What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 9) Read online

  “Blaine…”

  “Please, Avery? I promise I’ll tell you soon. I just need some happy right now. Can I live a little cheer through you?”

  Avery hugged her. “Okay, fine. You just seemed off when you came back last year, and it doesn’t seem to have gotten better.”

  “I’m okay,” she lied. “I love you. You’ve always been like a sister to me. I thought one day you would become my sister.” And there went her big mouth. Why did she have to go and say that? “I was always a little envious of the closeness you shared with Jameson.” And the blurting just didn’t stop. Ack! Way to go!

  Avery pulled away, mouth ajar. “What? I was always envious that you had a sibling. I was just a family friend.”

  “Oh good grief, you were more than that and you know it. You might be younger than me, but I looked up to you. You knew what you wanted at a young age and had such a fun personality. I always wanted to be more like you.” Speaking from her heart this way was something Blaine didn’t do easily. Why did she all of a sudden blurt this all out to Avery now?

  “Okay, what’s with the idea of wanting to make me emotional again?” Avery teased, putting a hand on her hip. “Seriously, I never felt like I fit in, You know that.”

  “You always fit. You and Jameson- you’re okay now, right? I mean … I don’t know. I’m sorry. I’m still adjusting to all of this. I always thought it would be you two.” Damn, did she ever need to shut up. Did she really need to bring the past up again? Avery and Jameson had been the best of friends growing up. Their parents were good friends with the Callimers, and the families spent a lot of time together. Mom used to keep Avery during the day since both of the Callimers ran the inn. When Mr. and Mrs. Callimer found her on the steps of their inn in a hat, the older couple did everything within their power to adopt Avery when her birth parents couldn’t be found. She’d been a surprise to everyone.

  Avery’s eyes misted over. “So did I. That was hard to accept for both us. Honestly, I was scared because I had feelings for Lucas so soon after Jameson and I broke up. I felt like the worst person in the world. I told Jameson that a month ago or so and he couldn’t believe it, not to mention he totally scolded me for ever thinking he’d hate me. Just because I’m not marrying your brother doesn’t mean we aren’t sisters at heart.” She wrapped Blaine in a hug again. “Give Melody a chance. She’s really good for Jameson, and you know it took a lot for me to say that. Changes are hard, but we’re all adjusting.”

  “I don’t mean to bring out old feelings,” Blaine mumbled. She didn’t know Melody that well. Her brother’s new love came into town last year with trouble on her heels. Her trip home had been her wake up call to the fact that she needed to get the hell away from that life and come back home to the people who mattered.

  “It’s okay. You have a lot of things you’re catching up on and I’m sure you need to talk about them. I’m all right with that. Just know you can talk to me.”

  “I know, and I will. Just not tonight. Come on, soon to be Mrs. Bennett. Let’s get back out there and have fun before Melody or Laura send a search party. I do like Melody and I know Jameson is happy again. If you both are truly happy, then I’m okay.”

  “We are. Took a while, but we are. And Jameson is still my crazy, pain in the butt best friend who now likes to team up with Lucas and pick on me.” Avery laughed. “At least I’m not the only female member of the band any more. Melody and I get back at them.”

  Blaine slung an arm around Avery’s shoulders. “I got your back.” They exited the bathroom laughing.

  “I’m so happy you were able to come back for the wedding. I thought after you left we wouldn’t see you again,” Avery said softly on their way to the table.

  Her friend’s admission hurt, but she couldn’t blame Avery for feeling that way. She’d stayed away far too long, hiding her own pain. The life everyone thought she lived was such a lie.

  “I wouldn’t miss it! Are you kidding me? I’m not missing out on important things any more!”

  Did she mention already how great it was to be home?

  “Well well well, look what I just got on my phone.” Lucas Bennett held it up, a wide grin on his face. Randy peeked at it to investigate. Lucas hadn’t started the video yet, but he saw Blaine standing between Avery and Melody, microphones in hand.

  “I just got the same one. Laura sent it.” Jameson looked up from his own phone. “Luke, you have the bigger screen. Play it!”

  Everyone circled around Lucas to watch. Randy grinned at the the song opening. He recognized it right away.

  “Oh, that is too funny!” Marty, Baby Stetson’s bass guitar player, said from behind Randy.

  Lucas laughed. “Avery makes the funniest face at certain words, like she’s embarrassed to be singing them.”

  “Look at Melody’s hand gestures!” That came from Jameson.

  Randy only had eyes for Blaine. He could tell she was having fun, but the light wasn’t as bright in her eyes. She was troubled by something.

  “I wonder whose bright idea that was?” Melody’s brother Chris piped up. “I can’t believe my kid sister is singing that song!” But he was laughing.

  “I’m going to take a guess,” Jameson said after the video ended. His eyes met Randy’s and at the same time they both said “Blaine.” It sounded like something she would get the others to do. Blaine had always been the more daring one growing up. The first time Randy met her was when his family moved to Harmony’s Echo. He was eight years old. They’d stayed at the inn run by the Callimers for a few days before settling in a house, and that’s when he noticed Blaine, Jameson and Avery by the pool. She’d dared her brother to do something. Randy couldn’t even remember what it was. Then she’d spotted Randy with two of his sisters and invited them to join them.

  Lucas nodded. “I believe it. Still, this is priceless! Avery singing that song? Oh man. I won’t let her live this down for a while.”

  “They’re causing more mischief than we are. And they warned us to be good?” Jameson folded his arms over his chest, hiding a smirk.

  “Are you suggesting we cause a little trouble?” Randy narrowed his eyes at Jameson. “Aren’t we supposed to behave?” He stifled a laugh.

  “Why do they get to have all the fun?” Lucas sided with Jameson. “We could sneak in, sign up for a song, and have our own little fun.”

  Jameson nudged Lucas. “I’m not sure we’d get that lucky a second time. Though this time, the stories might be about you and not me.”

  “Hold on, forget sneaking in and signing up to sing. We can re-create their song.” Randy snickered, an idea forming in his mind. “Jameson, grab your guitar. Who’s going to be the video recorder? We also need a volunteer to sneak in and lure the ladies outside…”

  Twenty minutes later, they had a plan. Standing outside Catered Whims, they set up and waited for Marty to walk inside. He’d put on a disguise. All he had to do was pay for another round of whatever the women were drinking and let them know someone wanted to see them outside afterwards.

  “Ready?” Randy eyed Jameson, standing in front with his guitar.

  “They’re going to kill us, you know this, right?” Lucas asked.

  Randy shrugged. “We never technically crashed their party. We’re just bringing it outside and they’ll come straight to us. No harm done.” He couldn’t wait to see their faces when they walked outside.

  Marty bolted from the building and sent them a signal. The girls would be exiting soon.

  “Places everyone!” Chris called, setting the recorder in place.

  Randy spotted Blaine first and he had to hold back a laugh at her confused look. Jameson strummed his guitar.

  “This is battle of the bands! Saw your performance!” Lucas held a pen, pretending to talk into a microphone. “We couldn’t let you have all the fun.”

  Blaine, Avery, Laura and Melody stopped a few feet ahead of them, exchanging bewildered looks and laughter.

  “Bring it on, party
crashers! You’re just jealous!” Avery fired back with a saucy grin. “We can flaunt it better!”

  “You heard her, boys.” Lucas gestured. “It’s on!”

  No one could keep a straight face as they attempted to sing. By the end, everyone was laughing. Randy clutched his stomach, gasping for air.

  Chris held up the camera. “This is perfect.”

  Many other people had stopped to see what the ruckus was about. There were cheers, laughs, whoops and a few drunks booing.

  “Luke, honey, I hate to tell you, but if you were trying to impersonate me, you missed the mark.” Avery sauntered over to him and kissed his cheek. “Still love you though.”

  “That’s the problem with trying to match perfect.” Lucas swept her up in his arms.

  “Awww. How mushy cute.” Blaine rolled her eyes, letting out a laugh.

  “Hey, leave them alone. They’re allowed!” Marty laughed at her, then nudged Randy. “Great idea you had.”

  Blaine’s eyes widened as she faced him. “Your idea? I would have guessed Jameson and Luke were behind this mastermind.” Was she impressed?

  “Nope, all Randy. I guess we taught him well.” Jameson reached for Melody’s hand, pulling her toward him. “Y’all warned us to behave, but look what you were singing!”

  “Damn it, Laura! They never would have known if you never sent that video!” Blaine scolded playfully.

  “Yeah, but we would have missed them singing the same song, and you have to admit, Jameson playing the guitar to the Pink song and Lucas leading, it was perfect!”

  “Well, now that we’re all together, we might as well join forces,” Avery suggested, leaning in Lucas’s arms.

  “Sounds good to me.” Randy shot another look at Blaine. He frowned when he noticed her rubbing her lower back, a pained expression spreading. What was up with her? Did anybody else notice, or was it just him? He’d only seen a glimpse of her since she drove in late two nights ago. He wondered about her ever since she left Harmony’s Echo after Thanksgiving. He’d spent a lot of time with her those few weeks, even got her to open up a little. She still held a lot back.

  “Want to stay here, or head to the house and have some fun there?” Lucas asked.

  “We can go, if everyone else is game. There was a reason we sang that song.” Blaine glanced back at the building. “Some creepy guy had his eye on everyone tonight.”

  “So Blaine decided to have a little fun,” Melody added.

  “Back to the house it is then.” Lucas led the way.

  Randy caught up to Blaine, touching her shoulder lightly. “Are you okay?”

  She gasped, startled. “Of course I am. Why do you ask?” She had the deer-in-the-headlights look.

  He covered her hand with his own, keeping her from moving. “Something in your eyes, and you keep rubbing your back. Are you in pain?”

  “Just sore from the long drive, and working hard non-stop for months.” When she avoided his gaze, Randy knew Blaine was lying. But he couldn’t make her talk if she didn’t want to. Hopefully he’d get it out of her before she left again. One thing Randy knew about Blaine was that she could easily hide her true feelings. She’d done it for as long as he’d known her.

  Chapter Two

  Wedding days were meant to be beautiful, but the chaos that comes with them could be done without easily. An hour before Avery’s wedding was supposed to start, Blaine already counted eight things that had gone wrong and were potentially disastrous. Among them, the most memorable was Emily, Avery and Lucas’s infant daughter, spitting up all over Lucas. Jameson locked his keys in the truck with the rings inside and didn’t have a spare easily handy. Not to mention a slew of paparazzi that followed Belinda Wainscott, Avery’s birth mother, which almost caused a multi car wreck. Belinda, a successful singer and actress in the business for over 30 years, had people following her all the time, but Harmony’s Echo wasn’t used to that kind of crazy. The few times Belinda showed up to visit Avery and family always had a bunch of hype, as everyone was curious about her and wanted to get up close with the star.

  “Aren’t there enough comedy movies about weddings gone crazy? Do we really need a real life movie?” Blaine muttered.

  “Okay, you need to calm down before you get all wound up,” Laura whispered, elbowing her in the side.

  So she had a tendency to overreact. Maybe that was due to being around high strung Hollywood starlets that wanted to dance, sing and act. Or maybe that was just her personality. Either way, Laura had a point. She needed to cool it.

  “Sorry,” she whispered back, meaning it.

  “Good news all around!” Avery sailed through the doors to the dressing room, looking winded and nervous. Her hair had already been set, golden ringlets that were wrapped up in a bun with loose strands framing her face. Her makeup had been taken care of as well. All that needed to be done was get her in the dress. “Lucas has a new shirt that fits, Jameson’s truck is now unlocked, and Emily isn’t sick after all, she just had a little too much milk. Daddy’s occupying her. And hey, no wrecks! I think from here on out, it should be smooth sailing.”

  “Of course it will be.” Blaine rushed over to give Avery a comforting hug, using her take charge authority voice. Calm. That’s what she needed. “You, Avery Callimer, are a beautiful bride and we are going to celebrate this occasion in style. Now if you’re ready, how about we get you in your dress?” Smiling at Laura to show her she had her crazy under control, everyone gathered around Avery.

  Just about an hour later, all things had turned for the better. The music began, and the wedding party made their way down the aisle. Laura and Jameson as the best man and maid of honor were both smiling. When it was finally time, Avery practically floated down the aisle. Everyone stood and watched her. Avery’s dress reminded Blaine of a fairy tale princess. It was so beautiful. The ivory color and simple design with a V-neck and spaghetti straps suited Avery. She had on a necklace given to her by the Callimers, something passed down from when they got married. She wore a tiara headband given to her by Belinda. Lucas stood up at the alter sporting a black tux with a jacket and tie, only having eyes for his bride. Mr. Callimer had tears in his eyes as he kissed Avery’s cheek and let go of her arm so she could stand next to her groom.

  Watching the two take their vows was a magical and bittersweet moment. It had been a long time since Blaine went to a wedding for people she truly cared about. Everyone erupted in cheers and applause when Lucas and Avery were announced as man and wife. Camera shutters snapped, constant flashes filling the room. Emily cooed from her spot in Mrs. Callimer’s lap.

  Mom leaned over and whispered in Blaine’s ear, “When are you going to walk down the aisle?”

  Blaine groaned. “I’m not even dating. Ask your son! He’s the one in love.”

  “I plan to. But I’m asking you now.” Mom winked.

  Holding up a hand, Blaine bit back a sarcastic remark. “No way, Mom. Not my time yet. Don’t start being one of those mothers that has to find every which way to marry her kids off. I love you, but no.”

  “All right, all right.” Mom chuckled and leaned back.

  Blaine had to admit, she was proud of her mother. Out of rehab for alcoholism, she was getting back to her normal self. They were trying to repair their relationship, which is why Blaine decided to let the marriage comments slide.

  Feeling just a little guilty for brushing it off, Blaine took Mom’s hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “I love you.”

  Rounded blue eyes that matched her own stared back at her in surprise. “I love you, too. It’s so good having you back for a while, honey.”

  A while? Yeah, she needed to let everyone know that this was permanent. Tomorrow. That was a good day to start. Avery and Lucas would be on their honeymoon, and Blaine wouldn’t be messing anyone’s good day up with her problems.

  “I’m happy to be here.” You don’t know the half of it.

  Randy figured Blaine would have been one of the first guests on the
dance floor after all the traditional dances were over. Instead, she hung back, busying herself with occupying Emily. Sure, he knew she loved spending time with the baby, but had a feeling there was so much more to it. He stood from his seat and made his way over, eying the chair empty chair beside her.

  “Not going to bust any of your fancy moves out on that floor?” he asked when he was close enough.

  Blaine turned his way and she plastered a smile on her face. He could tell it was totally forced. “Nah. Let everyone have their fun.”

  “If you need a partner, you know I’ll sweep you across that floor,” he offered.

  “Thanks for the offer, I really do appreciate it.” She shook her head. “Besides, I’ve got this cutie-patootie to chill with.”

  “She is a cutie-patootie, but her daddy and I want a family dance with her now.” Avery stood before them, holding her arms out for her daughter. “I think Luke wants his daddy-daughter dance.”

  “You’re glowing, Avery. I am so happy for you,” Blaine gushed, handing over Emily reluctantly. “I’ll be spoiling her while you’re away.”

  “Yeah, try prying her away from Mom, Dad and Belinda.” Avery smirked, holding Emily close to her chest. “Everyone wants to steal this precious girl!” With another happy grin, Avery headed back to the dance floor to meet Lucas.

  Randy held out a hand. “You have no more excuses, m’lady.”

  “Persistent much?” Blaine eyed him warily.

  He chuckled. “You should know. We’ve only been friends for almost twenty five years. Come on. One dance.” Hopefully that one dance would lead into Blaine opening up.

  “All right, all right.” She grumbled, but he could see her hiding a grin.

  Randy wrapped an arm around her as they swayed. “You look beautiful, by the way.”