I tightened my grip on my glass.
“Cory?” Mom frowned. “What’s wrong?”
I snapped out of whatever trance Lea’s voice was putting me in and plastered a smile onto my face. “Fine.”
“Liar. I know when something’s bothering you.” She leaned forward. “Is it the waitress?” she whispered.
I shook my head and sat back in my seat. “How’s Uncle Rick?”
“Cory David.”
I scratched my brow, every muscle in my body tensing when that punk kid, Kyle’s, voice blended with Lea’s. I could just picture him, swooping in after I left, telling her all kinds of pretty lies to try and woo her.
She was smarter than that. I had to give her credit for that level head of hers, but that kid was crafty, and they were probably spending countless hours together, and would’ve been for the past three months.
Dang, I’d been so distracted at boot camp, I hadn’t given that guy much thought. Just Lea. Always Lea.
“There’s that bulging vein again,” Mom said, shaking her head. “What is it, son?”
I swallowed, shaking my head, too. “Nothing.”
The song’s sound intensified, and Lea’s voice jumped up, causing almost every person in the room to freeze.
“Who is this?” I heard from the table to our right.
“Some new band.”
“Heard they’re playing at the Rialto this weekend.”
“What? No way.”
“I can get us tickets.”
Mom was basically scowling now. “Out with it.”
“I was in love with her.”
Her eyes bulged. “Who?”
“Lea.”
Mouth hanging, she gripped Chuck’s arm and held my gaze. “Why’d you break things off with her, then? Or did she dump you?”
I swallowed. “Complicated.”
“Spit it out.”
“Dad botched it too bad.”
“Your father’s a criminal, and he’s gone now. There’s no reason why you can’t reconnect with her.”
It was almost comical. “There is.”
“Well, what is it? I won’t leave it alone until you tell me, son. You know how pesky I can get.”
“Ain’t that the truth?” Chuck’s eyes widened as he chugged his coke.
She slapped his shoulder and turned back to me. “Out with it.”
I pointed to the speaker overhead. “Hear that voice?”
“It’s beautiful, but stop trying to distract me.”
I shook my head. “That’s Lea singing. She’s a big-time artist now. She’s out in LA living her dream.”
Mom sighed. “So what? She can live her dream while you’re living yours, and you can still be there for each other.”
I rubbed the edge of the table. It was the same thing Lea would’ve said about us. And it wasn’t like it was a lie. We could find a way to make it happen, if we wanted to. She wouldn’t want to now.
Kyle’s voice traveled through the speaker, solo, and it lit a fire in my bones I hadn’t felt since that day I saw him on a bended knee in front of her.
“Think about it, Cory. You’re about to be transferred to Southern California. She’s in LA. Doesn’t that seem like more than just coincidence to you? Maybe the Lord has His hand in it.”
The waitress came around with our dinners, but I couldn’t eat mine.
Lea’s voice echoed in my soul, tugging on something that made me itch to find her somehow.
But that was stupid.
Or was it?
I took a hasty bite and glanced over at the table where the people had been talking about the song earlier. They were all still there. I stood and approached them. Maybe going through boot camp made me a little crazy. Crazy didn’t matter anymore. Lea did.
“Hey, sorry, but I overheard you guys talking about that band,” I said. “Heard you might know someone with tickets.” Dang, this was the furthest out on a limb I’d ever gone in my life, but I couldn’t stop myself. Not with the way that song was still swirling through my mind, not with Lea’s beautiful smile still haunting me. Even after all I’d done to move past her. Not when Mom was right. There was something different about us both being placed in Southern California. And Dad wasn’t a threat anymore.
That was it. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t give it one more shot.
LEA
“Three minutes until opening,” Genevieve said, as the makeup artist touched up my lipstick behind the biggest stage I’d ever seen, or been on, in my life. Taylor was taking pictures left and right, full on bouncing up and down the longer we were back here. Ryan was cool as a cucumber, just following her around.
Kyle cleared his throat beside me. “Wanna pray?”
“Uh huh.”
Tay came to join us, Ryan coming, too. We bowed our heads, and Kyle started, asking for God’s lead in our concert. Asking that every heart here would be touched by Him. That the two of us would disappear up there, and that they’d see God instead. I nodded and added in a thing or two for sound and lights, and then I swallowed. “And I don’t know if there’s ever a connection between Heaven and Earth, God, but if you can give my daddy a glimpse of this, I know he’d be so stoked to see it. Amen.”
They all said their “amens,” and then Genevieve was at our side, motioning toward the steps. “All right, you two. Go out there and have some fun, okay?”
Kyle held his hand up for a high-five, and I gave him one.
I had no idea how we’d ended up becoming friends, but somewhere between the competition and now, we’d let go of the past and dove into this whole crazy journey together. “You got this, Lea,” he said.
Heart pounding, I followed him out onto the stage, and leaned into my mic. “All right, Chicago! Ready to get this party started?”
The crowd erupted in applause, and Kyle chuckled into his mic. “Let’s go!”
The drums kicked in hard and heavy, and we were bobbing to the beat, me picking out a few of the notes on my acoustic as the electric pierced the air in a three-note hook. Kyle gave a raspy growl. We sang our guts out, giving it every last thing we had, from start to finish, and before the last song started up, I approached the mic again.
“I don’t want to get weird guys, but I’m feeling like I need to share something I’ve been thinking a lot about over the past couple months.”
I glanced down into the audience. Mom and Garrett were staring up at me in awe in the front row. Nolan would’ve been here, too, but he’d started a new job, and called in before to wish me good luck.
“Some of you might’ve walked into this theater as broken as I felt at the start of summer this year. Not knowing which way to go anymore. Not knowing where God is, let alone where He’s taking you. I want you to know, you’re not alone. No matter where you come from, or where you’re going after this, if you have Jesus, you have the closest friend, the best kind of support, the exact directions you need, right when you need them.” I closed my eyes as the keys played an ethereal sound. “All you have to do is go back to that place you were when you first found Him. Remember who you were back then. Remember what He did for you. Maybe you’ve never met Him. Maybe you’ve always wondered about Him. I’ll just tell you He’s my saving grace each and every day, and none of this would be possible without Him.”
I strummed lightly on my guitar and lifted a shoulder. “If you’ve never had the chance to meet Him, you can do that tonight. Right here. Me and Kyle, we’re kind of sneaky guys.” I chuckled. So did Kyle. “We have some people at the sides of the theater down here, ready and waiting to pray with anyone who needs it. Maybe this is your come-to-Jesus moment, or maybe you just want someone to pray with. Here it is.”
“Do with it what you want to, guys,” Kyle said. “We’re here to have some fun, but we’re also here to share the thing that brought this band together, and that’s the insane love of a God that never gives up on us. Even when we think He should.” He swallowed and glanced at me. “Read
y?”
I nodded, and the band came in lightly with our final song of the night, the song we sang at the competition, and as the words poured out of our mouths, the people out there stirred, one after another, making their way to the sides of the auditorium.
I could barely make it through the song for how emotional it was making me. All I could think was what a lucky punk I was to get to call this my life now. Doing exactly what I was born to do, and getting to help people along the way.
A prick of pain pulled in my chest as we finished the song, and I thought back to Cory all those days ago. When I’d tried to pull an impulsive Lea and quit because things were getting rough. Man, I wished things had worked out differently between us.
But as much as it still hurt to think of never talking to him again, I couldn’t let it ruin this for me. I’d loved him, sure. But now I was able to love me enough to trust God with where I was going, and I’d always be grateful that Cory was the one who helped me get here.
The last note of the song rang through the air, and the crowd went insane. The MC ran out to the stage.
“Give it up for the one and only Overdrive!”
They did.
Kyle stood beside me, head dipped as he gave a little wave.
I mouthed a thousand “thank yous” and blew a kiss. “We love you, Chicago!”
Tay threw me into the biggest hug after we were off stage. “Oh my gosh, girl! That was freaking ah-mazing!”
“Thanks, Tay.”
She stepped back and swept her fingers under her eyes, Ryan coming up behind her, rubbing her shoulders and smiling wide at me. “Seriously. So good.”
“Thanks.”
Genevieve swept us off backstage to meet our VIP fans. Who knew we even had those already?
We signed autographs, chatted with a few, and we even had the chance to pray with a twelve-year-old boy whose Mom found out she had the same type of cancer my dad did. “Keep me posted, okay?” I told him as I gave him Genevieve’s number. “Call her anytime, and she’ll get you through to me.”
“Let us know if you need anything,” Kyle added.
Mom and Garrett came to congratulate us next, Mom giving me a double-wink before they headed out together. The line died off, and the lights flickered on, the crew starting to roll their equipment out to the bus.
Kyle nodded. “Guess this is it for the night, huh?”
I smiled, offering him a high five this time. “Thanks, Keller. Feels weird to say, but I actually think we make a pretty good team.”
“Ditto. See you tomorrow.” He turned to head out.
“Yeah.”
Willowy Miss Georgia from production intercepted him with a huge smile and open arms before he got too far. “Oh my gosh, babe, that was incredible!”
“Yeah?” He wrapped his arms around her waist, and I turned away, searching for Tay, but she was cozying up in the corner with Ryan.
Gah! The single life had never really bothered me before, but there was something about being surrounded by a bunch of couples now that made my skin a little itchy and brought Cory’s dark brown eyes back to mind. Would I ever stop thinking about him? I blew a deep breath and headed out to my bus for the night, but a security golf cart was parked in front.
I frowned, folding my arms across my stomach as he pulled toward me. “Miss Miller, I’m sorry, but we found someone lurking around out here a few minutes ago, and we’re just making sure everything’s safe before you head in for the night.”
My breath caught in my throat, and chills covered my skin. The night Cory’s dad showed up flashed through my memory, and I released a shaky breath. “Who was it?”
He cleared his throat and patted the seat next to him. “His name wasn’t on your clearance list, but he said he knows you. They always say that. Better get you somewhere safe.”
I swallowed and took the seat beside him. He drove through the parking lot to the security booth and had me sit in the back with a hot chocolate. “Just having the guys do the rounds, and we’ll get you to your bus.”
“Thanks. I didn’t realize I’d have a stalker at my first concert.”
“Creeps don’t discriminate.”
“No joke.”
A muffled siren sounded through the wall a few minutes later, and red and blue lights flickered. I peeked through the security window to get a better view.
A police officer stood beside his car, talking to someone on the other side, but he was too far out of my view.
I scooted up a little and cracked the window. Maybe I could hear what they were saying.
“No, sir. I’m on liberty from graduation. I got special permission for this, but I have to report back in three hours, and it’s an hour drive.”
Wait. That voice was so familiar.
“Never heard of a sailor getting special permission for anything.”
Sailor?
“My petty officer will vouch for me.”
“What’s his number?”
“It’s in my cell.”
“Where’s your cell?”
“Right pocket.”
“What’s your name again?”
“Cory Griffin.”
Cory Griffin?
Cory Griffin?
Cory was here?
My heart dropped to my toes and bounced back up to my throat, and my breaths shook as I clambered my way to the door.
Cory was here!
“Wait!” I ran as fast as I could, my brain turning into a puddle of mush the closer I got. Cory was leaning against the back of the cop car in his Navy uniform, and seeing him made me weak in the knees.
He did it! He was in the Navy! But what was he doing here?
The cop told him to raise his hands and spread his legs.
“I know him!” I shouted again.
The security guard stepped toward me, holding a hand up. “Miss Miller, you shouldn’t be out here.”
“I know him.” I shook my head, glancing at Cory, my eyes stinging because the last time I’d spoken to him, we were together and happy about it. I made myself push past those memories, but my heart didn’t forget.
Gah! Why was he here?
I drew a deep breath and blew it out. It didn’t matter why he was here. He’d ghosted me twice, and there was no way in Hades I’d let him do it again.
Twenty-Four
CORY
I don’t think I’d ever seen a prettier sight. Lea, in a bright pink dress, leather jacket, and rocker boots. She looked like everything I’d been missing my whole life, and I had to find a way to tell her. If I could get this greenhorn officer off my back, I would.
“I know him,” she said again, with less conviction this time. The security guard tried to stop her, but she came and stood between me and the officer anyway, bold-faced and huffing. “This was all some kind of mistake. I know him.”
The officer frowned. “This man was seen sitting outside your bus for an hour.”
She turned to look at me, and everything inside me lit on fire again. How could I have ever let her go?
“I’m sorry. I had to see you. I . . . We need to talk.”
She nodded, turning back to the officer. “Whatever they told you, they’re wrong. I know him. He’s one of my best friends.”
Friends . . . Dang, that hurt.
The officer huffed a breath, turning to the security guard. “I’m sorry this happened. I was informed of a suspicious male outside your bus. We don’t take those kinds of calls lightly.”
She nodded, wringing her hands. “I get it. Just . . . can you uncuff him now?”
“Sure can.” He stepped toward me, releasing the cuffs. He gave me a nod and spoke something about a false alarm into his receiver. “Have a good night.”
Lea turned to the security guard. “I’m fine, Jack. Thanks, though.”
“I’m still here if you need me.” He was eyeing me like I was a criminal.
He had no idea how far from that life I’d come.
Lea turned around to face m
e, uncertainty flitting through her stare. “You came.”
I nodded. “Saw the whole thing. You guys were unbelievable.” Adrenaline rushed through my system. This was it. My last chance, and I didn’t even know if she was single. Man, there was no way she was anymore. I should’ve checked on that before I rushed out here.
“Why are you here?” she asked, brows furrowed, back straight as a board.
“Lea, I-I’m . . . a moron. And a jerk. And probably dumb as a box of rocks.” The cop pulled out of the parking lot, and I stepped toward her, more sure of this than I’d ever been of anything in my life.
“You’re the only thing I can think about.” I swallowed, shaking my head. “Our memories . . . They were what got me through boot camp. And praying.”
“You ghosted me.” Her lips parted, and she folded her arms across her chest, brows diving deep. “Again.”
I swallowed.
“After everything we went through at camp.”
I sighed, dropping my head. This was it, wasn’t it? I should’ve known better than coming out here. There was no way she’d take me back now.
“After you told me you loved me.”
“I do.” My eyes snapped to hers, and my feet were closing the distance between us, on instinct. “More than anything.”
She huffed a breath. “That’s a lie.”
“No.” My throat was tightening. I’d never been a liar, and I never would be.
Her bottom lip was quivering, but she jutted her chin defiantly. “Why now?”
“I graduated yesterday.” I stepped closer, wanting to close the gap all the way, but she was still frozen in some kind of doubt. There had to be a way to get through to her. “Saw all my buddies with their wives after. Couldn’t stop thinking about you. Then I was out to dinner with my mom, and your dang song came on.”
She shook her head.
I took a sharp breath. “They’re transferring me to Southern California for A School. It’s only an hour-and-a-half drive to LA. Things like that don’t just happen.”
“I want to believe you, Cory. Like, so bad. But you basically broke me last time. And, I mean, I get it. You didn’t want this. You have the Navy, and you have everything with your dad. I just . . . I can’t trust that you’re serious.”
Falling In Hard: Book Four in The Bridgeport Lake Summer Series Page 21
