Melody wiped a tear away. “I know. It still really bugs me. I keep remembering things I couldn't recall before, ever since she told us. It explains why I have such a hard time coming up with memories of her.”
“It bugs me, too. But what else can we do?”
“I guess not much. It's her loss.”
“That it is,” Jameson added. “All I know is I can't wait for you to become Mrs. Melody Grant.” He kissed her, and Melody held his face in her hands.
“Wedding fever. It's everywhere!” Chris whispered loudly.
“Oh, stop.” Melody laughed after she and Jameson stopped kissing and pretending like they were the only ones in the room. “Don't think I don't know you're holding Taryn's hand under the table.”
“That has what to do with weddings?” Taryn gasped in mock horror.
“Sorry to get you involved, Taryn. I'm just making a dig at my brother. You happen to be an innocent bystander.” Melody shot her a wicked grin.
“One would think I'd be used to this by now. Kyra does it to me all the time,” Taryn grumbled.
“I still can't believe she's singing at my wedding.” Melody let out a happy sigh.
“Much different life than when you were singing her songs using a pen as a microphone,” Chris teased.
“Shut it! I have some memories about you I bet Taryn would love to know!” Melody shot back, slightly red in the face.
“You've got my interest.” Taryn peeked over at Chris to get his reaction.
“You aren't supposed to side with my sister,” he muttered playfully.
“Why not?” She winked.
“I guess it doesn't matter how far we are in our relationship. You'll easily side with my sister.” Chris' eyes shone with amusement.
“So there's a relationship?” Melody squealed.
“Now you've done it,” Taryn whispered.
“Isn't the conversation supposed to stay on your wedding today?” Chris ignored Taryn's comment and asked his sister. “Why does it come down to me and Taryn again?”
“Because you made a comment,” Jameson informed him. “Don't you know how it goes? Wait until she tells Blaine, because you know she'll tell Blaine. And then Randy will talk about Matt and Kyra, and the whole cycle starts again.”
*****
“This is the last time you'll wear this dress until the big day.” Blaine fixed up Melody's veil at Echo of Dreams Boutique that afternoon. Randy and Jameson went to take care of a few things, as Melody and Jameson decided to go the traditional route and not have him see her in the dress before their wedding. Chris sat in a comfortable black leather chair with Taryn in her chair beside him and watched quietly as his soon-to-be sister-in-law worked with Melody for her last dress fitting.
“And then we get to do this for you in another few weeks,” Melody turned at Blaine's request, tears enhancing the blue in her eyes.
“And then a tour after that.” Blaine couldn't hide her own tears. “It's going to be beautiful. All of it. I've been waiting for good things to come, and here they are.”
“See what I mean?” Chris whispered in Taryn's ear. “Tears everywhere. I'm used to this.”
She poked at his chest. Hard. There were tears in her eyes, too.
“What the hell?” Why was Taryn crying?
“I told you. I'm being all girly now. I wasn't this way before, or at least, not this bad! They're making me cry, and I'm not even really part of all this.” Taryn rushed to find something to wipe her face with, clearly embarrassed by the sentiment of crying for no apparent reason.
He wiped away her stray tear. “You're definitely a part of this.”
“Did you make her cry again?” Blaine stood before them, hands on her hips.
“Huh? No, you guys made her cry!” Chris protested.
“How did we make her cry?” Melody asked from her spot near the mirror.
“Oh my God! Stop it, all of you!” Taryn laughed through her tears. “Yes, I'm crying. Kind of. I'm not used to this emotional thing, and the two of you crying did make me cry.”
“Oh, Taryn's definitely going to fit in with the rest of us.” Blaine high fived Melody. “What do you think?”
“Yep. I agree. Welcome to the crazy sisterhood, Taryn.” Melody held the sides of her dress, stepped down, and moved toward them. “Kyra said you'd be hard to crack. I have to disagree.”
“Seriously? So not only are we all crying- well, except for Chris, but now we're going to talk about a crying club?” Taryn groaned. “This is normal for you guys?”
“Pretty much.” Blaine shrugged. “We go from tears to laughter and sometimes back to tears, all within a few minutes.”
“I can attest to this.” Chris piped up. And then some.
“I bet you could.” Taryn let out a laugh. “You guys are a terrible influence on me. Stop it. I don't like this crying thing.”
“Yeeeeahhhhh, not gonna happen.” Blaine tsked, waving a hand dismissively. “Should have read the warning labels before you got involved with us.”
“Umm, there were no warning labels!” Taryn protested.
“Yes there were. It's in the fine print, I swear. You're stuck with us now. There is no turning back.” Blaine's tone turned ominous, making everyone crack up.
“Come to the girly side. We have … lots of stuff,” Melody added in between fits of laughter.
“Lots of stuff? That's not much of a convincing act!” Taryn shoved away wisps of unruly hair.
“I don't think there's much convincing left to do,” Chris said to her. “I kind of have to agree with them. Sorry.”
She let out a sigh, then smiled. “Maybe not. Damn it!”
“C'mon. You gotta admit you like us a little.” Melody calmed down and wiped her face with the back of her hand. Light pink nails glinted in the light.
“I won't deny it. It's like Kyra was cloned. It's days like this that I missed and am glad to be a part of- even if I am crying a little more than normal.” Taryn dropped her hankie back in her purse. “I was so worried about how we'd all get along, but you've all been great to me. So, thank you. And that's enough of the sentimental stuff from me for a while.”
“Until we warp your mind some more,” Melody teased. “We're really glad to have you in the band, Taryn.”
“I'm happy to be in a band again, even if I'm concerned about the tours and the future,” she admitted.
“I think we all are. Avery is afraid we lost our shot because she's thirty-four and felt like she held the band back,” Melody said.
“I'm thirty-five and when I moved home last year, I wasn't sure about anything. I was a dancer in Hollywood who didn't have much else going for me. It took me a while to pick myself up, dust off, and create some new things. Then came the studio and an engagement to Randy. I almost feel like I'm ready for anything. And when I'm not, I pretend like hell that I am.” Blaine brushed off her black skirt as she spoke.
“I guess I don't feel as lost at twenty-six,” Taryn said. “And believe me, starting out young doesn't always lead to good things.”
Chris listened to the ladies with interest until Melody turned her gaze to him. “Do you need to cry, too?”
“Don't think so, little sis. But I am getting a little nostalgic seeing you in your wedding dress. You've definitely grown up on me.” Chris let go of Taryn's hand to stand up and hug Melody. “Love ya.”
“And here I thought you were tired of us crying, but you made me do it again! Damn you!” Melody wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, too.” Then she whispered in his ear. “I'm so rooting for you and Taryn. You two look good together.” She pulled away, shooting him a knowing smile as she sauntered back to the dressing room. “I guess I should change out of my dress now.”
“Might be a good idea.” Blaine trailed after her. “Then we can tackle the rest of today's list.”
“This is just what I needed today. Family and friends,” Chris mused. “Shows me that Melody and I are right where we should be. I umm...” He ran
hand through his hair, slightly uncomfortable to approach this subject out loud. “I have a doctor's appointment about my depression, to know for sure. It's high time I see what I can do about it. Considering Bridgette's issues with and without medication, I'm concerned, but there's also a difference, because she dealt with postpartum. Still, it's high time to figure it out.”
“That's a good move,” Taryn said softly. “I've already seen a change in you.”
“I feel it, but I don't know if it's enough or if it'll last. It's a daily struggle. It always has been.”
She grasped his hand. “I know. I didn't live with it as long as you have, and mine is more situational, but I do get it.”
“See?” He leaned close and spoke near her ear. “We're good together.” Chris just had to convince Taryn of it.
*****
“You're more than welcome to stay, even if you have to get up early for work tomorrow,” Taryn said to Chris as he dropped her off that evening.
“You're full of temptations, drummer girl, but I have to get up at four in the morning.”
She made a face. “Well in that case, have a good night.”
“Gee, thanks! Jump off the bandwagon when you find out how horridly early I have to get up!” He pretended to be wounded.
Laughing, Taryn swatted at his arm playfully. “I'll make it up to you. How about when you come back from Kansas, I'll come take care of you? You can wake me in the middle of the night if you need something.”
“Oooh, nurse Taryn, catering to my needs. I like this.” Chris tapped his chin.
“If you become too much of a pain in the ass patient, you do have drumsticks in your apartment,” she warned.
“I'll hide em,” he shot back with a laugh. “But I promise, or at least hope, not to be a pain. You got yourself a deal, drummer girl.”
“Good. And don't think about calling me at four when you wake up tomorrow, either.”
“What about a text?” Chris left the car, not giving her time to answer. He pulled her chair from the trunk, set it up, and rolled it to her side of the car.
As soon as she was settled in it, she gave him an answer. “A text I might not mind.” She wouldn't mind a call, either, especially from him. But not at four AM.
“Next time, we'll spend more of the day just you and me,” Chris promised as they headed up the walkway to Kyra's front door.
“I didn't mind. It was fun, even with the emotional hijacking thing going on.” A nervous giggle slipped past her lips.
“The weddings are going to be worse, and there's three of them. Melody, Blaine, and Blaine's mom.”
Taryn pulled her keys out and jingled them. “Don't forget they're taking bets on Kyra and Matt's engagement, and you and me dating.”
“We seriously need some other news. Babies, or … I don't know, but something other than from us.”
Taryn unlocked the door, so ready to wind down and relax, but not ready to let Chris go just yet. And then her thoughts went to a weird place. What if people were wondering if and when they'd have sex? Ugh. She needed to stop going there. If it happened, it would happen. She already thought about it, so why did her mind have to make her wonder if other people were thinking about it, too? Damn it! Maybe she'd have no problems. Maybe she'd have a ton. But the one thing Taryn did know was that she didn't want to disappoint Chris, and she didn't want to lose him, either. Why did all of this make her feel like an annoying little teenager?
“If you let your mind wander too much, it might get lost,” Chris quipped, bringing her back to reality. He'd knelt by the side of her chair. God, he was handsome with those dimples, blue green eyes, and the way he smiled at her.
“What makes you so sure it isn't already lost?”
“You make a good point. If you have no objections, I think I'm going to move in for a kiss goodnight.”
“I have no objections,” she whispered, inching closer to him. His lips claimed hers for a searing hot kiss, one which left her feeling breathless and overloaded all of her senses.
He pulled away after the kiss. “I really have to go. Night, drummer girl.” Chris still didn't move.
“Good night, Chris. Drive safe. Enjoy your early morning shift. I'll be sure to sleep a few extra hours for you.”
“Oooh, you wicked, wicked girl. I'll be making my list of nurse duties.” His grin widened.
“You go ahead,” she replied. “You just wait.”
He stood, brushing off his jeans. “I'm not leaving until you're inside and the door is locked behind you.”
She shook her head and laughed, but complied. Taryn forced herself not to turn around and beg him to come inside and stay. She didn't know if she could take another night of him being so close, knowing what he wanted- what they both wanted to do- and she get emotional again. So instead, Taryn wheeled inside, blew a kiss at Chris, then closed and locked the door.
“Good night, Taryn.”
“Good night, John Boy.”
“What the hell? Dare I ask who John Boy is?”
His laughter brought another smile to her face. Taryn touched the door, wishing she could open it again without losing her resolve. “Have you not seen The Waltons? I figured with all of our good night-ing, it fit.”
“Guess I'm gonna have to watch the Waltons, because I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“I'll bring my first season over while you're recuperating,” she promised.
“It's a date.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Damn it! Damn!”
Taryn woke up from a weird sleep, completely thrown off. She'd been having bizarre dreams, and while she couldn't remember them specifically, they left her in a state of anxiety. She pushed herself to a sitting position and gasped for breath, completely drenched in sweat. Taryn shoved the blanket off her and clapped for her light to come on.
It wasn't just sweat.
“Ugh!”
This hadn't happened in a long time ... a very long time. Taryn transferred to her chair, then headed toward the bathroom for a shower. As the water ran down her back while sitting on the bench, she cried again. “What is wrong with me?” She sat beneath the water until it turned cold, completely in tears. Tonight was yet another reason she wasn't sure about things. What did she do differently during her time with Chris?
At least this didn't happen last night when Chris slept next to her. She shuddered, mortified at the thought.
When her body trembled in a never ending fit of shivers, she turned of the nozzle. Probably a stupid move to stay in there until the water was that cold, but she wasn't ready to face the clean up of her mess, and the meltdown lasted a lot longer than she wanted to admit.
Her phone rang, which alarmed her, because it had to be after midnight, and nothing good comes out of a midnight or later call.
It would have to keep ringing. No way would she make it out of the shower stall and to the phone in time, and she wasn't going to rush it. Taryn still had to dry off and make the transfer. In her shaken mindset, she didn't think she could even do it as fast and regularly as she normally did.
Then it rang again.
Whoever was calling meant business. But who would call her this late? Kyra? Chris?
She grabbed her robe that she'd put out and slid her arms in the holes. Once she moved to her chair, the rest of the robe would fall and she could wrap it tighter around herself as she always did.
The phone continued to ring. What was this, the third time now? Alarm zipped through her.
Something wasn't right.
As she moved from the shower bench to her chair, Taryn misjudged the distance and landed on the floor instead. Her elbow slammed hard onto the tile, and tingles shot all the way up her arm. “Ahhh!” she screamed, then burst into tears again. This was so not her night! Completely out of whack, she hadn't been thinking. Not a good combination.
Her phone stopped ringing. Would it start a fourth time?
No, but her voice mail and text notifications dinged.
She'd have to try and get up eventually. Hopefully she could make it to the chair without another problem. What a horrid night! Her elbow throbbed. At least she hadn't hit her head, but damn. It was like taking ten steps backward, back to the days where she'd done this on a nightly basis as she'd tried to force herself to become normal again.
Her head hurt as sobs wracked her body. “Fuck you, universe!” she screamed into the silent night.
Taryn had no idea how long she was lying on the floor, broken, crying, and aching. She didn't even hear the front door, so when a voice cut through the quiet, she froze.
“Taryn? Are you okay?”
What the-?
“M-Matt?” She squeezed her eyes shut, as if he had x-ray vision and could see her through the door. Eventually she'd have to get up on her own, or he'd have to help.
“Yeah, it's me. Chris called me because he was worried.”
“Why would he worry?” In no way could Chris know her current position. It had to be something else.
“Long story. Are you crying?”
“Y-yes.” She didn't like it, but Matt might need to be the one to help her get off this floor.
“Do you need help?”
“No. I'm admiring Kyra's bathroom floor. It's really pretty.” Her voice cracked. “Sometimes I have to appreciate the little things. Tonight, it's the tile.” She wasn't sure why she continued to babble. Matt wouldn't believe her.
“Taryn … did you fall?” His voice softened.
“Yes, but I really don't want you to see me like this.”
“If you can get up on your own, then I'll wait. If not, I can't just leave you there, no matter what kind of position you're in.”
Taryn's tears fell harder. What else could go wrong tonight? “I don't think I'm going to be able to move on my own.” Not for a while. Not like this. “But-”
“Cover anything up you need the best you can, and I'm coming in. I'll close my eyes, if you need me to.”
She wrapped her robe around her as best she could and mentally prepared herself for Matt to see her. It would be like this with anyone. No way could he keep his eyes closed and easily help her get back in her wheelchair.
Offbeat (Love and Music In Texas Book 5) Page 23