Toward the end of the song, Bear and Blair join us. The song ends with just my piano and his voice. The last line of the song, he cracks, and his voice chokes out on a sob. Collins doesn’t hesitate to pull him into her.
Whistles and chants kick up again, all repeating Riley’s name over and over. I round the piano as the four of us surround him, offering our love, our support, and our protection. Tonight was a big, extremely emotional night because not only did he sing, but he played every fucking song to perfection. Not a single misstep. Sure, he had his adaptive grips, but his performance tonight was flawless, just as it always is.
“You did so good, baby.” Collins’ voice is muffled as she shouts her praises into his hair, her poor voice barely carrying over the crowd.
“So fucking good, Sweet Boy. I’m in awe,” I tell him honestly, cupping his face and pressing my forehead against his.
Asher appears with his security team lingering in the background.
“Let’s get you guys freshened up before they start demanding the encore, yeah?”
Blair takes his hand and kisses his knuckles, earning a scowl from him. Asher loves Blair, and I happen to know he’s got plans to propose soon, but teasing him while he’s working is a no-no because he threatened to bend Blair over his knee if he tried anything. Clearly, that backfired on Ash.
We follow the security crew offstage, and the second we disappear, theencorechanting begins. We’ve got minutes before they either start to leave or work themselves into a frenzy.
That time flies, and Collins re-emerges from the dressing room fresh-faced and dressed only in her aerial costume.
“You ready?” I ask her as Riley approaches her from behind and wraps his arms around her middle, dropping a kiss to her temple.
“As I’ll ever be.” She smiles, leaning into Riley.
I note that she’s got a deep blue lipstick on her lips, and I grin at her. “Wanna give me some of that?”
She playfully rolls her eyes, but presses up onto her toes to kiss the corner of my mouth, leaving what I’m sure is a perfect kiss mark behind.
“Thank you,” I murmur as I press my lips against her cheek. “Don’t forget our boy, too.”
She looks at Riley, who’s already looking at her expectantly. This time, she doesn’t hesitate to pepper his face in sweet kisses, thoroughly covering him in her midnight blue lipstick.
“Now we’re ready,” she says with a smirk playing on her lips.
I take her hand and lead her out on the stage, the fans erupting in loud cheers.
She gets her hands into position on the silks and flashes Riley and me a smile that makes me weak in the knees.
“Here we go.”
RILEY
Watching Collins move through her routine is nothing short of a religious experience. I’m so in awe of how she moves as she winds herself up higher and higher. When she drops? The whole world may as well be falling with her. She’s got this allure that keeps all eyes trained on her and only her. She’s fucking incredible.
I can hardly pay attention to what the fuck I’m supposed to be playing when all I want to do is watch her.
She’s inspiring, especially to me. I’m inspiredbyher. She pushes me daily and makes me want to be a better man. A man she deserves. Somebody deserving of Creed, too.
Because once upon a time, a boy fell in love with his best friend and his girlfriend. And for some strange, unknown reason, they loved him right back.
It’s through them that I’ve learned to love others openly and freely but to also love myself. It’s something I never believed I deserved, but Creed and Collins have proven me wrong, time and time again. Every day they wake up, they choose me. So every day that I’m gifted with their presence, I will never take it for granted. I will choose them back. Every time.
I don’t have the energy for another drum solo, so I let the final ring of the cymbals echo around the arena as I watch Collins, completely mesmerized as she wraps and climbs and wraps herself up some more. I’ve watched her practice enough times to know the kind of drop she’s about to pull off. It never fails to send my heart into my throat when she winks at the crowd, tips herself back, and just fucking unravels.
Iknowshe’s got the skill to catch herself every time, but it doesn’t stop me from gripping my hair in silent panic as she catches herself mere inches from the ground. Creed encourages the crowd to go insane for her as she rights herself and steps away from the silks, waving at the crowd with a sweet, watery smile.
They chant her nickname over and over: “Star Girl! Star Girl! Star Girl!”
This girl has become an overnight celebrity. Not just because she’s openly dating two rockstars, but because she’s insanely skilled with every one of her aerial routines. She deserves every bit of the spotlight shining on her.
“Thank you so much for showing us your unconditional love tonight, Charlotte!” Creed yells into his mic, lining up on stage with Bear and Blair in tow. We really couldn’t have asked for a better first night to kick off the tour. “We fucking love you right back, baby!”
