“It wasn’t a battle I was going to win,” she tells me dryly.
“That’s not the point. You weren’t the same defeated woman we brought home from River City. You were strong and resilient and refused to back down.Do you feel weak now?”
“No,” she admits.
“The only person in this room right now that is weak, baby, is me. You’ve brought me to my knees. Figuratively and literally. You? You’ve begun to pick up the pieces and put them back together.”
“Because of you and Lyra,” she confesses.
“Then why the fuck would you think leaving is the best option?” I spin her around to face me, no longer being gentle. She’s notfragile, not anymore. I should’ve never treated her that way.
I lower my mouth to hers, kissing her like I haven’t seen her in years. Kissing her like this is the last kiss I will ever get.It only takes a second for her to respond, her tongue tangling with mine.I slide my hands down her body, gripping the back of her thighs. I lift her, setting her on the bathroom counter. Our hands are tangled in each other’s hairand clothes in a feverish demand.
High pitch crying has us both pulling away with a pant.
“We should check on her,” Cara tells me.
“We should,” I nod. I pull her with me back into the bedroom.
My little munchkin sits in the middle of the bed, herface wet with tears. We each climb in on either side of her.She quickly climbs into Cara’s lap.I pull them both into mine.“What’s wrong, princess?” I ask her.
“I’s not know where you was,” she tells us both.
Cara and I lock eyes.Looks like my little girl is the one who’s been the most affected. In my stupidity, I just assumed she’d bounce right back like nothing happened.
“I – uh – I think maybe we all need to talk to that therapist of yours,” I tell Cara.
Her eyes are wet again as well. “I’ll call him this afternoon.”
“Cara, not yeave me,” she mumbles into Cara’s chest.
Shockregisters on her face before absolute adoration. Her tears spill over her lashes.“I’m not going anywhere, pretty girl. I’m here forever.”
My spirit flies with the words from her lips. Words she says to my little girlbut tells me with her eyes.
Forever.
That’s good because that’s exactly how long I plan on keeping her.
Epilogue
Cara
I watch as the guys all make their way to the stage.Excitement and pride flood down to my marrow as they accept their awards. Awards theyhave earned and deserve.
Best RockAlbum? Check. Best Rock Performance? Check.Album of the freaking Year? Big fat check.
All the guys stand on the stage with wide grins. Except for Angel, who’s back inNew York with Josephine and their brand new baby boy for the next few weeks before he hits the road with the band again.Good thing they always seem to have a backup member these days.
Their two-month world tour has been extended to include Canada, Australia,and the U.S.They’ve been on the road for seven months with seemingly no end in sight.They don’t seem like they’re ready to slow down either.
I’ve been in nearly every state and every country these last few months.It’s been an amazing experience. But more amazing is how much more I love Lyra and Jake every day. It hasn’t been easy by a long shot.
After everything happened,my nightmares stopped. Once the initial shock wore off, I knew what happened wasn’t my fault.I also found myself thinking that the whole thing was my redemption for Chicago. Idid everything in my power to keep Lyra safe. I would’ve died to keep her safe.
But Lyra’s nightmares started. Every night for weeks, she’d wake up screaming. Every night Jake or I would sing her back to sleep. She’s been sleeping with us for weeks.
We tried over-the-phone and video chat therapy with my therapist, but she needed more. After a recommendation from my therapist, Jake hiredsomeone to come on tour with us for Lyra. She’s been traveling with us for five months and really seems to help Lyra.She’s insistent that Lyra sleep in her own bed, but neither Jake nor myself are quite there yet.
