Holy freaking shit, I actually won.
Being nominated felt like a dream, but winning? That’s something else entirely.
Tears blur my vision as Titan, Everleigh, and every member of Paradox of You pull me into tight hugs before I head for the stage.
I grip the glass trophy, its weight grounding me as I stand behind the podium.
“Thanks for this,” I start awkwardly, waving the trophy in the air.
The crowd titters, and I pull in a deep breath. “This has been a dream of mine since the moment I started putting my words to paper. When I wrote Not Your Just Because, I was in a dark place and was searching for a way to bleed the pain from inside me.” I let out a low laugh. “Everyone knows the pain of heartbreak produces the best lyrics.” The crowd murmurs their agreement, and I continue. “So, I cut myself open and drained the agony living inside me. I never planned on sharing it with the world. Why would anyone want people to bear witness to their misery?” My eyes find Everleigh’s, and I smile. “But then my best friend encouraged me, telling me it’d be a disgrace not to share the song with the world. She believed there would be people who needed to hear what I had to say.” This time, I find Blue in the crowd. “I’m not a singer. It’s not something I’m comfortable with or ever wanted to do, so when I chose to sell, I began making a list of people who could do my words justice. There were so many of you who made that list. However, Paradox of You hadthe tone I envisioned for the song, so I contacted Blue and Lynx about it. They sent me a demo of them singing it, and I knew I’d made the right choice by sharing my pain with the band. So, my biggest thanks go to you, Everleigh, for encouraging me to share. I probably never would have without you. Blue, Lynx, Ziggy, Fender, Bowie, Jethro, and Presley—thank you all for allowing me to have input on the track so we could make sure it’d be the hit we all knew it would be.” I smile widely at the crowd. “And a hit it has been. Number one on the Indie-Rock charts six weeks in a row. Thank you to everyone who voted, listened, and loved Paradox of You and their song Not Your Just Because.”
As the crowd’s roar washes over me, tears threaten to spill. Just as I turn to leave, a mischievous idea sparks, and I dart back to the mic.
“Oh, and thank you to the person behind the reason for the lyrics. Without you being an insufferable dick, I wouldn’t have had the inspiration to write Paradox of You a number one hit.”
I stride off the stage, head held high and a grin lighting up my face.
But then, someone catches my eye.
I stumble, my eyes frantically searching through the pile of bodies for Alek.
He was just right there.
Right?
The crowd engulfs me, and I can’t help but let out a rueful laugh.
He doesn’t even know this part of my life.
He Can Still Surprise Me
Hayvin
Theafter-partywasabsolutelyelectric, and my body still buzzed from the whirlwind of drinks and wild dancing with Titan, Everleigh, and Blue.
It was the most fun I’ve had in ages. Aside from that fleeting second when I thought I spotted Alek in the awards show crowd, he barely flickered across my thoughts.
Now that I’m finally home, all I want is to slip inside and melt into my bed.
As I fumble with my keys, a burst of color snags my attention, pulling my gaze to the side.
A bouquet sits on the table beside my porch swing, with a white card leaning against the vase.
Titan lingers by the limo, making sure I’m safe, but I wave him away and drift toward the beautiful flowers.
My fingers tremble as I reach for the vase and the card propped against it.
“Night,” I call out distractedly, heading inside with my gift.
I can’t tear my eyes from the flowers. Only one person would send these, but why tonight, of all nights?
I set them on the counter and instinctively step back, half-expecting them to leap out and sting me.
And maybe, in their own way, they could.
My stomach churns with the certainty that this bouquet and its card are about to unravel truths I thought I knew.
I chew on my thumb, pacing in front of the flowers and card, unable to look away for even a second.
