Page 135 of Keep Me Close

“Chey.” My hand drifts higher along her back. “I’ve never meant anything more in my life.”

She releases a breath before grinning. “Thank you for believing in me and helping me to believe in myself.”

My mind flashes through all of it at once. The months of her running lines. The nights she second-guessed herself. The mornings she needed someone to look her in the eye and tell her she could do it.

That she was already enough.

That this life was hers if she was brave enough to take it.

A smirk tugs at my mouth before I can stop it. “Pretty hard not to when you’re so damn talented.”

She turns her face toward mine until my lips are able to find hers. The kiss is brief, but it’s enough for her to melt into me.

She draws back before whispering, “I love you.”

Those three words bowl me over every goddamn time.

I kiss her once more. “Love you too, baby.”

There’s a long dramatic sigh from behind us.

“All right, McNichols. Give the girl a little room to breathe,” Rina announces. “She literally just brought the house down.”

Cheyenne laughs again as I set her on her feet, though I keep one arm banded around her waist.

Rina narrows her eyes. “You’re still hogging her.”

“That’s because she’s mine,” I shoot back.

Amusement dances in Cheyenne’s eyes.

Rina snorts. “You’re such a caveman.”

“Where this woman is concerned? Correct.”

That earns me an eye roll from Lilah.

Sloane lifts a brow. “Subtle.”

Kia smiles as Callie shakes her head.

But I don’t care. They can give me all the shit they want. I just watched the woman I love walk onto a stage and set the world on fire.

Even though people continue wandering over to congratulate Cheyenne, my hand never leaves the small of her back. It’s a quiet reminder that I’m here and that I’ve got her. No matter how big this gets, she’ll never have to carry it alone.

The afterparty starts forming around us in loose, glittering clusters. Theater people, producers, family, and friends. Cheyenne handles all of it beautifully, gracious and smiling and somehow still entirely herself.

Every once in a while, she glances at me, and my chest tightens in response. It takes everything in me not to hustle her out the door, but it’s important she enjoys this moment.

Her moment.

A few hours later, Cheyenne whispers, “Would you mind if we sneak out?”

I grin. “I thought you’d never ask, baby.”

Rina points a threatening finger at me as we collect the flowers and slip from the crowd. “Don’t kidnap her for, like, a week. The woman just had a breakout moment.”

I guide Cheyenne toward the exit. “Sorry, no promises.”