Heat rushes to my cheeks. “He gave me another chance,” I say, nodding.
Penny’s face lights up instantly. “I knew it!” She claps her hands together.
“Karaoke night, baby!”
A loud yell cuts through the bar, followed by laughter.
We all turn toward the entrance just in time to see Summer walk in, her hand laced with a tall, handsome man’s, green eyes like Dex’s, his hair just a shade lighter. Summer is glowing, all effortless beauty and confidence, her laugh already echoing through the room as she takes in the crowd.
Something in my chest loosens.
This place suddenly feels…alive.
“Lexy! You’re working here!” Summer comes over and hugs me.
“Yeah, Dex decided to give me one more chance,” I say with a smile as I step back.
Her husband sticks out his hand to me. “Ethan Hawthorne, your idiot boss’s older brother. This beautiful woman’s husband.” He nods towards Summer.
Ethan smiles as I shake his hand. Damn, Dex’s mama sure breeds some handsome men.
“Lexy. Nice to meet you.”
They take their place at Penny and Cas’s table.
“What can I get you guys?” I ask as I take out my pad and pen.
“Two beers, two Cokes, two baskets of chicken wings…” Cas looks at Ethan, who takes over.
“And two hamburgers and fries,” Ethan says with a smile.
I write it all down.
The bar fills up fast, and soon there are no tables or seats left at the counter. Still, people keep coming inside, happy to just stand.
The microphone crackles, then a low, rough voice I know too well speaks up.
“All right, all right. Welcome to Midnight Rodeo’s very special and very requested karaoke night.”
Dex announces it, and the whole bar hoots and claps.
“Are you ready?” he asks the crowd, who goes wild again.
I look over at Penny and Summer’s table and find them both standing on their chairs, hands around their mouths as they shout into the noise. Cas is whistling loudly while Ethan claps his hands.
“And for our first act of the evening, I want to invite my two lovely sisters-in-law to the front.”
Dex swings his head toward their table and gestures for them.
“Give it up for Penny and Summerrrr!”
Both women walk onto the stage, and Penny whispers something to the DJ. Then I hear a song I know and love start to play, making me smile as I tap some beers for the group of men at the bar.
Penny starts to sing “Unwritten,” and my mood instantly lifts.
I love this.
I dance while I take more orders and see Stephen doing the same. The whole bar is singing along. Even the rough cowboys scream the words out without shame, and I feel… happy.
