several times a day,” I replied with a wink.





The main suite of the island’s house teemed with people. As nervous energy hummed through every fiber of my being, it took everything I had to sit still in the chair in front of the mirror. It still felt surreal that I was even here—that after hopping a plane and then taking a boat, I was in my own island paradise. I’d been dreaming of this day my entire life, and now it was finally here.

To combat my nervousness, I’d been tapping my foot restlessly while Marion, the band’s makeup and hair stylist, went about transforming me. When she started in with the eyeliner, she gave me an exasperated look. “Would you stop with the tapping, or you’re going to look like some Goth chick.”

“Sorry.”

She grinned. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this nervous before.”

I sighed. “Yeah, there’s a reason for that. I mean, today’s the biggest performance of my life—my wedding day.”

“Oh honey, you’re going to be just fine,” my mother’s reassuring voice said from behind me. When I glanced into the mirror, she appeared behind me. “I can’t believe it’s really happening. My baby is getting married.” Tears glistened in her eyes, causing her to wave her hand in front of her face. “No, no, today is a happy day. No tears,” she said to herself.