My Hometown Love

Chapter 17 – Second Chances

Kevin’s P.O.V.

Jake had just given me fantastic news. He was giving me Betty. I couldn’t believe my ears at this, although I felt this green aura coming from Lexie. She seemed pretty upset to hear that Jake’s surprise for me is a ‘her’. She then proceeded to hit her forehead when she heard the name, Betty. Didn’t she who Betty was?

Knowing Lexie very well, I knew that if I didn’t clarify things soon, it might send her into a frenzy. But on the other hand, I somehow liked seeing her jealous. It made me further believe that I might be building a place in her heart.

So, as Jake led us away from the yard and towards the front of the house, I started whispering to Lexie.

“You should totally meet Betty. She is amazing! And what a beauty too!”, I whispered into her ears.

I felt her whole body tense up as she remained strangely silent.

“So, Betty huh? How long have you known each other?”, Lexie finally blurted out, with a hint of annoyance.

“Oh wow… Probably about 5 years? Jake introduced us and we have been on some crazy adventures together.”, I said coyly, carefully measuring her response to every word I say.

“Ahh, I see… Funny how you never mentioned her? Or do you have more secret ladies that I don’t know about.”, Lexie replied as she stomped her feet louder.

I swear I could hear her teeth grinding. It was her last response that made me realize how jealous and protective she was now compared to a few weeks ago. I was enjoying seeing her like this but I knew sooner or later, I had to tell her the truth. So, when Jake headed into the garage and turned on the lights, I knew it was time to end her misery.

Jake reached towards a big black tarp and pulled it open, revealing a beautiful red Yamaha V-Star 250 motorcycle.

“So, I should probably mention. Betty’s the name of Jake’s motorcycle. Not that it was important or anything.”, I whisper to Lexie in the most nonchalant manner possible.

*************

Lexie’s P.O.V.

Jake just lead us to the garage where he revealed his motorcycle under a big black tarp. And apparently, that was the perfect moment for Kevin to casually tell me that Betty was actually the name for Jake’s bike.

Oh, I was pissed. I glared up at Kevin who was over the moon with my reaction. He seemed to be enjoying my misery a little too much.

“You couldn’t bother to mention this earlier? Before I went on rambling about all that nonsense?!”, I angrily whispered back to Kevin, cautious to not alert Jake.

Kevin just responded with a nonchalant shoulder shrug before giving me his famous smirk and a wink.

“So, what do you think?”, Jake asks Kevin.

The boys continued talking motorcycle stuff until a certain sentence reached my ears.

“So, you can now take your dates on romantic motorcycle rides, huh bro?”, Jake says as he hands him the keys and pats him on the back.

“Maybe? That’s if they are up to it?”, Kevin replies as he gives me a sideways glance.

I couldn’t help but smile despite my resolve to remain angry at him for tricking me. I quickly made myself busy looking at the tools hanging on the wall.

“Oh, man. Isn’t it time?”, Kevin suddenly says to Jake, glancing at his watch in panic.

“Is it? Looks like it’s go time.”, Jake replies before heading towards me.

“Hey Lex, could you go check up on Maria for me. Just let her know I’ll be right over.”, Jakey says as he slowly escorts me out of the garage and towards the yard, rather urgently.

“Okaaaayyy? Is everything okay?”, I ask curiously.

“Yeah Yeah. Now go on.”, Jake replies as he pushes me to get going.

“Okay Okay. I’m going!”, I say as I make my way back to the party.

I catch up with Maria and fill her in with Jake’s message. We chat for a while before we are surprised with a sudden blackout of all the yard lights, except the dim flickers of the candle lights.

As I get up to go check on the lights, the lights are turned back on again and in front of the crowd was the trio. Jake with a microphone in hand as Kevin sat with a guitar behind him and Sam on the keyboard.

It was then it dawned on me. The guitar in Kevin’s car, the blacked-out part of his list, Jake’s and Kevin’s mysterious behavior, and the reason Jake chased me out earlier. I can’t believe the boys secretly planned this. This is an amazing surprise.

“Maria, Mi Amor. This is for you.”, Jake said into the microphone as he blew a kiss to Maria.

Jake started softly and passionately singing the words to Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’. I was in awe of this side of Jake that I have never seen before while Maria tried to hold back her tears as she just watched Jake sing his heart out. 

My eyes eventually fell on Kevin who was playing the guitar flawlessly with his eyes closed, savoring every sound he produced. What is it with guys playing the guitar that makes girls so weak in their knees? I mean just watching him play the guitar gave me goosebumps.

It was like he heard my thoughts when he suddenly opened his eyes and stared straight into my soul.

*************

Kevin’s P.O.V

I’m so glad we managed to pull off the surprise without a hitch. It sure wasn’t easy with Ms. Lexie Cooper snooping around and asking a million questions. But in the end, it was all worth it to see Jake serenade Maria, who is cherishing every second.

I close my eyes as I enjoy the vibrations of my guitar ring through my soul until I had this strong instinct to open my eyes and look for Lexie. True enough, I open my eyes to see Lexie looking straight at me. I play every chord of the song and mouth along with the words without looking away from her.

Lexie starts fanning herself and acts like she’s swooning. I can’t help but laugh to myself at her goofiness. And just like that, the song ends with thunderous applause from the crowd while Maria runs to jump into Jake’s arms.

I sling my guitar on my shoulder and push in toward my back as I go and pat Jake on the back. I turn around to see Lexie approaching me.

“So, that was what the guitar was for, huh?”, she asks.

“Yeah. Sorry for always brushing you off. I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”, I asked as I ran my hands in my hair.

“Sorry.”, Lexie says with a sad pout and puppy dog eyes.

“Ha-ha… no worries. Walk me to my car?”, I asked this time determined to talk to her.

Lexie responded by nodding her head before walking alongside me towards my car. As soon as we reach my car I open the booth to put my guitar in. While doing so, Lexie hops up and sits inside my booth as her legs dangle below. Above us, the moonlight shines over us.

“So….. here’s the thing.”, I start.

“As I said in my letter after all these wedding stuff, I really would like an opportunity to sit down with you and tell you my side of the story of that fateful night.”, I say as quick as I can, fearing the longer I take, I would lose my confidence again.

I look up to see her response and see her looking down at her feet again.

“Damnnit! Why is this so hard?”, I scream to myself in my head.

“I know you want to move on from the past and move forward but I want us to move forward with all the details. I love what we have right now. But, for us to become closer, I need to earn your trust back. So, will you give me a chance?”, I say pleadingly, in hope that she says yes and not get mad all over again, moving further away from me.

Lexie takes a deep breath and looks up at me with watery eyes. I felt my heart sink at the sight of this and I yearned to reach over to her to wipe off her tears. Lexie had just opened her mouth to start saying something when someone calls out for her abruptly.

“There you are. Hurry up, it’s time for the final event.”, Sam shouts from the backyard gate.

Lexie hurriedly wipes her eyes and walks away from me, leaving me with a sinking feeling and with a mountain of guilt.

*************

Lexie’s P.O.V

I started brisk walking back to the party as I wiped any remnant of tears left on my face. I didn’t know why I teared up at seeing Kevin making an effort to patch things up with me fully before moving forward. I was glad but instead, someone had opened the tap to my eyes, resulting in a waterfall of tears falling from my face.

I felt my heart glow as Kevin said that he hoped that we could become closer. He also knew the importance of trust is to me. He was saying all the right things. I looked up at his face as it glowed in the moonlight, all I wanted to do was reach out and hug him. Alas, Sam chimed in and called us back to the party.

So, I told myself I will give my best to ensure Jakey’s wedding reception ends on a high note, and then, I will talk to Kevin. I returned to the party just in time as Jake started his appreciation speech. I saw Kevin enter the yard and stand in a corner looking gloomy. I felt a pang of guilt, worried if I had ruined his best friend’s wedding for him.

Soon after, Jakey and Maria said their thank you’s and goodbyes, it was time for the bouquet throw. Honestly, I wasn’t such a fan of this tradition but as maid of honor duty requires, I had to be one of the twenty girls huddled up behind Maria, with their game face on.

On the count of 3, Maria threw her lavender bouquet backward with all her might. It’s funny how even though I didn’t have my arms up to catch it, it still ended up in my arms. My first response when I saw it in my hands was to look for Kevin, who just responded with a small smile before shifting his focus back to Jake.

Okay, this was really starting to bug me. I can’t believe I was so worried about Kevin’s feelings. What has happened to me?

I made my way through the crowd to the front door where all the guests are bidding farewell to the bride and groom as they leave for their honeymoon. Mom and Dad were in the front seat getting the car heated up while Kevin and Sam were loading up the car with luggage bags.

I approach Jakey and Maria to give them a big hug.

“Have fun you two! Enjoy your honeymoon. We’ll miss you.”, I say to them as Kevin makes his way next to me to say his goodbyes as well.

“Keep an eye on my sister here, will you? Make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.”, Jake says to Kevin as he ruffles my hair, much to my annoyance.

Kevin nods agreeing before enveloping Jake in a hug and patting his back. The newlyweds get in the car and we all wave as the car slowly leaves the driveway with a ‘Just Married’ banner on the back of the car. 

All the guests slowly start leaving and I finally decide that it’s time to talk to Kevin. My eyes scan the yard to search for him but I can’t seem to locate him. I pick up my dress with my right hand as my left still holds on to the bridal bouquet. I find him in my kitchen sitting on the kitchen counter with a plate of cake by his side.

“Hey, Kev? Catch!”, I say as I toss him my bouquet, much to his surprise and confusion.

He catches the bouquet effortlessly before looking at me with a quizzical look on his face, waiting for me to explain my actions.

“The answer is yes.”