Page 72 of Nashville Lights

“You sure do, honey pie.”

I check out Kade’s vibe. Exactly the way he’s checking out mine.

“Hey, darlin’.”

“Hey.” I walk over to him. He definitely seems…lighter. The grimness that’s been hanging over him for five straight months is completely gone. “I’m in love with him so you’re just going to have to get used to it.”

He gives me a slow, almost-amused, measured look. “Is that right?”

“Yes, it is right.Iget to choose who I want to be with and I wanthim.”

Kade smiles, almost like he finds the new “glowing” me sort of fascinating. “Well, shit.”

“You’re not allowed to be mad. It’s up to us. Not them,” I vaguely gesture to the others, “and not you.”

“I called him.”

This stuns me for a few seconds. “Youdid? When?”

“Half an hour or so ago.”

God.They’re eternally meddling in my life, all three of them. “What did you say?”

“I asked him what he was doing with my sister and he explained that the only reason he hasn’t been with you all these years is out of respect for you and out of respect for me. But that if I tried to come between the two of you now he’ll beat me to a bloody pulp.”

“He said that?”

“Something along those lines. Might have been slightly more colorful.”

I consider this for a few seconds. “What did you say?”

“I told him I would have killed him with my bare hands when you were fifteen. Maybe even when you were twenty.”

“I think he knows that, Kade.”

“He did.”

“But I’m not fifteen anymore.Ortwenty. And as much as I appreciate y’all’s undying concern for me, if you try to get in the way of me and Nate you can find yourselves a new manager.”

Vaughn laughs and lets out a low whistle.

“Well, then,” Kade says. “That’s something we definitely don’t want.”

“Kade, Ilovehim.”

“So you keep saying, darlin’.” I’m not expecting it but he grins. “I get it, all right? You’ve both pleaded your case and it’s obvious this is something that’s been brewing for a long time. I didn’t see it, but then again, you didn’t want me to. And neither did he.”

“I’m okay,” I promise him. “He’s the best thing. Just give us your blessing and leave us to it already.”

Kade laughs. Honestly, it’s been a while since I heard him laugh.

“You’re in a good mood,” I observe sullenly, still riled.

“Stella agrees with him.” Travis strums. “Alot.”

“Where is she?” I ask.

“Asleep. In my apartment.”

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