Enzo smirks, his tone teasing but warm. “Told you. We’ve still got it.”
I sling an arm around Jax, grinning. “Looks like we’re back, baby.”
Lily walks in, returning from a conversation with a stagehand that pulled her away from the wings right as the show ended. Her face glows with pride. She sits besideJax, placing a gentle hand on his arm. “You did it,” she says softly. “You were incredible.”
Jax looks at her, gratitude shining in his eyes. “I wouldn’t have made it here without you guys.”
I exchange glances with Marcus and Enzo, an unspoken understanding passing between us. It’s been a hell of a journey, but tonight, it feels like we’ve found our footing again.
“We’re back,” I repeat, the grin still plastered on my face. And when I say it, I truly believe it.
CHAPTER 29
VULNERABLE MOMENTS
LILY
The van jerksslightly as we pull away from the venue, the buzz of the show still alive in the air around us. Adrenaline hums in my veins, a lingering echo of the electric energy from the show. It feels like a part of me is still out there with the roaring crowd, watching the band perform on stage and being sucked into the music along with them.
I glance across the van to Jax, silhouetted in the faint glow of the interior lights. His posture appears relaxed, his shoulders slouching, and his legs stretched out, but his restless fingers betray him, tapping an unsteady pattern on his knee. His green eyes dart toward the window, his reflection barely visible in the darkened glass. When our gazes meet, I offer him a soft smile. He mirrors it briefly, but there’s a weight in his expression, a shadow he can’t quite shake.
My eyes move to scan the rest of the band. Marcus leans back in his seat, a small grin tugging at his lips as he gazes out the window. Enzo is slumped against the side ofthe van, his arms crossed, his eyes already half-closed. Dylan hums softly, tapping out a light rhythm against his thigh, though even his usual energy feels dimmed.
When we finally pull up to the bus, the night feels heavier, but not necessarily in a negative way. The rush from earlier fades into a quieter kind of calm.
Marcus wraps an arm around my shoulder as we climb out, his grin still lingering. “Hell of a show,” he says, his voice low but warm.
I nod, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “Yeah. You guys looked great out there.”
We remain connected as we climb up into the bus, with the rest of the guys filtering in behind us.
Unlike in the past, everyone goes into a quiet night time routine by themselves. Enzo heads straight for his bunk without a word, Jax plops onto the couch, and Dylan makes a joke about how he could eat a full breakfast before disappearing into the kitchen. Marcus lingers with me for a moment, stretching before finally heading to unload his gear from his backpack.
I slip into my bunk, the familiar tiny space providing a strange kind of comfort. I’m barely settled when I hear the soft rustle of fabric near my curtain. It slides back, revealing Jax standing there, his silhouette backlit by the faint glow from the hallway.
“Hey,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough.
“Hey,” I reply, shifting to make room for him.
Without hesitation, he climbs in beside me, the small space forcing us close. He tugs the curtain back closed as he settles in. His body is warm against mine, but even in the dark, I can feel the anxiety and stress radiating off of him.
His lips find mine in a kiss that’s soft at first, hesitant, but it deepens quickly, his desperation bleeding through. His hands settle on my waist, gripping tightly as if he’s afraid I might slip away.
The kiss is hungry, his need pouring into every movement, but underneath it all, I can sense his fear.
When he pulls back, his breath is unsteady, his forehead resting against mine. “What if I can’t do this anymore?” he whispers, his voice cracking with the weight of the question.
I brush a strand of damp hair from his forehead, my fingers lingering against his skin. “Jax, you can. You’re already doing it. Tonight, you were incredible.”
He scoffs softly, his head turning slightly, but I don’t let him retreat. My hands cradle his face, forcing him to meet my gaze.
“You were,” I insist. “You have no idea how much strength you have. But you don’t have to do it alone. You’ve got all of us. Just like we’ve got you.”
His green eyes glisten in the faint light, the vulnerability there raw and unguarded. “What if I fall again?” he asks, his voice barely audible.
“Then we’ll be here to catch you,” I whisper. “You don’t have to carry this by yourself.”
He exhales shakily, his body sagging slightly against mine as if he’s been holding everything in for far too long. “I’m so scared, Lily,” he admits, the words barely more than a breath.
