He grins at me through the mirror. "Well, Clara. Ready to wow the masses?"
I laugh under my breath. "I think I'm going to throw up."
"Perfect," he says brightly. "Means you'll do great."
I shake my head. "How about you? Nervous?"
"Extremely," he says. "Which is why I'm hiding beside you. Your presence is very soothing to my fragile performer soul."
I snort. "Liar."
"Okay, fine," he admits. "Your presence is soothing AND you look adorable, so at least if I die onstage tonight, my final vision will be pleasant."
I swat his arm. "Adam!"
"But seriously... all jokes aside?" Adam says, voice dropping into something real. "You're going to be remarkable tonight. The audience has no idea what they're about to witness. You're a star, Care. Always have been. And by the end of the showcase"—he flashes me that signature, unfairly charming grin—"they will all be on their feet, giving you a full standing ovation."
"We'regonna get the standing ovation," I correct him gently. "All of us."
His expression softens.
"Besides," I add, nudging him lightly, "youneedthe applause to live. It keeps your ego hydrated."
That earns me a wide grin.
"True," he says, nodding with that slow, satisfied look — eyes dipping closed for half a second like he's soaking it in. "You know me well."
Awhile later, the noise backstage starts to swallow the air. People rushing by. Callahan barking final reminders. Someone losing part of their costume. It's suddenly too much.
I slip out the side door into the quieter hallway.
For a second, I just stand there... then the nerves punch right back into my chest.
My heart is thudding so hard it feels like it's trying to stage-dive out of my ribcage.
I start pacing without meaning to — small steps at first, then longer ones, back and forth across the empty corridor. My palms are sweating. My stomach is flipping. I can literally hear my pulse in my ears.
I breathe in. And out.
"You can do this," I whisper, rubbing a hand over my sternum like I can calm the panic with pressure. "You can do this, Caroline. Come on. You've got this. You can—"
"Of course you can."
My whole body reacts instantly.
The tight knot between my shoulders eases, like someone finally loosened a too-tight drawstring.
That frantic, jittery beat in my chest drops into something calmer — not perfect, but no longer trying to punch its way out of me.
It's ridiculous how fast one voice can cut through the noise in my head.
I don't need to turn around.
I'd know him anywhere.
A soft smile touches my lips just before I feel him — two strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back against a familiar chest.
Zach.
