Lexy’s mouth falls open as tears spill down her cheeks.
The bar goes quiet.
She sang this for her father. Played it for me when we were snowed in.
“Is this okay?” I murmur against her hair. “Are you mad?”
For a second, fear hits me that I went too far.
That I took something that was hers.
But she turns in my arms, looking up at me with those blue eyes shining.
“Are you kidding?” she breathes. “This is my dream.”
Relief hits hard.
I lower my head and kiss her.
“Why don’t we sing this part together, Lexy?” Lily calls gently.
Lexy steps forward, moving beside her.
And they sing.
Like they’ve been doing it forever.
Like the song was always meant to be heard like this.
By the time the last note fades, the entire bar erupts.
“Give it up for this amazing songwriter!” Lily calls out.
The applause is deafening.
For her.
For my girl.
I step forward and take the mic. “Let’s hear it one more time for Lily Rhodes!”
The crowd roars again.
Lily sticks around for a couple more songs before making her way back to us, smiling wide.
“So, Lexy,” she says, “ready to sign some papers and be my songwriter?”
Lexy looks like she can barely breathe, her smile lighting up the whole room as she nods.
She signs.
Just like that.
And Lily promises she’ll be in touch before heading out.
Lexy turns to me, tears still in her eyes.
“You did this for me?” she whispers. “When did you send it?”
