�She said I don�t know if I�ve ever been good enough
I�m a little bit rusty, and I think my head is caving in
And I don�t know if I�ve ever really been loved
By a hand that�s touched me
Well I feel like something�s gonna give
And I�m a little bit angry.�
Why does Aaron want to go to dinner with Mike and Angie? Does he know Angie?
�Hey Nick, did they ever figure out if you were going to��
�Not yet.�
Nick cut him off before shooting a warning look into the backseat, obviously not wanting the subject, whatever that might be, to be discussed around me. When Nick turned back to pay attention to the road, his eyes stopped on me for a second and he smiled slightly.
�How were the bands you saw today?�
�They sucked.�
He laughed before sharing a look with Aaron through the rearview mirror.
Self-consciously pulling the rubber band out of my hair, I started twirling a random piece around my left forefinger.
�I don�t really think it�s necessary for them to get any more musicians. It would be a waste of money. We have enough musicians among the guests to keep music playing for days.�
Oops, he took that the wrong way.
�So you�re saying I should do something for the reception?�
I shifted my gaze to the passing buildings that flew past my window.
�No, I didn�t mean you at all. You�re already part of everything. I meant Ryan and Xander and Toby and everyone��
I trailed off, still wrapping my hair around my finger nervously. That was until he grabbed my wrist and pulled it from my hair, lacing my fingers through his own.
�Stop it. You�re making me nervous.�
*
Kara looked at me for a moment before down-casting her eyes, a mixture of shame and sadness marring their color.
Hey! I didn�t mean it that way.
�And you, right? You�re one of the musician guests, aren�t you?�
She turned to look behind her seat as I shot a thankful glance towards my brother for pulling her away from what might have been the beginning of another breakdown.
�No, not really. I� I sorta write songs, but I wouldn�t call myself a musician. Most of what I write isn�t even any good.�
I squeezed her hand instinctively, knowing she looked at me when I did.
�All a matter of opinion, Kara.�
�Yeah, Nick said you wrote that �Let Go� song he wouldn�t ever stop playing. That one was good.�
So Aaron is going to be good tonight after all.
�Thank you.�
Her cheeks burned when she sat back up straight and Aaron looked at me in my rearview mirror, confused as to how he�d caused her to retreat back into her sullen mood so suddenly.
It wasn�t you kid.
A melodic series of beeps formed into what sounded like the chorus of �Yellow Submarine� and Kara dug out her cell phone from one of her cargo pockets.
�Hello?�
Her voice was painfully shy, almost scared when she answered the phone. Still holding her hand in mine, I raised it up to my lips and kissed the top, causing her to look over at me so I could see the tears that once again pooled in her eyes.
�In Florida for Angie�s wedding.�
Stopping at a red light, I studied her profile while she stared down at her feet and listened.
�On Saturday, I know.�
The light turned green and I continued driving.
�Going to dinner. Nick - he�s the best man - and his little brother Aaron. We�re meeting everyone else.�
I pulled into the parking lot of the semi-crowded Italian restaurant. Tuesday night� Aaron and I should be okay.
�Yes, sir.�
The moment the word �sir� left her mouth, my head snapped towards her and something tightened in my chest. I�d thought she�d been talking to one of her friends or maybe even her mom, but� sir?
*
The moment Nick parked the car I pulled my hand from his and got out, hurrying away from where he and his brother were watching me leave.
I hate when my dad calls me and I�m not alone.
�Kara, are you okay sweetheart?�
I walked into the restaurant and past the confused hostess, heading for a fake sense of seclusion in the women�s restroom.
�I�m fine, daddy. Just really tired. I haven�t been sleeping well, but I�m all right.�
I heard him sigh, probably staring out of some hotel window in what could be any city in the US.
�Where are you?�
I locked myself in a stall.
�Chicago. For another two weeks. Maybe I can fly you up here after the wedding.�
I sighed, not wanting to hurt him with yet another negative answer.
�I have to work. Ryan and I have a lot of stuff to do. I�d really like to, but I don�t think I can.�
I miss him. He travels too much, so I don�t ever see him.
A few moments of silence passed between us while we both fought for words.
�Well honey, I have a business dinner to go to, so I should leave. Tell Angie I said congratulations. I�ll see you in a few weeks, alright?�
�Yeah. Love you dad.�
�Love you Kar-bear.�
The moment I hung up, I burst into tears again. Just like every other time I finish talking to him.
When did my life fall apart?
*
Watching Kara run away, I couldn�t help feeling like I was letting her walk into a pit of fire and I couldn�t do anything to stop her.
�What was that?�
I shrugged, staring after her when Aaron walked up beside me.
�So that�s the mysterious Kara, huh? I don�t see it, Nick. She�s like an emotional charity case. I don�t like her.�
I glared at him.
�Aaron, things are complicated, but there is no reason I shouldn�t try to do everything I can to help her turn back to normal. Once she�s better, you�ll love her too. Just be nice to her, alright?�
He looked at me funny before I left for the door, leaving him to stare at my back.
�Oooookay��
Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I made my way towards the restaurant, hearing Aaron jogging up beside me. Grabbing my arm, he stopped me in the middle of the parking lot.
�Wait a second. Did you just say that I�d love her too?�
Wow, your hearing works. Good for you.
�Yes.�
He stared at me in horror.
�You�re in love with her?�
Rolling my eyes, I pulled my arm from his grip and headed inside the restaurant.
�It�s none of your business, Aaron.�
Yes, I�m madly in love with her and it�s slowly killing me.