I Never Expected You (I Never 2)

“No, don’t do that. He has enough on his plate right now. I can’t believe that he is going to ask her, or even more that he is such a romantic that he asked you to for permission too. That’s just so sweet.”

“Like I would have even thought about saying no to him.”

“So let’s let them have the spotlight for now, and then we’ll give it some time before we make any announcements, okay?”

Zach thinks it over but finally agrees. First thing’s first: help Ky pick out a ring, while I soak in the idea that I’m going to be a mom.

Sitting at a table close to the front of the stage seems weird. For all the years we’ve been coming to Lucky’s, we have always sat at the same place, except tonight, per Kyler’s request. Tonight is the night: he plans to ask my sister to marry him. The difference between him and I is that he hasn’t waited for months and months to ask her.

I lean over and brush Haylee’s hair behind her ear. “You know, with our family all here tonight, it would be a great opportunity to tell them about the b-a-b-y.”

Haylee turns to me, and her eyes darken. “Don’t even think about making this about us. Tonight is about your sister and Ky. We can tell them all later.”

I lean back into my chair and grumble, “Yeah, well, payback would be sweet since she made a scene with our engagement.”

She whips her head around. “Are you serious right now?”

I shrug jokingly. “I’m just saying. I know this is about them. I can’t even believe he’s doing it.”

“Right?” Haylee takes a sip of her drink.

We wanted to get here early to order a nonalcoholic beverage for her so that people wouldn’t question anything.

“Do you think she’ll say no?” It’s an honest question.

“Nah, she loves him. He’s hers forever.” Haylee turns to me with so much love in her eyes.

Kyler is currently near the stage hiding out and waiting for Dani to arrive. I look up to see her headed in our direction. I glance over to where our families are seated, hoping she doesn’t notice them.

Dani shakes her coat off and places it on the back of the chair. Luckily the chair she picks has her back to our families.

“How come we aren’t at our regular table tonight and stuck up front by the stage?”

I look at Haylee and bring my drink to my mouth to hide my face. Yep, I’m a total coward, choosing to hide behind my glass as I lie right to my sister’s face.

“Oh, well, we were running late, and the table was already occupied.”

Well, your boyfriend is about to make some big romantic gesture and wanted you to be close to the stage, was what I wanted to say.

“Oh,” she responds, taking a seat. She glances around but never fully turns around, thank God. “Where’s Kyler? I thought he was meeting us here?” She looks down at her phone.

Just then, the spotlight on the stage appears, and Scott takes the microphone. I settle back into my chair, wrapping my arm behind Haylee. Here we go.

He waves his hands in the air to quiet the crowd down. “All right, all right, everyone. Tonight we are doing something a little different—our favorite dynamic duo is flying solo. Let’s everyone give Kyler a warm welcome and see if he is actually any good without his partner in crime. Thank God this is just one night and one night only.”

He steps aside and claps his hands together. Kyler appears on the stage.

“Tonight, I’d like to dedicate this song to my girl, Dani. I love you. Here it goes.”

Hmm, this sounds familiar—singing in front of the crowd to the girl you love. You’re welcome.

Kyler begins singing “Danny’s Song” by Loggins and Messina. That’s cute, but wait… I furrow my brows as he continues singing and listen to the lyrics. Is he singing a song about becoming a dad? Shit, does he know?

I glance over at my sister and see her taking large swigs of her margarita, and I can’t help but laugh as I see Haylee staring at her too. I’m sure she is jealous, but at least we got here early enough to order her a nonalcoholic drink so that no one would figure it out.

The song finally ends, and we all applause, including Haylee giving one of those crazy whistles. Pretty sure I might be deaf in the ear closest to her. Kyler takes the microphone off the stand and heads toward our table, stopping right in front of Dani. He takes both of her hands in his, and both are smiling stupidly.

I pull Haylee into me, and she looks up at me, her eyes so full of love and unshed tears. I love that he has included all of us in this big moment.