Page 106 of You're the Reason

When he still hesitated, Jon gave his shoulder a shove. “Where’s the brave Seth who didn’t hesitate to help his mom when she drove into the square or The Storm who just owned the spider wall?”

Seth shook his head as his gaze traveled toward the lights in the distance of the competition. “You do realize one of those led to jail and the other led to the dunk tank of failure thirty seconds later.”

“Yup.” There was amusement in Jon’s tone.

Seth looked back at the sign. “So you think this will end in disaster too?”

“Honestly, I have no idea.” Jon landed a hand on Seth’s shoulder. “But I do know what will happen if you don’t go.”

“What?”

“Nothing.” His hands flew up in frustration. Then he motioned to the two guys next to him. “We’re always in your corner no matter what. Give her a choice to be in your corner too, don’t say no for her.”

Seth looked at them, then the box office, then back at them. Finally, he sighed and walked over to the window. “Do you have any seats under the name Scooby-Doo.”

The woman on the other side of the window sat up a bit straighter as a smile filled her face. “We do.”

She pulled an envelope from a box and slipped it under the glass. “Enjoy the show.”

“You could have told me you have season tickets,” Nate shouted after him as he headed inside.

This too could end in disaster, but it was time to go all in and trust she just might want to catch him.

She had expected that her final show would feel different than this. Bigger. More daunting. But in the end, it just felt like another show. Grace checked her hair one more time, then lifted her shoes from the bag.

There was a swift knock on the door before it swung inward, and Mallory stepped in. “Stephanie from tickets sent this to you.”

Stephanie? Why would she? Unless her parents... She tore open the note and sure enough.

Scooby-Doo seats claimed but it wasn’t your parents.

Not her parents. Why would Stephanie think she cared about some of her parents’ fancy friends claiming the tickets? She lifted the note again.

It was The Storm. You have been holding out on me! We need to talk.

She looked up at Mallory and the girl gripped her shoulder. “Seth is here.”

“You read it?”

“Of course. I was not delivering it until after the show if it was about your parents. You don’t need that.” Mallory tugged her to the door. “Let’s go see.”

“How?”

“There’s a great little spot where you can see the audience, but they can’t see you. You aren’t supposed to, but I use it all the time.”

Mallory led Grace to the little opening. They were in darkness, but the theatre was still in full lights. Grace’s gaze travelled the room. Fourth row left. Her eyes landed on the seats, and she nearly froze.

She would have wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her if Mallory hadn’t released a little squeal. “It’s really him. He loves you.”

“You don’t know that.” Their last phone call was running though her mind. She had been so harsh with him.

“I guarantee that he’s here for one and only one reason. He loves you. So the question is, do you love him back?”

“I... I don’t know.” Grace walked a few steps away then back, her fingers twisting in front of her. “I told him it wouldn’t work. I basically told him I didn’t trust him.”

“Ouch. He’s brave to come back.” Mallory peeked through the gap again. “Why can’t you trust him?”

“Because he got so mad when I asked him if the drugs were his. Because he’s so hung up on his past that he won’t move forward, commit to anything, or trust anyone. Why would it be different with me?” She paced as she spoke but then gripped Mallory’s arms. “He was so hung up on his past that he even refused to return as The Storm.”

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