Effortless (59 page)

I honestly didn’t know what Kellan would have done. He didn’t
seem to know either, and the idea that he may have made the same
choice, softened him towards his father some. Kellan nodded at his
dad, and exhaling with relief that Kellan somewhat understood, his
dad smiled; the smile was just as beautiful as Kellan’s.

“I tried to see you once, you know. When you were about Riley’s
age.”

Kellan blinked and stared up at him. “No, Mom never mentioned
that you…”

His father lowered his eyes. “Yeah, she told me that you didn’t
know about me, that you believed John was your father.” He looked
back up at Kellan. “Was that true?”

Kellan shook his head. “No, I’ve always known that I was a
bastard child.”

His father flinched at his harsh description then shook his
head. “She convinced me that I’d hurt you, by showing up in your
life. That it was better if I stayed away…so I did.”

Swallowing the emotion building, Kellan’s father shook his head
again. “She was manipulating me, because I hurt her. I never should
have listened to her. I should have tried harder to see you…I’m so
sorry.”

Kellan looked away and I watched a tear fall from the corner of
his eye as he closed them. “I never knew you even thought about
me,” Kellan whispered, his voice still trembling.

His dad put his hand on his arm. “Of course I did. What father
could forget about his son, his firstborn?” When Kellan looked back
at him, the weary man sighed. “I stayed away for the wrong reasons,
thinking I was protecting you by letting you believe the lie, even
after their deaths.” He choked up on the word death and cleared his
throat. “But I’m here now, and I’d like to get to know you.”

Slapping on a casual smile, the same smile Kellan could wear,
practically on cue, he extended his hand to Kellan. “Hello. My name
is Gavin Carter, and I’m your father.”

Kellan grinned, then shook his head as he dropped my hand to
grab his father’s. “I’m Kellan Kyle…and I guess I’m your son.”

Laughing as they shook hands, Gavin said, “It’s nice to finally
meet you, Kellan.”

Kellan nodded. “Yeah…you too.”

I was already holding back the sniffles when Gavin laid his
other hand over their clasped ones. “I don’t want to push you, but
you have a home with us in Pennsylvania, Kellan. Whenever you’re
ready, you’re always welcome there.” 

I wiped the tears off my cheeks as Kellan sniffed and nodded.
Clasping his shoulder, Gavin said, “Can I buy you a beer?”

Kellan looked back at me, but I grinned and nodded. He needed
this. He needed them. Even if he liked to think that he was fine on
his own, a piece of Kellan had been missing from birth. He’d filled
it with music, he’d filled it with sex, and he’d even filled it
with me. But what he’d needed, was what he was now being offered—a
family.

Kissing his cheek, I left him to begin the bonding process. I
was still wiping my eyes as I walked back to the table where my
parents were deep in conversation with Griffin and Anna; from what
I could tell, they were trying to sell the couple on the idea of
getting married. Griffin was giving them a blank expression, and I
figured his mind was more on what he could do to Anna’s body once
he got her home. I was immediately grateful that I no longer lived
with Anna.

Denny came up to me as I approached the group. Titling his head
at Kellan, he asked, “Everything alright? What was that about?”

Looking over at the father and son, I smiled. “Everything’s
great, really great.”

When I looked back to Denny, he was frowning, staring at Gavin
like he was trying to place him. I could tell the minute he did.
His dark eyes wider, he snapped his head back to me. “Is that man…?
Is he…related to Kellan?”

I nodded, biting my lip. “That’s his dad, his real dad.”

Denny closed his eyes as years of understanding seemed to flood
his features. “God…that explains…a lot.” Opening his eyes, he
bunched his brows, concerned. “Is Kellan…alright?”

I smiled that Denny still cared about Kellan, too. “Yeah, I
think he’ll be just fine.”

Looping my arm through Denny’s I looked around at all of the
people in my life—Evan and Jenny cuddling together on a chair, Matt
and Rachel talking quietly in a corner, Anna and Griffin giggling
while my parents mentioned that it was never too late to give
abstinence a try. Rita had just walked in and sheepishly waved her
hand to me in a polite greeting. Kate was showing Abby a text
message she’d gotten from Justin, who’d apparently taken a fancy to
Kate when he’d been up here visiting. Kellan’s siblings were
laughing, playing pool together as their long-lost brother caught
up with his dad. And Kellan…was actually laughing as he clinked his
beer bottle against his dad’s.

“I think we’ll all be fine, Denny,” I said, smiling up at the
first love of my life that had somehow morphed into the best friend
of my life.

Smiling down at me, Denny nodded and gave me my favorite goofy
grin. “I think you might be right.”

When the evening started winding down, people slowly filtering
out of the bar for more private conclusions to their nights, Kellan
and I slow danced together near the edge of the stage. Poetic Bliss
had just wrapped up their set and the vibrant girls were loitering
around the stage, chatting with their growing fan base. Kellan and
I ignored them all and continued dancing to a non-existent
beat.

His arms wrapped around my waist, Kellan smiled as he stared
down at me. His dad had left some time ago, but they were meeting
for breakfast in the morning. It warmed my heart that Kellan was
giving him a chance. Everyone deserved at least one chance.

Tilting his shaggy head, Kellan gave me a crooked smile. “So,
graduate…what’s next?”

I inhaled deep and smiled. “Anything…everything.”

Leaning down, he pressed his lips to mine. I cherished the
warmth and love that I felt in the connection. His hand reached up
to curl around my neck, as he deepened the moment between us. I
felt the familiar fire start to burn in me, more intense than ever
before, strengthened by the trust and commitment we were forging
daily.

Separating our lips, Kellan rested his head against mine. “I
have to go back soon, to finish the album.”

I sighed and stroked his cheek. “I know,” I whispered.

“And after that…will be another tour…to promote the album.” He
lifted the edge of his lip in a sad smile.

I kissed the corner of his mouth, making his smile widen. “It
will be okay…we’ll find a way to stay close, just like we have the
past few weeks.”

Kellan nodded, his face subdued as he thought about how often we
would be apart from each other. He hated being separated as much as
I did, and for the same reasons I did—we missed each other. While
Denny might be my best friend, Kellan was my soul mate, and being
apart was…painful.

We silently danced together while people moved around our
lightly swaying bodies. Over Kellan’s shoulder, I watched Evan and
Jenny walking out the doors arm in arm, Matt and Rachel close
behind them. Anna and Griffin had left not too long after their
reunion. What they were doing now, I didn’t want to think about.
The only couple still here was Denny and Abby. They were laughing
at the bar together, looking perfectly content in their own little
world.

Sighing, I rested my head against Kellan’s chest, thankful that
at least I had tonight with him. Kissing my head, he whispered in
my hair, “Come with me.”

Pulling back, I scrunched my brows. “What? Go with
you…where?”

I looked at the front doors, thinking maybe he was ready to go
home. Hopefully, by the time we got there, my parents would be
asleep. They’d left several hours ago, so the chances were good.
The chances were also good that my dad, ever over-protective, was
waiting up for me to come home.

Kellan chuckled and shook his head. Tucking a strand of hair
behind my ear, he murmured, “So cute…” Peeking up at his amused
eyes, I frowned. He smiled even wider. “Come on tour with me. Hell,
come to L.A. with me.”

Blinking, I shook my head. “But, my… ” I paused, realizing that
the tether that had kept me in Seattle was suddenly gone. I didn’t
have to stay here. Sure, I didn’t want to abandon my sister here,
but if I wanted to take extended visits somewhere…I could.

Seeing me start to realize that, Kellan wrapped his arms around
my waist. “You’re done with school now. You can do whatever you
want.”

I frowned. “Shouldn’t I have higher aspirations than being a
groupie?”

Kellan laughed and shook his head. “You’re not a groupie if I
invite you to come with us.” Ducking down, he met my eye. “When are
you ever going to have another chance like this, Kiera? You have
the rest of your life to find a job…or never find one. That would
be fine with me.”

I twisted my lips. “My parents will be so proud.”

Kellan shrugged. “Blame it on me. They hate me anyway.”

Smiling, I shook my head. “They don’t hate you…that much.”

Kellan gave me a soft kiss, then sighed. “I don’t care what you
do, Kiera, I just want you with me.” He pulled back. “And besides,
don’t you want to be a writer? Aren’t you writing a book about us,
about our life together?”

I raised an eyebrow at him, not realizing that he knew that. I
hadn’t been hiding it…I just hadn’t been ready to show him yet. He
grinned and smiled, then shrugged. “Jenny mentioned it…and I’d love
to read it, when you’re done.”

Biting my lip, I wrinkled my nose. Parts of it were painful for
me, they’d be especially painful to Kellan. But…open and honest,
that was our policy. I nodded. “When it’s ready.”

Smiling, he dipped me. I laughed as he pulled me back up. “Well,
writing is something that can be done anywhere, and to be the best
writer you can be, you’ll need to do a lot of research.” He
shrugged. “What better research could you have than traveling
across the nation with me… and Griffin?”

I cringed at that, then chuckled. Squeezing me tight, Kellan
rested his head against mine again. “You could come back as often
as you wanted, Kiera, to visit Anna…your friends, but I’d like us
to do this together this time.”

Tightening my arms around his neck, I gave him a soft kiss.
“Okay, let’s do it.”

His lips spread into a grin underneath mine, but then he
frowned. “There’s only one problem, though.”

I frowned. “What’s that?”

Sighing, he hung his head. “They don’t let girlfriends tour on
the bus with the band anymore…”

“Oh…” My body sagged as the exciting and scary prospect of life
on a tour bus with a bunch of rowdy boys popped. It seemed like a
strange rule to me, but, maybe that was another record label
thing…to protect their assets, or something. Was I going to have to
follow them around in Griffin’s Vanagon?

Just as I was wondering why Kellan had suggested a plan that
couldn’t happen, he started chuckling. Watching his lips twist into
an impish grin, I frowned. What was he up to now?

Shrugging, he added, “They only let the wives come with.”

My jaw dropped to my chest. Kellan lifted my chin with his
finger, smirking as he closed my mouth. “Wife?” I whispered. Was he
serious? Was he really proposing to me?

Grinning, he ran his finger along my jaw. “We’ve gone about as
slow as I can go, Kiera. I love you. I’m sure that I want my life
to always have you in it.” Shrugging, he shook his head. “Are you
sure about me?”

Staring into the deep azure eyes that could carry me away for
hours, I nodded. “Yes, I’m sure,” I whispered, no doubt about my
statement in my body.

He grinned then kissed me. I tried to deepen the kiss, but he
pulled back. Removing my hands from around his neck, he grabbed my
right one. I furrowed my brow as I watched him remove the promise
ring encircling one of my fingers. Smiling wider than I’d ever seen
him, he slipped the ring onto my left finger. Then he mimicked the
action with his own ring.

Lifting my left hand with his left hand, he beamed at me.
“There, now we’re married.”

Tears in my eyes, I shook my head at him. “I’m pretty sure it
doesn’t work like that, Kellan.”

He shrugged. “Semantics.” Smiling softly, he placed my left hand
over his heart, and his left hand over my heart. “We’re
married…you’re my wife.” He nodded, staring at me intently.

The tears streaming down my cheeks now, I nodded back. “And
you’re my husband…”

Exhaling with relief, he grabbed my face, sealing the deal with
a heart-stopping kiss. I knew that our marriage wasn’t legitimate,
but that was all a legal technicality that we could change whenever
we wanted. In our hearts, we
were
married, and in the end,
that’s the part of a marriage that mattered the most.

After we finally pulled apart, both of us crying at this point,
I waved Denny and Abby over. I had to tell somebody that I’d just
gotten married. Abby teared up when I showed her our “wedding”
rings, and hugged us both. Denny shook his head, containing an
amused smile since he knew our “marriage” was symbolic, at best.
But then he gave Kellan a hug.