The two friends gasped, but didn’t squeal or do anything to draw attention his way. Kenzi smiled hesitantly.
She knew.
Stopping in front of her, he folded his arms over his chest. “Is it all over the Internet?”
All three nodded.
“Wonderful.”
“I’m sorry,” Kenzi whispered.
“Yeah, me too.” As if the reality of it just now hit, his stomach burned. He pressed the butt of his hand against the pain.
“Will you go back home, now?” Kenzi asked.
He sat in the sand facing them. “I don’t know what to do. I guess I should stick around long enough to greet our guests tomorrow and tell them the wedding never happened. But to have a party anyway, on me.”
Jasmine kept typing on her phone. “You should do like that guy did.”
“What guy?” Kenzi asked.
“The one who called off his wedding too late to cancel the reception.”
“I remember that,” Bree said. “He turned it into a fundraiser for charity.”
“It’s too late for that.” Chaz looked off to his left where the brush grew on the edge of the sand. All those people had spent all that money to come to the island to see him get married. He couldn’t pay them all back. They deserved something more than his brief appearance before sitting down to conch, fungi and all the rum they could drink. “So what do I do?”
“What do you want to do?” Kenzi asked.
“Make it up to all those people who show up tomorrow.”
Jasmine set down her phone and leaned forward, ticking off items with her fingers. “Okay, who’s your wedding planner? And what’s Joey’s number? I’ll need to know the number of guests, the menu, the entertainment…”
Chaz’s forehead wrinkled and he looked at Kenzi.
She shrugged. “This girl knows how to party. What can we say?”
“Why don’t we all go to the villa?” he suggested. “Joey’s probably still there, and I’ll call the planner. We can figure something out.”
“Great.” Jasmine jumped to her feet and grabbed her towel. “Where’s your car?”
“Uh, back at the villa. I swam here.”
“Of course you did,” Bree said. She peered over the top of her sunglasses at Kenzi.
“We’d better start walking, then.” Kenzi shoved her towel in her beach bag and did just that.
Chapter Four
Chaz never felt like throwing up before a show. Never had. He could walk out on a stage in front of seventy-five thousand people and feel a rush. Talk to the fans. Get interviewed on live TV. Hell, he’d been on Letterman twice. Not a problem.
He walked out on the small stage in the banquet room, where the DJ was supposed to have been, in front of the guests at the reception for the non-existent wedding. He raised a hand to get everyone quiet.
He was going to puke.
“Hey, everybody. Thanks for coming. I’m sure you heard the news. There was no wedding this morning. I don’t want to say I believe in fate, but I do think there’s a purpose for everything that happens. So, with the help of a few friends…” he glanced at the table where Kenzi and the girls sat with the band, “we’re going to have one hell of a party.”
The guests all clapped, and he waited for it to die down. “A party with a purpose. My grandma taught me to play piano, guitar. She taught me how to sing. She’s got this little project of hers…having bake sales and quilt auctions at the church in her town to raise enough money to keep music in their school district. So. I know you all probably have gifts you spent a lot of money on. Gifts that will probably be returned. I’m asking if you’ll give some-or all-of that money into a fund for Willow Creek’s music program. In exchange, we’ve got an awesome menu, even better drinks, and this band you might have heard of-Marino. Sit back, eat hearty, or get up and dance if the spirit moves you.”
The clapping resumed, and someone started clinking a glass with a spoon. While he stepped down and went to join the guys at the table, a couple of workers from the banquet hall set up a pair of wooden drums and leaned an acoustic guitar on a stand. Various percussion instruments were wheeled in on a tray.
Chaz drank half of his beer and nodded toward the stage. “Let’s do this.”
~*~
Kenzi watched the guests eating, moving to the music, and having fun. At least that part was successful for Chaz. The music sounded different with the local instruments, but on several of the songs she’d call it an improvement. Well, not better, but so, so good. Except for the size of the audience, it was like sitting in Chaz’s living room, listening to them jam.
The guys took a break and came back to the table. Kenzi smiled at Chaz. “This was such a good idea.”
“They seem to be having fun. That’s all that matters.” He reached for his champagne, taking a drink. “Ugh, I’ll take rum any day.” He signaled for a waiter.
“Has anyone made any donations?” Joey asked.
Chaz laughed. “Dude, can’t you turn off that business brain for one day?”
“If I did, some other guy would jump in and steal the contract.”
Pop music played softly through speakers in the wall, cheesy dance stuff typical for a wedding. Jasmine jumped to her feet. “Travis, dance with me.”
He went pale. “No one else is dancing.”
“They will if we start.” She held out her hand.
Travis grunted and went with her onto the dance floor. A few other couples followed them, including Devin and his girlfriend.
Nate had his phone in his hands.
“Who are you talking to?” Kenzi asked.
“I’m playing ‘Galaxy of Doom.’ Have you seen it? It’s awesome!”
Kenzi laughed. “You’re kidding.”
He threw her a harsh glance. “What, you’re not into games?”
“That’s not it at all. I helped write that game.” She pointed to Bree and Ash on the dance floor. “Ash is the lead artist on it.”
Nate glanced up at the couple. “No shit? Cool.” He went back to his game.
Kenzi shook her head. A slow, romantic song began to play and she swayed in her seat.
Chaz spoke into her ear. “I’d ask you to dance, but…”
“Yeah, I understand. It’s bad enough having all of us sit at this table. There’ll be gossip flying by the end of the night.”
“I’m sure someone has taken a few photos already and posted them online.” He surveyed the people in the room. “I hate to think that about people I know. But it happens, you know?”
“It’s sad.” She wondered how many of the guests were Vanessa’s people. She couldn’t call them friends, although it was a broad assumption that just because Vanessa was a shallow person, she didn’t have any real friends. Kenzi liked to believe herself above that kind of thinking. “People are already talking, though. What harm is there in letting go and having a little fun? Forget who you are for a day.”
His gaze dropped to the tablecloth. “I can’t let go that easy. Not this.”
A vice squeezed around Kenzi’s heart. “Sorry. That was cold of me.”
He gave her a small smile. “It’s okay. It’s weird, maybe, but I’m glad you’re here. You and your friends. I don’t think Joey could have pulled anything like this off.”
“I heard that,” Joey said from the other end of the table. He raised his glass in a salute. “And you got that damned right. I would’ve volunteered to be the one to come here and tell them what’s up. I would’ve said they could enjoy the meal, the music, the island, whatever. Jasmine was smart to turn it all around the way she did.”
Kenzi looked at her friend shakin’ it on the dance floor. “Yeah, she hides it well, but that girl has a sharp mind.”
An older man came to speak to Chaz, and when he left, Chaz rose and went from table to table, talking to his guests. He was so strong. Kenzi drew in a deep breath watching him, proud to know him. She would have taken the next flight off the island, if she’d been
in his place.
When a woman approached Kenzi, her eyes widened. “Mrs. Marino!” She rose and hugged the woman she hadn’t seen in too many years.
“Hi, sweetie. You look so pretty tonight. So happy. Are you doing well?”
“Very well, thanks. How are you and Mr. Marino?”
She nodded toward her husband on the dance floor with one of the other older guests. “He’s helping to entertain the guests, as you can see. We’ve never been happier. Which reminds me, I can’t thank you enough for helping Chaz through this. I’m not surprised. I used to think you were too good for him.”
Kenzi smiled. “That’s so sweet. I’m just glad my friends and I ran into him here and could help come up with Plan B.”
“You’ll have to call me sometime. I would love to catch up with you.” Mrs. Marino hugged her again before they parted.
The guests must have really enjoyed themselves, because the last of the stragglers left at one-thirty in the morning. As the waitstaff cleared the tables, the guys began walking to the exit.
“We’ll catch you in the morning, Chaz,” Joey called out.
“Sounds good,” he answered. He placed a hand on Kenzi’s lower back to walk with her.
Bree and Jasmine went ahead of them.
When Chaz and Kenzi stepped into the darkness outside, he paused. “I meant it, you know. I’m so glad you were here this week. Strange, the timing, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
“When do you leave?” he asked.
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, that’s right. You said so before. Uh, text me when you land, okay? Let me know you’re safe.”
She smiled, butterflies stirring up like it was their first date. “I will.”
“You still have my number?”
“If you haven’t changed it.” She never bothered deleting people. Usually it was so she’d know when someone she didn’t want to talk to was calling, but that wasn’t the case here.
“Great. So I’ll talk to you later, then.”
Before she could answer, he stepped closer, grasping her upper arms. Her body molded to the familiar length of his, her breasts pressing against muscles so much firmer than she remembered. His lips kneaded gently against hers, his breath still so sweet.
He dropped his hands and stepped back quickly, running his hand over his scalp. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
All the joy of that kiss evaporated. “Hey, sure. I understand. You forgot who you were with.” She turned to leave. God, how embarrassing. She’d been into the kiss, and he’d been thinking of Vanessa.
“That’s not what I meant, Kenzi. It’s the time and place. You deserve so much more than a rebound fuck.”
She folded her arms across her breasts. “Who said I would have fucked you? I’m not some groupie. Or what did you call them? Band-aides?” She turned away, heading for the rental car where Bree and Jasmine waited.
“Shit. Wait.” He grabbed her arm again and she jerked free.
“I have to go. Chaz, please, just leave me alone.”
“No, I won’t. Not ‘til you hear me out. My head’s in a weird place right now. I kissed you out of habit, yes, but it was you I kissed. It seems…it feels like you went home for winter break and now you’re back, not like we haven’t seen each other in years. Don’t you feel it, too?”
That was the worst of it, she did feel it. As much as she’d tried to be happy for him and Vanessa, she missed what they’d had together. Missed having someone who knew her so well. The other guys she’d been with thought they knew her, but they only saw what they wanted her to be. Chaz had been so real. She looked up at him. “Yeah. It’s like walking in at the middle of a song that you sing every day. You fall right in without looking for the beat.”
When he smiled, his teeth flashed in the moonlight. “Exactly. You’d better go before your friends desert you. Will you still text me?”
“I will.”
~*~
His first text came when Kenzi sat inside the plane on the runway in St. Thomas.
Thanks again for all your help with yesterday. And thank your friends, too.
She smiled, feeling warm all over. I will. I think Jasmine thinks getting to dance with Travis was more than enough thanks.
I wouldn’t let her get her hopes up. He’s more into his music than his relationships.
Kenzi leaned away just in case Jasmine glanced her way. Noted. It’s not like she’ll run into him again.
The bubble showing he was typing appeared, and then disappeared. What was he about to say? Before she could find out, the announcement came to turn off electronic devices. Gotta go. I’ll text you when we reach Oakland.
She switched her phone off.
The tiniest glimmer of hope inside her said she and Chaz might actually make something work this time. It was no less likely than it had ever been, but no more likely, either. He still spent half the year on the road. She still spent 365 days a year tied to her computer. She couldn’t take off weeks at a time to travel with him. Didn’t think she could handle spending months at a time seeing her boyfriend’s name splashed all over the internet along side some girl he’d talked to at an awards banquet.
She made the right decision five years ago when he went to L.A. It was still the right decision now.
~*~
The next two months flew by for Chaz, between writing a few new songs to debut on tour and planning the tour itself. They needed to hire someone besides Joey to do all the promotional stuff. He was great at it, but it took away from his time rehearsing.
Interviewing a new manager also took time. How’d he had any time for a relationship?
Kenzi helped him get past the breakup, not in anything specific she said or did, but in just being there, being constant. He craved stability in an unstable business.
He kicked back one evening and pulled up her message thread on his phone. How’d your day go?
She didn’t answer right away, so he set the phone down and pulled out his notebook of lyrics. He had one for each album, and one from before they’d recorded anything. He didn’t use all the lyrics he wrote. Didn’t even finish all of them. But he liked having them all in place so he could go back to one if he needed to.
Some of the old stuff made him laugh. So cheesy. Watching the themes go from partying to love to something so much deeper showed he was growing up, whether Joey believed it or not.
His phone buzzed with a message from Kenzi. It sucked. I’m just now getting in. Some scumbag released a pirate copy of Seventh Star a day before it released to stores. Marketing is going crazy trying to keep fans happy and sales up. Don’t know why they thought the programming department could help, but we all had to stay late.
Wow, he typed back. Does that kind of thing happen often?
Probably as often as your music gets pirated. It’s the world we live in.
Crazy. He sent that, and went blank on what to say next. He had no news to report, nothing exciting in his life, but he liked the contact with Kenzi. Oh, what the hell. I miss you.
The moments it took for her to respond stretched forever. Yeah, me too. It’s crazy how a couple of days seeing you in person opened up an old, comfortable place inside me.
I know. I should come see you.
You should, she said.
He pulled up his calendar app. Shit, it had weeks blocked off all over the place. They were flying to England at the end of the month, and from there, on to Europe. It’ll be awhile. I don’t suppose you have any vacation time coming anytime soon.
The company closes for Christmas week.
Seven months away. I can probably find a week in California before then.
I hope so!!!
The conversation went back to inane stuff until Kenzi had to sleep. Chaz set the phone aside and went back to scratching words in his notebook. One of the early songs had caught his eye and he wanted to work on it.
~*~
The second week in June, Kenzi kept typing the sam
e code repeatedly, her mind on Chaz and not the program. “Damn it.” She deleted the last few lines yet again. She glanced at the clock on her computer. Two more hours until Chaz.
She’d swear two days passed, not hours, before she arrived home. She ran straight for the shower. He was due in half an hour. No time for washing her hair or anything, just touch up her makeup, find something to wear that said “oh, this old thing,” not “hey baby.” She hadn’t even slipped her pumps on by the time she buzzed him up. Oh well, shoes could wait until they found out where they were going.
They’d been texting for months, but she was even more nervous than she’d be on a first date. What if he really only wanted to be friends, and she’d just imagined that the phone sex meant anything?
He knocked on the door before she could go any farther on the panic train.
“You’re here,” was all she could say. He looked hot. So. Freakin’. Hot. His hair had grown out a little, but was still barely there. She noticed a small diamond in his ear. Had he always had that?
“I am here. It’s real, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” She stepped back to let him in. Should she kiss him hello? Just wait for him to do it?
Chaz answered her unspoken question by pulling her into his arms as he pushed the door shut behind him. His subtle cologne swept over her, and her legs melted. She grabbed his shoulders for support.
He looked into her eyes, searching for something. “Is this okay?”
Ripples of heat coursed through her body at the sound of his voice so near. “More than okay.”
“I was afraid I imagined that we were getting closer.” He drew her hands around his waist, and then stroked his fingertips across her cheeks. “I didn’t want to assume anything.”
Her stomach quivered. Assume the same thing she had, maybe? “About what?”
“About us. Where I’m at with you.” He pushed her hair off her face, running his hand down the length of it. “I love your hair. Sometimes when I was standing near you in St. Thomas, I wanted to lean down and just inhale your flowery scent.”
Her lips parted as it became harder to breathe. “That could have been awkward, given the reason you were on the island.”
Destination Weddings: Books 1-3 Page 9
