Breaking Free: A Living Again Novella (13 page)

Greer turned as he heard the door opening to the porch. He figured it was Hailey waking up from her nap, but when he saw who it was, his mouth dropped open. There was no way. He was not seeing what he thought he was seeing. Greer looked over at Alexis, who had stood up, her eyes fixed on him. He looked back at the woman that came out of the door and was now hugging Alexis and her mom. Three kids ran out, and more hugging ensued. Then, a handsome man followed them out, his eyes looking back and forth.

“Sam!” Cierra squealed, jumping up and running to her. It was really her. His favorite singer was here, in this house. And she obviously knew Alexis and her family.

Alexis walked over to him and took his hand. “Surprise,” she whispered.

His eyes hadn’t left Sam, who was still talking to Alexis’ mom and hugging the kids. “How do you know her?”

“She’s my mom’s friend. This is her house.”

He was staying in Sam’s house. Samantha Kerrigan-Warner, the hottest country singer in the nation, was standing within feet of him. He had liked her ever since she won Country Star all those years ago when he was just a kid. Greer then remembered Alexis saying that this wasn’t her only house, that she lived in Nashville. He was staying in Sam Kerrigan’s house.

“Are you okay? Want to go meet her?”

At that moment, Sam turned and her eyes fell on him. She smiled and started walking their way. Greer thought he might pass out. This was crazy. Alexis had never said anything about knowing Sam, and she knew how much he loved her music. Now he was going to meet her? He was awkward meeting a regular person, he didn’t know how to manage meeting a celebrity!

Alexis squeezed his hand. “Just relax. She’s super nice.”

Greer looked away from Sam, not able to keep eye contact. It was too much.

“Alexis,” Sam said in her southern drawl. “Is this Greer?”

She knew his
name?
His eyes snapped to hers and he took in her dark hair and blue eyes. She was even prettier up close.

“This is Greer,” Alexis introduced. “My boyfriend. Greer, meet my friend Sam. That over there is her husband, Ellis. Somewhere around here are their three kids.” As if on cue, three kids jumped into the pool, causing a tidal wave of water to crash onto the patio.

“Nice to meet you, Greer. I’ve heard a lot about you from Alexis and her mom.” He noticed that she didn’t put out her hand like was social custom to do, and that meant only one thing. Alexis had told her how much he disliked that. Though he thought maybe touching
her
hand wouldn’t be too bad. Greer felt completely star struck.

He knew he should open his mouth and say something, but he was having a hard time making the connection between his brain and mouth. His brain raced a thousand miles an hour, replaying all of the times he had watched her on television and on shows. He had never been to a concert, because he and concerts didn’t mix well.

Alexis nudged him, nodding her head towards Sam. He was being rude.

“I’m a big fan of yours. I watched you on that show, Country Star. I’m glad that guy Rick didn’t win. He wasn’t
nearly
as talented as you. There are some singers that aren’t as good as they are made out to be, but you’re even better.”

Sam grinned. “Thank you, Greer. Have you ever been to a concert?”

He shook his head. “I… uh… I can’t do concerts. They’re too loud.”

She nodded like she heard that every day. “Well I’m very glad you could come this weekend. My girl Alexis here tells me that it’s your birthday.”

Greer looked over at Alexis, whose smile was so big he thought her face might split. “Yes. I’m twenty today.”

“Twenty,” Sam repeated. “Ahhh… the good ol’ days. I miss being twenty. Well, Greer, we’re going to have a fabulous weekend together.” Her husband Ellis walked up and wrapped his arms around her.

“Nice to meet you, Greer,” he said, also not putting out his hand. “We’ve heard a lot about you from Alexis.”

“If any of this,” Sam indicated the kids running crazy around them, “gets too much, you let us know, okay? They’re monkeys and can be a little wild. That one there is my oldest. She’s Kerrigan. Next to her is Carly, and the only boy is Samuel.”

Greer nodded, thankful that they were so willing to do whatever it took to make him comfortable. That hadn’t happened very often in his life.

“Is Mason coming?” Alexis asked. Greer knew from knowing about Sam that he was their oldest son that she had adopted.

Sam and Ellis exchanged a look that Greer didn’t understand. “No. He’s proposing to his girlfriend Jillian this weekend, and for some reason he didn’t want to do what his dad did and get on a stage to do so.”

Alexis gasped. “He’s asking her?”

Sam smiled. “Yes. Isn’t that crazy? Mason’s going to get married. He’s been madly in love with her since he was fourteen years old. Now that he’s out of college and has his job all lined up, he figured it was time to make it official.”

“So, I heard your favorite thing on the grill is ribs,” Ellis said. Alexis really did tell them everything.

“Yes. I always have ribs on my birthday.”

“I make a mean set of ribs,” Ellis joked. Greer knew from experience that he didn’t actually mean they were ‘mean’. Greer looked around at all of these wonderful people that came together because of Alexis, and he couldn’t believe that she liked him.

“That was amazing,” Greer sat back in his seat, patting his full stomach. “Don’t tell my dad, but they’re even better than his.”

The group laughed. “I told you I made mean ribs,” Ellis joked again.

Greer felt good. Not once this afternoon or evening had he felt like losing control. The kids splashing and screaming around the pool hadn’t bothered him, and he had even gotten into the pool and played a game with them. Kerri had told him he was handsome. She was a beautiful little eight year old who looked just like her mom.

“Are you ready for your surprise?” Alexis asked so everyone could hear. He looked at her wondering how she could top what this day had already brought.

“Is it cake?”

She smiled. “Oh yes, you have your favorite cake. But this is much, much better.” Turning around, she whistled and the sliding door to the patio opened. Greer hadn’t even noticed that Sam had disappeared until he saw her walk out the door in full concert attire. She was wearing a short jean dress and her signature colored cowboy boots. She carried her guitar, and Luke and Jason walked out behind her.

Sam walked to the corner of the patio, where there was an open area. Ellis, Devin, and Alexis’ dad Ben seemed to know exactly what they were supposed to do, helping set things up. Greer watched silently, trying to process what was happening. Sam was setting up like she was at a concert.

“The party doesn’t start until we get here!” a voice came from behind him and he jumped. Another couple walked out onto the patio, followed by three children.

“Lacey!” Alexis ran up and hugged the woman. “Greer, this is Sam’s best friend, Lacey. This is her husband, Brant, and their kids Katie, Elizabeth, and Jonathan.”

He waved a quiet hello, then turned back to watch Sam as she finished setting up. She looked up and caught his eye, winking and mouthing ‘surprise’. After what seemed like forever, Sam stepped up to the mike. The kids all sat on the ground in front of her, and the adults had moved chairs around in a semi-circle.

“I wanted to start out by saying Happy Birthday to our special guest, Greer. We’re so happy that you’re a part of Alexis’ life. She’s very special to all of us, so anyone who means as much to her as you do means a lot to the rest of us, too. So when she asked me if I would be willing to do this for my #1 fan, how could I turn her down? Greer, this concert is just for you. Alexis told me what your favorite songs are, but any others that you want to hear, just ask. This night is all about you. So first, let’s all start with singing ‘Happy Birthday’.”

Greer watched as she strummed the strings on her guitar. He had always wanted to play, but never had the courage to take lessons. The whole patio joined in as she began singing to him. He usually hated the song and wouldn’t let his parents sing it to him after mean kids at school had used it to make fun of him when he was turning ten and his mom had tried having a birthday party. But he thought that maybe he could like it now. Sam’s voice made it sound beautiful.

Alexis put her hand over his, shaking him out of his trance momentarily. He laced his fingers with hers and leaned closer to her. “This is the best birthday ever, Alexis. Thank you. I can’t believe you did this for me.”

She smiled that smile that made his stomach feel like it was dropping into his feet and kissed him softly. “Don’t you get it, Greer? I’d do anything to make you happy.”

Sam finished the song, but all he could do was stare at Alexis. She’d already made him happier than he could ever imagine.

“Happy Birthday,” Ben said, sitting down in Alexis’ empty seat. Sam had taken a little break after singing five of his favorite songs. He had even mouthed the words along with her. He had never been brave enough to sing out loud in front of anyone. Alexis had gone in to help get drinks for everyone, leaving him on the porch with the kids and guys.

“Thank you,” Greer said. He liked Alexis’ dad and he felt very comfortable around him. “I can’t believe Alexis did this for me.”

Ben laughed. “That girl is something else. Always has been. Ever since I met her when she was a year old, I’ve always known she was going to do something wonderful. She’s not your typical young woman, that’s for sure.”

“She’s the first girl that’s ever cared about me,” Greer admitted. “I don’t deserve her.”

Ben put his hand on his shoulder, and Greer didn’t flinch. His therapist would be so proud. “Don’t say that, Greer. I see the way you look at her. I know what a man looks like when he’s in love.”

Greer looked down at his hands, working nervously in his lap. He hated that he did that, but he never could seem to stop. He knew he loved his parents and they loved him, but he wasn’t sure he knew what love felt like for someone like that. “I don’t know what love feels like,” he whispered, feeling tears of shame stinging his eyes.

“Sure you do,” Ben started. “Love isn’t that complicated, Greer. The heart decides it for us. Do you wish you were with her even when you aren’t?”

Greer nodded, still looking at his hands.

“Do you think about her every spare moment, wondering what she’s doing and thinking about the next time you will get to see her?”

Greer nodded again, daring to look up at him for just a few seconds.

“Does it make you sad to think about your life without her in it?”

Greer physically gasped. He never wanted to be without Alexis. She was like the air that the breathed.

“Do you enjoy everything about her? Do you think she’s the most beautiful girl you’ve ever seen? Does her smile make you weak in the knees?”

Greer looked up for good this time, meeting Ben’s eyes. “I love her.”

Ben beamed. “Yes. Being in love is powerful, Greer. Do you think that Alexis feels the same way?”

Greer didn’t answer, his eyes scanning the patio. He wanted her to come back. He loved Alexis Nichols. He knew he didn’t love her the way that he loved his parents, because it wasn’t the same kind of love.

“She might,” he admitted.

Ben winked. “I would make a solid bet that she does. My girl doesn’t do anything halfway. She does everything with her whole heart. And that includes loving. Even as a baby, she gave her whole heart to me the first time I met her and never looked back. That’s how she’s always been.”

“Doesn’t she deserve someone that doesn’t have… problems?” Greer’s fear was that after a while, Alexis wouldn’t want to deal with his laundry list of issues.

“We all have problems,” Ben said. “And if you’re asking if Alexis would be with you out of pity, the answer is no. She doesn’t think of your disability as a reason not to fall in love with you, so you shouldn’t let it run your life. You’re much more than just Aspergers, Greer. It’s a part of who you are, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve love just as much as everyone else. I know that there have been people in your life that haven’t wanted to look past those things to see who you are. Those bullies aren’t worth one second of your thoughts. It’s
them
that has the problem, Greer. Not you.”