“Keys, please,” he demanded of Chet.
“I already gave ’em to Deputy Horowitz.” Chet frowned at Jay uncertainly, like he wasn’t sure where his pal had gone. “Look, Jerr—uh,Jayd, this has all been a giant misunderstanding.”
“It hasn’t.” Jay crossed his arms over his chest and raised an imperious eyebrow. “You stole our van. The lure of the triple treads was too much for you.”
Chet looked horrified. “I never stole a thing in my life! I just borrowed it. I figured you’d want me to! I mean, you know I left my car back outside St. Louis, and you told me to take my Chrissea on a picnic…”
“A nighttime picnic?” Jay scoffed.
Chet wrapped an arm around the waist of the rockabilly princess beside him. “You said to take her to seeowls. Can’t see owls in the daytime, can you?”
“Occasionally you can, baby,” Chrissea said, snuggling into Chet’s side and sighing deeply. “But it wouldn’t have been the same. Not nearly as romantic.”
Jay and I exchanged a look, and I saw his resolve weaken. “Well…”
“Y’all should be the first to know, you were right. About everything.” Chet beamed. “And Chrissea saidyes.”
“Yes?” I repeated, frowning. “To what?”
“Show ’em, baby,” Chet said, and the woman held up her left hand to display a knobby, yellow-brown band on her ring finger.
“Is that—?” Jay began.
“A genuine corncob and resin ring from the gift shop downstairs?” she finished. “Yeah, it is! My Chet knows exactly what I like.” She fluttered her eyelashes up at Chet. “And now that we’re getting married, I’ll never take it off.”
“You’reengaged,” I said dumbly. “That’s… wow. Congratulations.”
Chet smiled even harder, so wide I thought his face might crack. “We talked about everything, just like you two suggested. And we decided we’re going on the road together!”
Chrissea nodded. “I don’t want Chet to give up his musical ambitions.”
“And I can’t give up my muse,” Chet said proudly.
“Aw.” Jay hitched his towel tighter, and his haughty expression gave way to softness. “I… Iguessthere was no harm done.” He looked at me for confirmation.
I pushed my lips together to hide the wide smile that threatened to burst out. That, right there, was the guy I’d been half in love with since I was a teenager. Generous, big-hearted, optimistic to the core, no matter how many protective layers he tried to put around himself.
Even if he never declared our relationship to the world, I could be happy knowing I was lucky enough to see this tender, true part of him all the time.
“So, I expect you won’t be pressing charges, then?” Deputy Freckles hooked his thumbs in his big gun belt.
Jay shook his head. “As long as the van’s in one piece.”
“Not a scratch on it,” Chet vowed. “We even put the seats back up after we… erm.”
Jay and I exchanged a laughing glance. Deputy Freckles coughed and looked at the ceiling.
“Come on, Chester. Chrissea.” Deputy Freckles rocked on the balls of his feet. “Let’s leave the nice folks to eat their breakfast in peace.”
Chet, though, hung back and kept Chrissea with him.
“You coulda knocked me over with a feather when Jim told us my friend Jerry was actuallytheJayd Rollins,” he told Jay. “Nobody’s ever gonna believe you were traveling through Missouri incognito, picked me up at a gas station, gave me a ride, sorted out my relationship,andlistened to my album—I mean, my cover ofyouralbum—and liked it so dang much!”
Likedwas a strong word, but other than a little smirk, Jay didn’t argue with Chet’s interpretation.
“You know, if you ever need an opening act, I’m your man. Or if you might ever consider writing a song for me…” Chet continued, blushing fiercely. “I’d love that. I don’t know if you do that sort of thing, but some folks do. Maybe it could be something with a heavy techno beat? But also country?”
Jay frowned but nodded slowly. “I can honestly promise that if I’m ever inspired to write a techno-country song, you will be the very first person I call.”
