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“It has. Got so I could barely look you in the eye.”

“Dude, I can’t believe this.”

“She asked me to tell you before the wedding but I couldn’t seem to find the right moment.”

“Until now?” His jaw clenched. I could almost hear him grinding his teeth.

“Yeah, sorry about the timing.”

“You and Luci are both so honest. This must have been killing you,” Jack said.

“That’s right.”

“But I don’t get it. Why couldn’t you just come to me?” He stopped, as if it had just occurred to him. “You thought I would ask you to leave the band because you and Luci want to be together?”

“Are you going to?” My voice came out as weak as a sick child after a feverish night.

“Have you lost your ever-loving mind?” He didn’t wait for me to answer. “Grant, you’re my family. The five of us aren’t just a band that makes music together. We’re brothers. I’m shocked and hurt you would think so little of me.”

“It’s not like that,” I said. “I mean, it’s not about you. This is me. I thought that—I thought, if I did something you didn’t like, that would be it. I’d be out. That’s the only way I’ve ever known. Do it right or you’re punished.”

“I’m not your dad. I’m not anything like him. You don’t have to be perfect. Not with me. And we both know I’m far from perfect anyway, so why would I expect it from others? I want you to be happy. And Luci too, for that matter. Do you know how many nights sleep I’ve lost worried she was going to choose another loser? That last one hit her. Shoved her—which is just as bad! Makes me sick to think about it. Dude, you’re one of the best men I know. You went out in a snowstorm to save our temporarily insane brother at the risk to your own life. Without hesitation. Why in God’s name would you think I would be anything less than overjoyed?”

“I … I didn’t think you’d think I was good enough for her. Plus, it’s a betrayal against your specific instructions.”

“Ten years ago. When she was still a kid.” He dropped his face into his hands, talking through his fingers. “How did I not see this?” He looked back up and instead of hurt in his eyes he actually seemed amused. “Now that I think about it—it was so obvious. You two have been together all month. Every activity. Sitting together at dinner. I even saw you go into her cabin one night. I just thought you were being kind to her—knowing how lonely she’s been. I thought you were looking after her. For me. I actually felt kind of bad about it.” He started to laugh. “And all this time you’ve been in love with her? Unbelievable.”

I had no idea what to say, so I just said the truth. “It feels like I can’t live without her. Even if it meant giving everything else up.”

Jack stood, placing his hands on my shoulders, gazing into my eyes. “Please tell me you’re going to make an honest woman out of her?”

“I want to. If she’ll have me.”

“Well, one thing I know for certain, and I’m not taking no for an answer. I’m going to pay off her student debt before you two get married. She’s just going to have to accept my help. I can’t have one of my best friends saddled with my sister’s debt.”

“You’ll have to take that up with her,” I said, smiling. “She’s not one to ask for help.”

“Don’t I know it?” He grinned, then embraced me. “This is a dream come true.”

My knees almost buckled, I swear. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.” He sat back on the bed, still looking stunned. “The other day my mother said something about what a great catch you were and should we nudge Luci in your direction. As if she would ever let herself be nudged toward anywhere she didn’t want to go. I actually laughed at her. The she kind of pursed her mouth and said, ‘You don’t know everything in the world, Jack Wilder.’ I had no idea what she was talking about. But she must have figured it out.”

“Luci told her,” I said. “In a moment of weakness.”

“I should be mad you were all keeping it from me, but I’m too happy. We’re going to be real brothers. Like legally. Not that we need a piece of paper for that, right?”

“Right. But I’ll marry her the second I can.”

“One thing, though—if you’re serious about a marriage proposal, you’ve got to ask my mother for her blessing. She will not like to be kept out of the loop.”

I almost started bawling like a baby. Fortunately, our knucklehead friends bounded into the room just at that moment.

Knox and Rhett both stopped short, looking at us. Beck came up behind them and did the same thing.

“What’s going on in here?” Knox asked. “You two eloping?”

“Very funny,” Jack said, rolling his eyes. “Grant has some big news.”