The party bus gradually came to a halt in front of the bustling karaoke bar. As the doors swung open, a lively group of friends stepped out and assembled on the sidewalk, which was soon filled with animated chatter.
"Are you sure you don't want a separate bachelorette party, Isobel? We could go find some Chippendales or something," Rose exclaimed loud enough for everyone to hear.
"No, Rose. That's not my style," Isobel responded while wrapping her arm around Ryder's waist. "I want this night to be with everyone."
Rose glanced between Ryder and Isobel, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Well, what if we just kidnap you and take off?" she suggested, raising her eyebrows playfully. "Wren and the guys can whisk Ryder away somewhere else."
Ryder planted his feet firmly apart and crossed his arms over his chest. Grinning broadly, he replied, "I'd love to see you try."
Wren approached Bella Rose and gently pulled her hand, leading her away from the couple. "I'm not getting into that. Unless you're up to handling Ryder, I'd say we go inside and have a blast."
Bella Rose threw her hands up in surrender. "Fine. Let's go sing," she said, lowering her voice dramatically.
Laughing, Ryder and Isobel headed towards the club's entrance.
In line, Ryder, donning a charcoal slim-fit vest over a silver-grey dress shirt paired with jeans and boots, held Isobel's hands while admiring her outfit. She wore a fitted bright red dress with spaghetti straps and a flared skirt ending just above her knees. Her beige stilettos accentuated her long legs, and loose curls cascaded over her shoulders.
"Have I told you how sexy you look tonight?" he asked.
Isobel giggled, "Yes, multiple times."
"Well, it's true."
"You look amazing too, Ryder. I love this vest on you," she said while running her hands down his chest.
Ryder pulled her close, sliding his hands into her hair before kissing her passionately.
"Seriously, do you two ever stop?" Wren teased as he walked past them into the club.
"Never," Ryder whispered to Isobel as they both laughed and followed him inside.
Fancy appeared beside Isobel and linked arms with her. "We're going to have so much fun tonight, sis."
Isobel squeezed her arm tightly. "Absolutely, Jules. I miss our times together."
"Me, too."
"We'll need to stick to our usual routine."
Fancy chuckled, "Oh, absolutely. Without a doubt."
Isobel leaned in and kissed her sister on the cheek, "I'm so glad you're here."
Fancy rested her head on Isobel's shoulder, "Me, too, sis."
The group found a spacious table in the corner of the room with enough seats for everyone. On the small stage, someone butchered Love Shack off-key as the group placed their drink orders.
Ryder's friends—Walker, Jared, Jason, and Jason's wife Alicia—had joined them for the evening, along with Abby, Beverly, Terry and Sam. Fancy had flown in the day before and planned to spend the next two weeks with her sister to help finalize preparations. Skylar was with Grace and Thomas until a week before the wedding when they would fly in with Bill.
Still stuffed from their earlier dinner, the group ordered a few small appetizers to share as they enjoyed their drinks. The women huddled together discussing final wedding details while the men talked about next weekend's rodeo and speculated on how Ryder and Wren would perform.
"Beverly, your dress is gorgeous," Sam remarked, feeling the fabric of the teal dress along its hem. The print made it appear crocheted with a navy underlay. It ended at thigh length and was sleeveless, hugging Beverly in all the right places—a perfect match for her complexion and long blonde hair.
"Thank you, Sam. Yours is stunning too. Actually, all of you look fantastic tonight."
Sam's black dress ended just above her knees; it featured sheer off-the-shoulder sleeves that flared at the cuffs with ruffles around her wrists. A belt made of large copper circles accentuated her tiny waist paired with her cowboy boots.
Alicia's navy dress, Abby's black dress, and Fancy's pink dress all landed mid-thigh paired with high heels. Rose's black dress was snug fitting with one long sleeve and an off-the-shoulder style on one side. She wore a low-slung brown belt and matching brown cowboy boots.
After several more people had their turn at the mic, Ryder and Wren stepped up and waited for their music cue. Ryder gave Wren a playful shove on the shoulder and nodded slightly towards him. He glanced over at Terry, Jared, Jason and Walker giving them a subtle nod as well. Isobel noticed this interaction with a puzzled look. Ryder caught this change in her expression and couldn't help but grin; he winked at her.
As the music started up, Ryder and Wren stood together on the small stage and began belting out lyrics to a familiar Train song.
"Forever can never be long enough for me
To feel like I've had long enough with you"
Ryder looked at Isobel and winked again. The loud hum of voices began to quiet slightly at the sound of Ryder and Wren's voices.
"Forget the world now, we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do
Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Say you will"
Ryder and Wren descended from the small stage, striding confidently toward the girls. Terry, Jared, Walker, and Jason soon joined them on the dance floor, flanking Ryder on both sides, and started harmonizing with them. The murmur of conversation in the club faded into silence, leaving only the captivating blend of music and voices resonating through the air.
"Together can never be close enough for me
To feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you
And you're beautiful
Now that the wait is over
And love and has finally showed her my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Say you will"
Ryder and Jason stepped aside, making way for Wren to advance to the front. Standing directly in front of Bella Rose, he kept singing as the others gradually quieted down.
"Promise me you'll always be
Happy by my side
I promise to sing to you
When all the music dies
And marry me
Today and everyday
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Say you will"
He swiftly dropped to one knee, singing the final words and revealing an open box with a stunning engagement ring inside. Gasps echoed through the club.
"Marry me," he concluded his song as Bella Rose, tears streaming down her face, brought her hand to her mouth in astonishment.
"I love you, Rose. You are the greatest blessing in my life. Before you, I never thought I'd want to settle down, but now I can't imagine anything else. Will you marry me?"
"Yes!" Bella Rose cried out, collapsing to the floor with Wren and throwing her arms around his neck.
When she finally pulled back, Wren slipped the ring onto her finger, then cupped her face and kissed her passionately.
"Get a room!" Ryder shouted, laughing.
By now, the entire club was clapping, whistling, and cheering as Wren stood up and pulled Bella Rose along with him. Isobel jumped up and embraced Rose tightly.
"Did you know about this?" Rose asked her.
"No clue at all."
Sierra and the other ladies gathered around them, admiring Rose's ring and offering hugs to both her and Wren. Ryder shook Wren's hand heartily and patted him on the back, along with the other guys.
"That went flawlessly."
"It sure did. Thanks for everything, Ryder." Wren turned to the others. "And thank you all as well. I couldn't have done it without each of you."
Bella Rose pushed through the circle of men and leapt into Wren's arms, kissing him passionately.
"This was so perfect, Wren. I love you beyond words."
Wren lifted her off the ground and spun her around before gently setting her down and kissing her again. "I love you too," he said before sending her into a playful dance spin. She twirled back into his embrace, laughing as they began dancing to the music now playing over the speakers. Wren tenderly kissed Bella Rose's neck and trailed kisses across her cheek to her lips. Bella Rose moved her hands behind Wren's head, deepening their kiss. A few couples joined them on the dance floor as one slow song melded into another.
Several more people took turns performing various karaoke songs; some were great, others... not so much. Ryder, Terry, and Wren sang Friends in Low Places together. Midway through, Ryder invited Jason, Walker, and Jared to join them on stage. They finished out the song with half the club singing along.
The night buzzed on with laughter, drinks flowing freely, and songs filling the air. Ryder and Isobel performed a heartfelt duet of I Need You; Isobel and Bella Rose sang Only Prettier amid fits of laughter; Isobel and Fancy delivered their signature rendition of I Will Survive complete with disco moves.
Isobel, Fancy, Rose, and the other ladies eagerly took the stage and performed "All The Single Ladies." By the time they hit the final notes, nearly every woman in the club had joined them at the front, singing along with enthusiasm. As Isobel and her friends stepped down, they were laughing so hard that tears streamed down their faces.
The guys then reclaimed the stage to perform "You've Lost That Loving Feeling," and almost instantly, most of the club chimed in as soon as the song started.
The DJ would periodically pause karaoke to spin a few tunes, and each time he did, the dance floor would come alive with couples swaying to slow ballads.
Ryder delicately lifted Isobel's right hand with his left while his right arm secured her waist. He guided her gracefully across the floor in a two-step, teaching her as they moved together to "Only You Can Love Me This Way."
Well, I know there's a reason
And I know there's a rhyme
We were meant to be together
And that's why
We can roll with the punches
We can stroll hand in hand
And when I say it's forever
You understand
Ryder let her hand slip away, then wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tightly against him. He rested his head on hers, their cheeks touching, breathing in the sweet scent of her perfume and shampoo as they gently swayed together.
That you're always in my heart
You're always on my mind
But when it all becomes too much
You're never far behind
And there's no one
That comes close to you
Could ever take your place
'Cause only you can love me this way
Isobel's arms cinched tightly behind Ryder's neck, drawing her body even closer against his. Ryder mirrored her intensity, encircling her with a firm embrace and letting his lips graze the delicate skin of her neck.
I could have turned a different corner
I could have gone another place
Then I'd of never had this feelin'
That I feel today, yeah
And you're always in my heart
Always on my mind
When it all becomes too much
You're never far behind
Ryder's lips found hers, their mouths melding as they kissed passionately, getting lost in each other while they swayed to the rhythm of the music.
And there's no one
That comes close to you
Could ever take your place
'Cause only you can love me this way
And you're always in my heart
You're always on my mind
And when it all becomes too much
You're never far behind
And there's no one
That comes close to you
Could ever take your place
'Cause only you can love me this way
Only you can love me this way
Ryder pulled back, his hands moving to cradle the sides of her face. Gently, he pushed her hair back and brushed his thumbs across her cheeks. "I love you so much, Isobel."
"I love you too, Ryder." Isobel's hands roamed across his face.
Feeling the stubble on his cheek, Ryder scratched it. "I know, I need to shave. Sorry I didn't before tonight."
"No, Ryder. Don't. I love it just like this." Isobel smiled warmly.
"Alright then, I'll keep it." He bent down to kiss her before leading her off the dance floor and back to their table.
Walker stood up, extending a hand to Beverly, "May I have this dance?"
Beverly grinned as she placed her hand in his. They joined the other couples—Rose and Wren, Abby and Jared, Jason and Alicia—already on the dance floor.
"We're so glad you could come early, Fancy," Sam said, leaning forward so she could be heard over the music.
"Oh, me too. I've had so much fun. I wish Bill could've made it too, but he had to work. He'll be here next weekend."
"Looking forward to finally meeting him," Ryder said as he joined the conversation.
"He is too," Fancy replied with a smile.
Isobel nestled into Ryder's side, his arm around her as they whispered to each other. Their friends were engrossed in their own conversations as upbeat dance songs played in the background. When a slow song began, Terry stood up and extended a hand to Fancy, inviting her to dance. They moved onto the floor where Terry taught her to 2-step.
With her head resting on Ryder's shoulder, Isobel watched her sister master the dance movements. Ryder's hand caressed Isobel's arm as they both observed Terry and Fancy.
As the night wound down, everyone boarded the party bus that would take them home. As the bus rolled away from the curb, conversations softened as each house was reached and friends were dropped off one by one. When only Ryder, Isobel, and Fancy remained, the bus stopped in front of Isobel's townhouse. Fancy stepped off and unlocked the front door with keys that Isobel had just handed to her.
Ryder stood up and followed Isobel toward the front of the bus. He grabbed her hand and twirled her around until their lips met passionately. His hands slid up her back and into her hair as he pulled her as close as possible for a deep kiss.
When they finally parted for air, both gasped for breath.
"What was that for?" she asked between breaths.
"Because I'm barely going to see you these next two weeks with family everywhere. I wanted this one last moment alone with you before you become Mrs. Hayes."
"I love the sound of that," Isobel said as she leaned in for another kiss just as intense as before.