Music of the Soul (Runaway Train #2.5)(10)
Author: Katie Ashley

“It’s okay.” Once she was wrapped as tight as a mummy in the sheet, she hopped off the bed and ran into the bathroom.

When the door closed, AJ turned around. He held up his hands. “I swear I didn’t know she was here.”

“It’s okay, man.”

“By the way, her mom is looking for her.”

“Oh shit,” Abby moaned from the bathroom.

I laughed. “You’re about to be a married woman, and you’re still worried about your mother?”

She poked her head out the door. “I’ll never be too old or too married not to worry about my mother.” She glanced at AJ. “Quick, get me a pair of Jake’s sweats and a T-shirt.”

“Why?”

Abby rolled her blue eyes. “Because I’m going to pretend I went out for a walk this morning to clear my head. The last thing my mother, least of all my father, needs to know is that I just spent the night with Jake.”

“Got it,” AJ replied, before heading to the closet. When he returned, he thrust some clothes at Abby.

“Thank you,” she replied, as she slammed the door.

“You don’t think they’re going to wonder why you’re wearing my clothes that are about two sizes too big for you?” I asked.

“I’ll say it’s because I missed you and wanted to be close to you. That also covers us if they smell you on me,” came her muffled reply behind the door.

AJ grinned. “She’s good. If we ever need an alibi, she’s our girl.”

Then Abby appeared from out of the bathroom. Her former bed hair had been tamed into a ponytail. She leaned over the bed to kiss me. “I love you, and I’ll see you this afternoon.”

“Yep, sunset on the beach. You’ll be the one in the veil, and I’ll be the one forced to wear a pink vest.”

“Hey, at least you don’t have to wear a full tux or suit,” she argued.

“Guess you’re right. But damn, Angel. Did you really have to choose pink?”

She gave me a teasing wink. “I’m a true steel magnolia, so of course, I wanted some blush and bashful in my wedding.”

My brows furrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Don’t worry about it. See you later.” She grinned and blew me a kiss before hightailing it down the ladder.

When the door slammed behind her, I tossed the notebook at AJ. “Got us a new hit.”

As he glanced over the lyrics, he bobbed his head. “Abby inspired, I presume.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Brayden will be glad to hear it. He’s feeling the pressure of the new album.”

“I have a feeling I might get even more inspired on my honeymoon.”

AJ grinned. “I say go for it. Just make sure you take the time to enjoy yourself.”

Throwing back the covers, I started for the bathroom. “Oh, I plan on enjoying myself several times a day,” I replied with a wink.

Chapter Four

The main suite of the island’s house teemed with people. As nervous energy hummed through every fiber of my being, it took everything I had to sit still in the chair in front of the mirror. It still felt surreal that I was even here—that after hopping a plane and then taking a boat, I was in my own island paradise. I’d been dreaming of this day my entire life, and now it was finally here.

To combat my nervousness, I’d been tapping my foot restlessly while Marion, the band’s makeup and hair stylist, went about transforming me. When she started in with the eyeliner, she gave me an exasperated look. “Would you stop with the tapping, or you’re going to look like some Goth chick.”

“Sorry.”

She grinned. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this nervous before.”

I sighed. “Yeah, there’s a reason for that. I mean, today’s the biggest performance of my life—my wedding day.”

“Oh honey, you’re going to be just fine,” my mother’s reassuring voice said from behind me. When I glanced into the mirror, she appeared behind me. “I can’t believe it’s really happening. My baby is getting married.” Tears glistened in her eyes, causing her to wave her hand in front of her face. “No, no, today is a happy day. No tears,” she said to herself.

“I agree. Plus, I don’t want to have to redo your makeup,” Marion said with a smile.

Leaning over me, Mom thrust a granola bar, along with a Coke, into my hands. “You need to eat that, sweetheart. We don’t want your blood sugar acting up on today of all days.”

Even though I was too nervous to be hungry, I appeased my mother by unwrapping the granola bar and taking a bite. As I chewed, I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my lips. The day I had met Jake my hypoglycemia had reared its head. How could I ever forget passing out right after seeing AJ, Brayden, and Rhys and realizing I wasn’t on my brothers’ bus? Of course, it was the moment preceding that when I had found myself in Jake’s bed that meant the most. Our worlds had collided in that moment, and neither one of us would ever be the same again.

Once I finished eating, I took slow sips from the Coke out of a straw. Marion checked my lips to make sure I hadn’t smudged the liner or color while eating. “Okay, make-up is done. Now for the dress and veil.”

I eased up from the chair and came to stand in the middle of the room. My mom and Mia brought the dress out of the closet and then out of its massive bag. It was satin and strapless with a heavily beaded bodice. It fell into yards of satin. It was a little impractical for a beach wedding, but I didn’t care. The moment I had seen it, I knew it was the dress of my dreams. I took off my robe, leaving me in a bustier and underwear.

Once I stepped into the dress, Mom went about zipping up the back. I loved the fact that a row of intricate buttons covered the zipper and gave the effect that I had been buttoned in. Jake would probably freak when he saw it, thinking he had to undo all the buttons to get me naked. I laughed at the thought.

After I was secured into the dress, I realized it was going to be tough breathing for the rest of the day between the bustier and the tight bodice. “Oomph,” I muttered, as I smoothed my hand over my chest.

“Little snug, huh?” Mom asked behind me.

“Yep, just a bit. I probably overdid it last night at dinner.”

Mom laughed. “I don’t think so, sweetheart. They altered it to fit that way, remember?

“I guess.”

“You’ll get used to it.”