I fucking love it. Of course I do. My stomach’s been in knots the whole damn day, wrecked by the thought of seeing him again. Not just because of what he did to me, or how I’d react, because I’m riled up enough that I know I’d do something. But I’m afraid of how Ty would react.
He’s my warm, gentle soul. But the fire in his eyes when I told him what happened?That blaze hasn’t left since. That’s Quarterback Ty. That’s Ty who’s cool, focused, composed. The Ty with a drive the size of a damn stadium, who doesn’t just play to win the game, heexpectsto annihilate it. The Ty who backs histeam, what he believes in, no matter the stakes. And right now, that team is me.
But so far, so good.
At least Mick’s not fucking with my head right before I have to go on. And since this is the last one, the last show of the tour, I want to make it a good one. Scratch that, I want to make it fucking unforgettable.
When our cue comes and I step onto that stage, the music wraps around me like a second skin. It envelops me, seeps into my bones, right down to my very core. I close my eyes and let it take me, consume me like it always does. Let it burn away the anger and the sorrow. Let it push out every last ounce of shame and rage andwrongthat’s been clinging to me like fucking velcro.
Music is freedom.
Music is healing.
Music ismine.
And tonight? Tonight, I bring the goddamn house down.Webring the goddamn house down.
I don’t know if it’s some big assfuck youto Mick, to the label, to every asshole who tried to control us, silence us, shape us into something we’re not. Or if it’s the fact that our friends are in the wings, cheering us on, grins wide, eyes excited.
Or maybe it’s Tyler. His steady presence is like a tether that keeps me elevated. The magic that ishimis feeding mine, lifting me without even trying.
But shit, whatever it is… We’ve never played like this before. Not this fierce. Not this free. Not this fuckingalive. Iknowwe’re good. Hell, there’s a reason we’re at the top of the charts. I’m no fool, and I’ve got enough fucking confidence to own that fact. I don’t consider it arrogance when it’s the cold, hard truth.
But something’s different tonight. Every tone lands. Every harmony tightens at exactly the right spot. We put soul in it.Survival. This isn’t just a set, it’s a fight, us proving to the damn label, toourselves.That we’re ready. That what’s coming, that when we’re out there on our own, it’s going to be bigger, louder,ours.
When I catch Tyler’s gaze across the stage during the final song of our set, everything else fades. I sing for him. For the months we missed. The endless ache. The quiet hope that everything will be alright as long as we’re together. For my heart, my world, myeverything.
And his answering grin, so wide I can see the dimples all the way from here, is all I ever need, always.
When we get off, the thunderous applause ringing in my ears, our friends are all over us. Hugs. Shouts. Hands clapping our backs, laughter and so much fucking joy I can’t imagine ever being down again.
I don’t check it when Six of Hearts takes the stage. I don’t need to. All I care about is that the tour manager had the good sense to keep them on the other side of the wings, far from us.
No drama with a forced encounter. Just some much-needed space.
And fuck it, all I see is Tyler, anyway. His smile. The excitement and pride shining in his eyes. I step into him, pushing him back a couple of steps until we’re neatly tucked out of sight from the audience behind one of the massive speakers. Just us.
Well, us and our friends who show up a second later, because that’s what they do.
“Jacie, you were amazing,” Ty muses, ignoring them, pressing his forehead to mine. “Sometimes I hate I have to share you with the world. But when I see you like this, in your element… I guess that’s selfish of me.” His fingers slip into the damp hair at the nape of my neck, grounding me, letting the adrenaline of the show settle. “I swear it, Jace, this thing you have, this talent. It’sso raw and pure. Youhaveto be shared. You’re too magical to be contained.”
“Shit,” that bastard Lam says, interrupting a fucking amazing moment,mymoment. “Isogot a stiffy from that. And it wasn’t because of Missy’s tight pants. No offense, babes.”
Missy snorts, wiping sweat from her neck with a towel a roadie just tossed her. “None taken.”
“So… dick does it for you now, then?” Tuck grins, tossing the comment toward Lamar, and I catch that glint in his eyes. It’s the same one he used to giveme, a long time ago.
“Still not entirely sure,” Lam answers, his big dark eyes now focused on Tuck. “It’s not like I haven’t thought—”
I wince as Six of Hearts launches into their first song, the bass drop drowning him out. But I don’t look at the stage. No, I watch the way Tuck leans in and says something to Lamar. Something I can’t hear. How Lam grins down at him, his big hand finding Tuck’s back like it’s instinct...
I watch how his expression morphs into something very Lamar-like. That look we all know and fear, the one that means something is brewing in that squirrel brain of his. The kind of look that—
Lamar kisses Tuck. Right on the fucking mouth.
My mouth fucking drops. Eyes wide. What the—
They take less than a second before Lam’s hand tangles in Tuck’s unruly blonde hair, and Tuck—Jesus—Tuck fucking grabs Lam’s ass and yanks him closer like they’ve been waiting for this moment since for-fucking-ever.
