Was he saying she could be a reason? It had to be the alcohol buzz in her head, because there was no way a man would change his plans for her. She just wasn’t the type of woman for whom men would jump through hoops. If only…
“Then there’s my grandmother,” Bryson said with a groan.
“Is she okay?” Misty asked, making both Camden and Bryson laugh. “I don’t get it.”
“Sorry. You’d have to meet the woman. She’s in her late sixties, I think. Well, I can’t get anyone to tell me her actual age, but whatever age she is, it hasn’t slowed her down even the tiniest bit. The poor sheriff has even had to arrest her and her best friend, Bethel, for disturbing the peace.”
“Really?” Misty really, really wanted to meet this woman.
“Yes, really,” Camden said. “The poor sheriff is seventy now, and he gave both ladies a stern lecture, but they didn’t care. They’re recapturing their youth or something.”
“Yeah, I was surprised Cam’s dad wasn’t with them as a partner in crime. The three are pretty close,” Bryson added.
“Your grandma and his dad?” Misty was more confused.
“Yeah, my dad is older,” Cam said, “and Bryson’s grandma had his mom when she was quite young, so they’re close in age.”
“Oh, I wasn’t saying anything bad…”
“Don’t worry. We didn’t take it that way,” Camden reassured her.
“Do your parents get upset when things like that happen? The arrest, I mean.” Misty found it so nice to sit back and hear about their families. Jealousy was sitting there with her, but not the ugly kind. She just wondered what it would have been like to have her own stories like this to tell.
“Hell, no,” Bryson replied. “They think it’s great that grandma is having fun. The more she lives life, the longer she’ll be in this world. I wouldn’t be surprised if my parents join the terrible trio in a few years.”
“I think the sheriff will definitely retire if that happens,” Camden told them.
“Considering he would never be able to draw his weapon in a shootout, that may be his wisest choice,” Bryson said.
“Yeah, I don’t think Big Blue — his gun — has been shot in over twenty years,” Cam said.
“I’m sure there are cobwebs in the barrel, maybe even a few spiders’ nests.”
The men continued to banter back and forth until there was a tapping noise from the microphone. Then someone spoke. “Good evening, everyone. I hope you don’t mind if I play a few songs.”
The fork stopped halfway to Misty’s mouth, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head once she turned and looked up at the stage. Her heart was pounding.
“Uh, Mis…Magnolia, are you okay?”
She heard the words through a tunnel. This couldn’t be happening. Things like this didn’t happen to her. Not her. This kind of thing was for lucky people.
“Are you choking, honey?” Alyssa was patting her back.
“F…fi…fine,” Misty managed to stutter.
“Aw, don’t worry, boys. She’s just a bit starstruck. It happens to the best of us.” Alyssa laughed and walked away.
Misty barely heard her.
She also didn’t notice the tilting of Bryson’s eyes as he gazed at her, not entirely amused at her complete absorption with the stage.
“I can make anybody pretty…” Brad Paisley began singing his hit song “Alcohol,” and Misty didn’t hear another word from her male companions. She was fully focused on Paisley as he ran smoothly through a couple of songs. Alyssa set down Misty’s meal, and it went untouched.
When Brad jumped into “Two People Fell in Love,” Misty sighed. All the trauma from her deposition earlier in the day was forgotten as she drank in one of her all-time favorite singers. When he began a guitar solo, she just leaned back and enjoyed.
“Thanks, all. I’m going to try that meat loaf now,” Brad called out through the microphone, then hopped down from the stage, and Misty’s eyes grew round as he made his way to their table.
“Hi, Camden, Bryson. It’s been a while.” The singer pulled out a chair and turned it around before he sat, leaning against the back of it.
“Yes, it has been. It’s good to see you. How are the wife and kids?” Camden asked, after they all shook hands.
“Kim and the boys are great. I’m on my way home tonight and had to stop in here. This tour is kicking my ass. I’m definitely missing the family.”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t know how that is, since I don’t have any rug rats waking me at six in the morning,” Camden said with a laugh. “Oh, this is our friend, Magnolia.”
“Good to meet you, Magnolia. You have a beautiful name,” Brad said, sticking out his hand.
She didn’t know how she did it, but her arm magically lifted and then her fingers were encased in his. “H…hi,” she managed to say without too much of a stutter. She was sitting at the same table with Brad Paisley! She’d just been introduced to him! They’d shaken hands! And everyone was treating it as if it were no big deal.
“Here’s your food, Brad,” Alyssa said, and she handed him a bag.
“Thanks, gorgeous.” The star took the bag and then stood. “Hope to see you boys again soon. You keep promising to come out in the summer.”
“Hey, the invite goes both ways, Brad.” Bryson said.
“Aw, hell, Bryson, your daddy just wants me down here so his ornery horse can buck me off again.”
“Coward,” Camden said with a laugh.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll talk to you soon.”
And then Misty just sat and stared as he walked from the room. She could now die and say she’d lived her dreams.
“Are you still in there, sweetie?” Alyssa asked with a knowing laugh.
“I…wow,” Misty said.
“Don’t worry, darling. I had the same reaction the first dozen times Brad and a few others walked through those doors. Now, I’m used to it. What you have to remember is they’re just like you and me,” she said before pausing. “Okay, maybe not just like us. He does have one killer ass.”
“Thanks, Alyssa,” Bryson practically growled. The last thing he wanted Misty thinking about was another man’s ass.