I’d gotten my own test done, which the police had suggested I do, about whether or not I was related to the Rhodes family for myself. Lafayette had been surprisingly cooperative from his jail cell to offer his own sample. And, officially, I really was the long lost Rhodes sibling. Technically only a half-sibling, but a “member” of the family nonetheless. Regardless of what the test results confirmed, I wasn’t a Rhodes. Not really. I’d been raised as the son of James Finneson, and I remained the son of James Finneson.
Thankfully, my entire week off from tour hadn’t been completely spent dealing with the incident at my house in Nashville and getting DNA tests done. As soon as we’d beencleared by the cops, we’d flown back to Phoebe. I was a little shocked, but grateful, that Xoah was still agreeing to fly us for the entirety of the tour. I had two more days in Phoebe before the next tour stop, and I was putting them to great use.
“So,” Kit asked, turning on his heels to face Van and I, the white-grey of the floor’s finish coming back into view from my obscured thoughts. “What do you think?”
We were walking through the property Kit had mentioned previously, the one in Phoebe that he thought I might be interested in that I’d promised to walk before hopping back on tour. And wow, was I glad I had stuck to my word and let Kit show me the place.
It was considerably bigger than my house in Nashville, which I was already planning on selling, just because I couldn’t not think of what had happened there now. This place had the four bedrooms like the place in Nashville, but this one had four bathrooms instead of three. Not only that, but this one had a tightly insulated wine cellar that I was already picturing as the perfect space to convert into an at home studio.
“You weren’t kidding,” I finally spat back with a smile, enjoying the open foyer that was adorned with a solid black chandelier and a dark green and silver wallpaper that fit Phoebe’s horror aesthetic perfectly, little embossed figures of demons and gargoyles repeating along the walls as they were intermixed by star and triquetra symbols. “This house is absolutely incredible.”
“It’s huge.” Van mentioned from my side, being ever the supportive bodyguard. He hated been in work mode lately, because of everything going on, so it was nice to see his pressed suit and the “work” look glazing over his face once again. Though I doubted my safety was that in question walking the house with Kit. But Van was nothing if not a thorough man, in and out of the bedroom.
“I know you’re already selling your place in Nashville.” Kit nodded. “And you could move into any place you wanted now, but I really think this place is a good fit for you. Surrounded by the woods, huge acreage, and even though you do have a neighbor with you down the hill, he’s over five acres away.”
“Kit,” I laughed, holding up my hand to stop him. “You don’t have to sell me anymore. I’ll take it.”
Kit’s eyes lit up. Even though he was my best friend in the entire world, I knew that this sale meant a lot to him. Not only was he about to get a massive commission from me, but he was gaining his best friend back, living in the same town again. I was getting just as much, finally returning to the place I’d longed to be in for as long as I’d been unable to think of this place as home. I was getting more than that though.
I was getting my identity back.
“Fantastic! Let me go get the papers from my car and you can sign them now, if you’re ready.”
I nodded, looking around at the place that was to be my new home. Inhaling a chaste breath and exhaling a fresh start, I sighed contently. “I’m ready.”
Kit beamed again before heading behind us to the front door. “Be right back.”
Once Kit was gone, Van stirred behind me and wrapped his arms around me, pressing his front into my back. Smiling warmly, I leaned my head back until it rested on his shoulder, his chin sitting handsomely on my own shoulder. My hands gripped the spot where his arms draped across my chest, more deep feelings of satisfaction welling within me.
“You’re officially moving back to Phoebe.” He purred into my ear, low and full of pride. “I’m really happy for you, Alistair.”
“Thank you.” And I meant it. I couldn’t have made this journey without Van by my side. It would’ve been impossible. Itmade me insanely happy that I never had to worry about that again.
“I’m assuming you’re going to hire movers to get everything from Nashville?”
“Nah, I’m selling everything.” I shook my head. “I mean, I’ll take the important stuff to me, but the furniture and everything, the new owners can have it. This place is move-in ready, and the only thing we’ll really need to pick out is a new bed that meets our needs.”
Van softly unlatched from the embrace, turning me around to face him. His rough hands lingered on my shoulders as his wide eyes stared back at me. “We?”
I nodded, a scoff falling out of my lips. “Of course. I’d like my boyfriend to have a say in which bed he’s going to be throwing me around in.”
After the initial laugh that stirred out of him, Van reached out and lifted my chin. “Boyfriend, huh? Is that what I am to you now?”
“If you’d like to be,” I agreed, his hands retracting as I placed a hand on his chest, soothing his suit beneath my touch. “But I gotta warn you. I’m alotharder on my boyfriends than I am my bodyguard.”
“I don’t know,” Van winced mockingly, his devilish smile brightening the one on my face. “I know just howhardyou get for your bodyguard.”
A tiny burst of laughter treated us both, wrapping our arms around each other as our lips found each other. Our kiss deepened, the heat just at arm’s length if we wanted it to burn us completely. Melting into the embrace with Van, I couldn’t have been luckier. I was finally back in Phoebe, I was going on tour with thousands of people chanting back my lyrics at every show, and I was falling in love with Vanguard. I’d made myown happiness, despite everything I’d been through the last few months, and it felt fucking right.
In my head, I could hear the cheering and hollering in my head, but for once, it wasn’t the chants from the crowd ringing in my mind. This time, it was coming from just my genuine elation over finding my way through the darkness. Nothing compared to the applause you made yourself.
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Roars of excitementand gratitude bellowed around me, keeping me inside a cocoon of bewilderment. As I stared out into the crowd, feeling every ounce of energy that they were giving me, I’d never felt more proud of this tour. Even though tonight was the final show and everything was coming to an end, somehow it felt like more of a beginning.
Normally, if I was going to change something or announce something during the show, I usually did it during the acoustic set, but I’d decided to switch things up this time.
