Through the wall, we hear Lily’s voice: “Is Darian coming back? He left his guitar!”
Rye smiles. “Better get back out there before she commandeers your Martin.”
“One more thing.” I pull her close again. “The answer to your question? I’ll let you fall every single day. And I’ll be right there when you do.”
“That’s terrifying.”
“Yeah. But so is this. I love you, Rye.”
Her eyes widen in shock, and then a smile begins to form. “Say it again.”
“I’m madly in love with you Rye Hayes.”
She kisses me again, quick but certain. “I love you too, Darian. Now go. Play your set. We’ll figure out the rest later.”
I head back to the stage, picking up my guitar as Lily waves from her table. The small crowd has gotten a bit larger, but I’m not playing for them. I’m playing for the woman standing in the back, arms crossed but smiling. For the little girl who wants to learn guitar. For the life I’m choosing instead of the one being chosen for me.
The next song is one of the old ones, from the Reverend Sister days. I invite my sister up to sing with me, surprising the crowd. We strip the song down to just acoustic guitar and our voices. Make it something new. Something mine. Something ours.
Halfway through, I catch Rye moving through the venue, checking on customers, adjusting lights, doing all the things that keep this place running. But every few seconds, her eyes find mine and I see my future.
Would you ever let me stay?
Would you ever let me fall?
The answer to both is yes. Always yes.
When my set ends, I pack up the Martin and head to the table where Lily’s practically vibrating with excitement.
“That first song was new!” she says, eyes bright. “I’ve never heard you play it before.”
“Just wrote it last week.”
“It was beautiful. The part about learning guitar—was that about anyone special?” She grins up at me, all innocence and curiosity.
I look at Rye, who’s trying not to smile. “Maybe about a student of mine who’s been working really hard.”
“Really?” Lily beams. “Mom, did you hear? Darian wrote about teaching me how to play guitar!”
“I heard, baby.”
Lily turns back to me. “So tomorrow? Regular time? Can Willow play with us?”
“Of course,” I tell her and my niece.
“I think we’re going to bail,” Zara says to me as Lily yawns. “Willow and Lily want to know if Lily can come back to the ranch?”
Lily clasps her hands in prayer and makes puppy dog eyes at her mom.
“You don’t have any clothes here,” Rye says.
“We’re the same size,” Willow says. “She can wear some of my stuff.”
“Please, Mom,” Lily pleads.
I lean in, “If she’s at my sister’s that means we’ll be alone.”
Rye’s cheek blush. “Okay, but you better be on your best behavior. Do everything Zara and Levi tell you.”
