LUKE'S POV

I woke up the next morning, the sun filtering in through the blinds, shining on me and Karen. I was holding her in my arms, and she was warm. I snuggled into her back and kissed her between the shoulder blades. I felt her stir and smiled.

"Good morning, beautiful," I said softly to her as she rolled over. She smiled at me and yawned.

"You stayed the night?" she asked.

"I did," I told her. When she looked at me confused, I explained "I called Gordon, he said it was okay, since today is just the wrap-up party anyway."

"Okay, I just didn't want you to get in trouble because of me."

"It'd be worth it," I whispered, cupping her face in my hand and leaning down to kiss her. She sighed into my mouth and rubbed my bicep. "Do you want to come to the wrap party with me?" I asked her.

"Sure," she nodded. "As long as it's okay with your manager."

"I'm sure it's fine," I told her, getting up and stretching. "He's pretty chill with everything." We went to the bathroom and took a shower together, trading kisses and scrubbing each other's backs. Karen changed into a loose tshirt and sweatpants, gave me an extra pair she had that were too big, and we laid on the couch, watching movies, until it was time to go to the party. She changed into cut-off shorts and a flowered tank top, and I led her out to the truck.

Once we arrived, Karen looked at me funny.

"I thought you said it was a wrap party?"

"It is," I laughed.

"Then why does it look like one of the parties we used to go to in college?"

"Because I asked them to do it like one," I laughed again. I opened the door and jerked my head out. "Come on, silly." She followed me out, and we greeted my crew. I introduced her to everybody, and she quickly made friends.

"I'm gonna go get a drink, you want anything, darlin'?" I asked her.

"Just a beer, please," she replied. I kissed her temple and nodded, walking over to the kegs and cooler.

"So, what's going on with you two?" Gordon asked, sliding up next to me.

"What do you mean?" I asked, pouring some beer from the keg into a Dixie cup.

"Luke," he started. "Everyone can tell you are head over heels for this girl. You have never treated her like you do Caroline," he said. "Is she the girl you always talk about when you're writing songs?" I looked down at the cup in my hands, nodding. I heard Gordon sigh and looked up. "Then why don't you make this separation from Caroline permanent? Divorce her and be with Karen instead?"

"It's not that easy," I mumbled. "I'll be busy all year, she has her own life…it just wouldn't click. Plus, what would I tell Bo and Tate? That I left their mom to be with the girl I loved before her?"

"Yes, Luke, you do," he said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "They're not old enough to understand now, but when they are, you tell them the truth; that you and Caroline love them very much, but that you just weren't right for each, and you love Karen with your whole heart. She was the girl you always loved." His voice dropped lower, almost to a whisper. "I've seen the look in your eyes when you're writing songs about her. You never stopped loving her. She means more to you than anyone in the world, except maybe your boys." He smiled. "Go, Luke. Be with her. I know you would've been with her from the start if she didn't have to move. Tell her how you feel." I looked back down at the beer cups in my hands, swirling the liquid around. I looked back up at Gordon, smiled, and nodded.

"Thanks, man, I owe you one," I told him.

"Anytime."

I walked back over to where I'd left Karen. She was sitting on someone's tailgate, swinging her legs, lost in thought.

"Hey, pretty lady," I said, jumping up next to her. I handed her her cup, and she smiled at me.

"Thanks."

"So, you got a boyfriend?" I asked, slinging an arm around her. She laughed and shook her head, taking a sip. "What? No way!" I asked in mock disbelief. She laughed again. God, I loved making her laugh. We kept talking and laughing, drinking our beer, when a song came on over the radio that made Karen cut me off midsentence.

"Oh my God! This is my song!" she cried, jumping down. "I've been sitting here all night waiting for them to play it, and here it is!" She started dancing to the beat, shaking her hips and throwing her hands in the air. I just laughed and watched her shake.

"Come here, boy," she laughed, grabbing my hand. "I wanna dance." Before I could say word, she'd yanked me off the tailgate and was spinning me around in a circle with her. We danced together until it faded out, and she leaned in and gave me a big 'ol kiss.

"Play it again!" she cried, shouting at the truck's radio. I laughed and shook my head.

"You're such a goof," I told her, pulling her into my arms and kissing her gently.

We stayed at the party for a few more hours, before she started getting sleepy, and asked me to take her home. I agreed, and after a round of goodbyes, and permission from Gordon to stay with her again, we left.

As we drove, I scanned the radio; every station on AM, FM, XM…you name it, I was scanning it, looking for that damn song. As we pulled into her driveway, I finally found it.

"Oh my God! My song!" she cried, immediately waking up. "We've been listening all night long, and I didn't think they'd play it again, but here it is!" She jumped out of the truck, raced around to my side, and yanked me out. We danced and spun in the headlights, laughing and singing along. When it ended, she gave me another big kiss, laughing.

"Play it again?" I said, grinning at her. She laughed and shook her head.

"I don't know about you, but I'm tired," she said. I shut off the truck and followed her inside, getting ready for bed with her.

"Tomorrow's my last day," I told her, pulling her in to me on the bed and putting my head on her arm, trying to see her face over her back. "You wanna go on a date? Maybe to the pier? They have this big rollercoaster I've been dying to try." She nodded.

"That sounds like fun," she said quietly.

"What's wrong, baby?" I asked her.

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head. "I'm just sleepy." She flicked off the lamp, and we settled into the sheets. "Goodnight, Luke."

"Goodnight, Karen." She quickly fell asleep, but I couldn't help feeling something was off…