ChapterSeventeen
Layla
“Here’s the birthday girl,” Dad yelled into the mic as we walked toward where it looked like everyone from town was gathered by the lake.
This was where we’d sneak off to when we wanted to be alone at the beginning. There was an open grass field off to one side that we referred to as ‘our meadow,’ and it was our special place.
People started clapping and cheering as Mark led me through them, but before we got to where my family were all standing, drums and a guitar began playing, causing me to stop mid-stride.
My family parted in the middle, allowing me to see Jarrod Klein sitting with a guitar and a mic, with two of the guys who worked at Kleins, Cason, and Casy, playing the drums and bass.
The second Jarrod started singing I Drove All Night, I swear my legs gave out. Where Roy Orbison created the perfect song, Jarrod gave it an added depth I didn’t think possible.
“Wait for it,” a voice said in my ear, and I turned to see Cyn and Rockie standing behind me with big grins on their faces. “We got to hear them practice this afternoon,” Cyn told me with a wink. “Major fanny flutters, let me tell you.”
I wrinkled my nose at her. “Fanny flutters?”
“Not American fanny ones, British nunny-fanny ones.”
“I’m not sure that makes it any better,” I told her honestly, but I could see why him singing it would have had that effect on her.
And then Casy and Cason joined in, singing the backing vocals for him. Okay, now I totally got why it had that effect on her.
“Sweet Jesus,” I breathed, grabbing onto the closest thing next to me, which just happened to be Mark’s arm.
“I thought you might like that.”
I seriously doubted he’d thought I’d like it the way I did, though.
I was close to begging them to sing another song when Jarrod squinted against the lights shining on him and pointed at me. “Happy birthday, Layla. We’re glad we could spend this one with you, singing some of my favorite artists.”
Both Casy and Cason said my name into their mics and winked.
“Just so you know, this is what I want for my birthday, too,” Cyn announced, poking me in the back.
“Me, three,” Rockie added. “But naked.”
Then the opening strains of a song I knew as well as I knew my name started—and that’s because I’d been named after it.
It blew my mind that these three men with all this talent at their fingertips hadn’t pursued some sort of record deal, but although he was happy singing now and then, Jarrod was content with living here, working with my brother, and loving his wife, Katy.
My dad walked up and held his hand out, his eyes shining. “Can I dance with my baby?”
Mark didn’t even say anything, he just passed me over to Dad and moved off the dance floor to stand next to his brothers.
“I’m glad I get to spend this birthday at home with you, honey. The ones when you were away weren’t the same for me.”
I leaned my forehead on his shoulder and felt the security of being in his arms. Dad had always been my best friend and my go to, and I don’t think that would ever end. Well, he had to fight for the position with Gramps, but they both had the medals to prove we were BFFs for life. I’d made them with my own hands when I was six and had painted them with Mom’s nail polish.
That’s how the rest of the night went for me, with Gramps, then Dad again, then Gramps again, then Adam and Luke, and then my brothers dancing with me, spinning me around the dance floor and laughing when I tried to trip them up as revenge.
I could see that people were starting to get tired and were finding the people they’d come with to go home when Jarrod, Casy, and Cason said they were on their last song, and the opening notes of You Got It started.
Mark appeared from behind me and led me onto the dance floor for the second time.
“Have you had a good night?”
I smiled brightly up at him. “The absolute best.”