“I know.”
“Quentin, I do want you in my life. You are the best man I think I’ve ever known—and you taught me so much about myself and how to express what’s inside in a way that talks to the people who love my music. And you fucking get me. Nobody else has seen inside me like you do. But here’s the deal: when you promise something to me, you need to figure out how to make it happen. You need to dig deep to fulfill your word. I’ve had way too many people promise and not deliver—but at least I knew not to trust them in the first place. You, though, I put my trust in you—and if we move forward from here, I have to know that you will do what you say. Don’t make a promise you can’t keep.”
Quentin nodded, his dark eyes shining. “I can do that.”
Leaning over, Raine touched her forehead to his, and he placed his hand on her cheek. Tilting her head into it, she closed her eyes, relishing the warmth of his hand…and of his promise. Whoever had been the Quentin she’d met last year in Joshua Tree was not the same man sitting in front of her today in a quiet dressing room in L.A. This man was a newer version, one worthy of her love.
When she opened her eyes, he was looking at her with tenderness and adoration, and she felt her entire body relax, knowing they were meant to be together. Quentin moved his head slightly, brushing her lips with his, and she kissed him back, knowing that they would move forward together.
After they kissed, they kept their foreheads together, gazing into each other’s eyes. Finally, Raine sat up and took a drink from her water bottle. “So here’s the deal. I keep putting off the label, because they really want me to do another leg of this tour. I didn’t want to, because every time I sing those songs, I think of you. Now, though…maybe I could do it.”
“I don’t want to tell you what to do, but I think it would be a smart idea to continue supporting this album. It has a lot more life in it, and you’ve barely scratched the surface. Would you…want me to go with you?”
Raine couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face. “I would love that—but ‘Last Chance’ has to be a duet from now on. You know that, don’t you?”
Quentin chuckled. “Yeah, I guess I do. And I’ll do anything else you want me to.” Stroking her cheek again, he said, “I promise.”
Putting down her water bottle, Raine put her hands in his. She was choosing this man to be by her side…because he had finally earned it.
Epilogue
One year later
* * *
Raine woke up to the sun shining inside the sliding glass door windows that led to the balcony. Getting up, she pulled on a light robe and walked over to the door, sliding it open and stepping outside to take a deep breath of the fresh, clean air. It was already warm but she knew it would get into the nineties as the sun made its way higher in the sky.
When she’d first come here almost two years earlier, she’d hated it—the stark landscape, the strangely shaped Joshua Trees, the rocks and dirt and unforgiving feel of it all. Now, though, she had grown to love it, especially because it reminded her of both herself and Quentin. She’d grown here, found her true voice and figured out how to be who she wanted to be in this world. And then both she and Quentin, how they’d been closed off, hiding their real selves from the world and each other…but, out here, together, it felt almost impossible.
Heading back in the room, she closed the door. Then she took a shower and got dressed. Leaving the bedroom, she planned to head to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, knowing Quentin would have already made a pot—but the lights were on in the studio, so she walked in there. Quentin was at the computer in the control room, so she approached, knocking softly on the open door.
“Hey,” he said, turning.
“Hey, baby,” Raine said, crossing the space and giving him a kiss. “What’s up?”
“Just getting ready for Sam Munroe.”
“He’s coming today, right?”
“Yeah.”
Raine pulled up a chair. “Tell me about him.”
“Not much to tell. Crushed Velvet heard his demo and wanted him to take it up a notch—but they know they’ve got a hit on their hands.”
“What do you need me to do today?”
“Let’s play it by ear—but I’ll definitely need your help.”
Raine smiled, happy to do just that. After the tour had ended at the end of last summer, she’d moved from L.A. into Quentin’s place—and he’d invited her to share his vision in his studio. And she was so proud of him. After everything that had happened, it seemed like maybe the world was ready to forgive him for his past transgressions and move on.
Since then, they’d worked with several new artists together, including Sam Munroe, a twenty-something musician working on his debut album, who would be arriving that afternoon. They mentored them, helping them find the truth in themselves to share with the world. And, while Raine had no intention of hanging up her own performer hat, this aspect of her life fulfilled her in ways she never would have imagined. And she also discovered that working with other artists inspired her own work.
When Raine got up, Quentin did as well, pulling her into another kiss. Then, before he let her go, he playfully squeezed her ass. Laughing, she said, “I need to go get a cup of coffee—you’re clearly more awake than I am.” But, before she left, she gave him another quick kiss and squeezed his butt in good-humored retaliation.
Later that day when Sam arrived, both she and Quentin gave him the short and quick tour of the house, offering him the same bedroom downstairs where she’d stayed when recording her third album with Quentin. This kid didn’t have an attitude like Raine had—in fact, he was the exact opposite: shy, quiet, unassuming. Both she and Quentin would want to give him a few tips for how to survive the industry.
Quentin took him to the studio while Raine tossed a salad in the kitchen and assembled a sandwich tray. The plan was that they would eat lunch and then start working right after. When she headed back to the studio to announce that lunch was ready, she paused just outside, overhearing a snippet of their conversation.
