They play through the first few songs seamlessly; the audience feeding off their energy, chanting and screaming along. Then it happens. We reach the part of the show that we’ve been talking about for weeks. Going back and forth until we finally were able to convince the label to let us try.
Jax turns toward me, his voice booming through the speakers. “Lily!” he calls, holding out a hand. “Get out here!”
Down below the stage, the audience goes wild. They’re chanting my name before I’ve even stepped forward. My heart pounds as I take a steadying breath, my feet carrying me into the spotlight. The lights are debilitating at first,completely eliminating my vision, but then I see them—the thousands of fans, hands raised, voices screaming.
I take Jax’s hand, and together we dive into one of the new songs. One that we wrote together at The Ranch. The music pours out of me, every note, every lyric a piece of my soul laid bare. The crowd feels it too; I see it in the way they move, the way they scream the words back at the stage.
Marcus’s guitar slices through the air, Dylan’s drums thunder like a heartbeat, and Enzo’s bass line rumbles low and steady, tying it all together. It’s perfect chaos, and I’m part of it now.
When the song ends, a silence lingers over the venue until the very last notes fade away. Then the screaming starts back up with more enthusiasm than I ever expected. My chest heaves, my voice raw, but I can’t stop smiling.
“You guys are amazing!” I shout into the mic, waving at the sea of faces. “Thank you!”
Jax grins at me, his eyes sparkling under the stage lights. He leans into the mic, his voice teasing. “Told you they’d love you.”
I laugh, waving him off with a massive grin, and stepping back as the band takes over again. I retreat offstage, my heart racing, my chest full of something I can only describe as pride. I feel like I belong—here, with them, in the music.
The band finishes their set with explosive bang, leaving the crowd begging for more. Back in the dressing room, the air buzzes with post-show adrenaline.
“That was insane,” Dylan says, his grin wide as he collapses onto the couch.
Jax slings an arm around my shoulders, his touch light but meaningful. “You killed it out there, Lily. Told you.”
I laugh, shaking my head as I sink into the couch beside him. “It’s all you guys. I’m just lucky to be part of it. Thank you for letting me sing tonight.”
Marcus looks up from his guitar, his smile small but genuine. “We’re lucky to have you.”
CHAPTER 36
A NEW BEGINNING
MARCUS
I wakeup with Lily curled against me, her blonde hair spilling across the pillow in soft waves. For a moment, I just watch her. Her face is peaceful, unburdened in sleep, and it’s like the rest of the world fades away. Her breathing is steady, her lips slightly parted.
Unable to help myself, I reach out and brush a strand of hair from her face, letting my fingers graze her cheek. Her skin is warm, soft, and she stirs slightly, blinking her blue eyes open. When she sees me, a sleepy smile tugs at her lips, and the sight of it makes the world feel just a little bit brighter.
“Morning,” she whispers, her voice thick with sleep.
“Morning,” I reply, my hand settling lightly on her back. “Sleep well?”
She stretches lazily, her body warm against mine. “Better than I have in a long time. How about you?”
“Same,” I admit, a grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. There’s something about waking up with her that feels so natural, so right.
She rolls onto her back, staring at the ceiling for a moment before turning her head to look at me. “We should probably get up. The others are probably already awake.”
I chuckle, leaning closer. “Let them wait a little longer.”
Lily laughs, the sound soft and musical, before she pushes herself up, sitting at the edge of the bed. Her movements are slow, deliberate, like she’s as reluctant to leave the quiet moment as much as I am.
I wrap an arm around her, pulling her back into bed and rolling her beneath me, my elbows braced on either side of her head. Her grin widens, her blue eyes sparkling with warmth and mischief as she looks up at me. I lean down, capturing her lips in a soft kiss, my tongue brushing teasingly against the seam of her mouth until she parts for me, welcoming the gentle intrusion.
We linger like this, exchanging slow, tender kisses, her hands tracing idle patterns along my back. My world becomes just the two of us wrapped in the quiet intimacy of the moment. But eventually, the muffled sounds from the main area of the bus—laughter, clinking dishes, and Dylan’s unmistakable laughter—grow louder, breaking through our bubble of peace.
I pull back with a reluctant sigh, resting my forehead against hers. “Looks like the circus is awake,” I murmur, earning a soft laugh from her.
We drag ourselves out of bed and into the common area of the bus. The smell of coffee hits me immediately, rich and inviting, and I follow it to find Dylan at the stove, flipping pancakes with surprising focus. Enzo and Jax are already at the table, cups of coffee in hand.
