Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,298

“I’m working as a personal assistant for a pretty famous rock band,” I tell her.

“Yes, you thought you were working for the record label at first. I remember your gramps telling me that. He got a kick out of that story,” she says fondly.

“Yeah, turns out the band’s agent hired me for them. It was a misunderstanding.”

“How do you like it, dear?”

“I love it, really. The guys are nice. I, um, actually already knew the lead singer, but I didn’t know him as part of the band, just knew him,” the words fly out of my mouth.

“There’s a story there. Let’s hear it.”

My family has always been close, but I have yet to tell any of them about Kacen and how we met before I started working for him. I decide my story might help occupy Gran’s mind for a while, and she’s wise beyond her years; she may have some sound advice to offer me. “Well, it all started in Hawaii,” I say as I begin to tell the story of Kacen Michael and Logan Paige.

We arrive at her condo just as I finish telling her about our goodbye yesterday. I help her out of the car and inside. “Grab us a glass of sweet tea,” she says as she takes a seat in the recliner.

I do as I’m told and make us both a glass of sweet tea. I set hers on the table beside her chair and mine on the coffee table. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I check for missed calls or texts. There are none from Kacen. Two missed calls from Daniel. I don’t have the energy to deal with him right now. I grasp my phone in my hand, willing it to ring, or vibrate, or something. I don’t’ expect it to. I’ve been short with him, pushing him away.

I miss him.

“So let me get this straight,” Gran says. “He more or less begged you to let him come with you and told you he loved you, and you still turned him down? Why would you do that?” she asks, confused.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I’m not used to it. Daniel and I had a different relationship. I was willing to overlook things because I was blinded by the idea of the fairy tale he promised.” I take a drink of my tea. “Kacen is so different. He’s attentive and kind. He’s beyond emphatic about the way he feels about me. I was feeling guilty that it’s been over a year since I’ve been home,” I confess. “I was grieving and blaming myself for not being here.”

“You pushed him away. Sounds like you need to do less pushing and more pulling. I’ve not met the man, but I can tell by the way you talk about him and the way your eyes light up that he’s worthy of your love. I never saw you look that way when you talked about what’s his face.”

“Gran!” I mock scold her.

“What? I’m too old to hold back, my dear. I loved your grandfather for sixty years. That man was my world. Your Kacen reminds me a lot of him. He pursued me for weeks before I finally agreed to a date, and once I did, I never looked back.”

“I miss him, and I feel so guilty for not coming home more.”

“Logan, we love you. We are both so proud of you. He told all our friends how his granddaughter was working for a famous rock band. He would be beside himself knowing that you’re being so hard on yourself. Life is short. You have to live each day as if it could be your last. Just because you’re happy in Tennessee does not mean you didn’t love us. We can’t see those we love every day; it’s a part of life. What you can do is choose who you spend every day with. Choose a man who is worthy of that time that takes you away from us.”

“He is,” I choke out the words, fighting back tears.

“Then pull, Logan. Pull him close and hold on for dear life. It’s rare to find that, some never do. Forget past hurts and focus on the happiness of your future.”

I let her words sink in, and I know she’s right. I don’t want to live my life with regrets or in fear of getting my heart broken. I need to pull just like she said. Swiping my finger across the screen of my phone, I pull up our last