Page 130 of Just Trouble

The song is gorgeous. His voice is so rich and deep. The words are sweet and poignant and powerful. He sings about finding what you’re seeking in the most unlikely spot, in theplace you left behind, in finding the treasure back where you started your quest. There’s wonder in his lyrics, a surprise that all the stories about love are true, and that they’ve come true for him.

I expected to be self-conscious in front of the audience—which isn’t even that big, compared to others he’s entertained—but in a curious way, we could be alone, not standing in front of several thousand people. In my world, there is only his voice, only the fire in his eyes, only this man who taught me to believe my impulse and follow my heart. There are only his words, a declaration of love and devotion that is humbling in its sincerity, only the tears rising in my eyes. The chorus is repeated twice and when Luke begins to sing it a third time, he raises a hand and they all sing along. Even I mouth the words, and he beams up at me, ending with a final fervid ‘I love you.’

When he’s done, he bows his head and kisses my palm, folding my fingers over the point of contact just the way he’s done before. As the applause begins to build, everything is simple. I can’t believe I’ve held out against trusting in something so true and so right.

I could have lost him.

I could have lost this, and I can’t bear the thought.

As the house erupts in enthusiastic applause, Luke reaches behind his own back. I realize he’s turning off the microphone pack. He pushes the headset aside and stands in one fluid move, stepping closer, his gaze boring into mine. “Be with me, Daph? We can marry or not, it’s up to you. I just want to be together.”

“Always and forever,” I manage to say, repeating the words from the chorus of his new song.

I see the pleasure in his smile and he catches me close, then kisses me with all the passion I’ve learned to expect from him. And I kiss him back, relieved and jubilant and sure, more sure than I’ve ever been of anything in my entire life. When we finallybreak that kiss, he reaches back to the microphone again and pulls the headset back into place.

“She said yes,” he tells the audience and they roar approval. I hear Abbie screaming and I glance toward her, seeing her jubilation. Did she know in advance? I have a feeling these two have schemed against me and I don’t care.

“Of course, she did, dude,” Jason says and everyone laughs. Luke guides me to the wings where I can watch without being watched. A roadie the size of a refrigerator escorts Abbie to my side, then Taylor’s grandparents close ranks behind us.

Luke sings a final finale of Taylor’s ballad, the entire band singing the last chorusa capellafor that one. From my vantage point, I can see the lights waving back and forth in time, a sea of golden stars, and my throat is tight when Luke thanks everyone and the curtain comes down.

I get another kiss then, a slow potent one. Meanwhile, the audience is stamping hard enough to make the floors shake. Luke nods to his bandmates and I see that they’ve already planned an encore. The curtain goes up for a high-octane set that launches with a cover version ofDevil Inside. The audience is ecstatic and are dancing in the aisles. It’s a long set, a good twenty minutes of pure adrenalin.

At the end, the four band members line up across the front of the stage for their final bows, then acknowledge the roadies, then the sound team at the back of the house. They blow kisses to the audience, then the curtain comes down again.

Luke tugs off the headset and a roadie unclips the pack on the back of his belt. He strides toward me, an intent in his eyes that I know very well. I smile before he catches me close for another smouldering kiss.

“Save it for later,” Abbie complains and Luke grins.

He touches the tip of his nose to mine. “Let the guys take you home, Daph. It’s safer.”

“Aren’t you coming home?”

“Later.” He brushes his lips across mine. “Leave the back door open?”

“I’ll wait up for you,” I promise and the heat in his eyes makes a promise I know he’ll keep.

There are two roadies closing in on us, both with headsets. Abbie and I are bustled toward the back door, and I realize Taylor’s grandparents have vanished. They’re already inside the black van with tinted windows and Abbie and I find ourselves joining them in the blink of an eye. The crowds are streaming out of the theatre, most of them singing one of the last two songs, clinging to each other and their sparkly lights. I see that Merrie’s place is open late and already has a growing line.

“You knew,” I accuse Abbie and she laughs.

“What else do you think could tempt me back? When Luke said he was in love, I had to see it for myself.”

“What a lovely boy,” Taylor’s grandmother says, wiping away a tear. “We’re so happy for you both, dear.”

“Fabulous show,” his grandfather said, holding tightly to her hand. “I’ll never forget it.”

“A night to remember,” Abbie says and she’s absolutely right.

What’s even better is that it’s the start of our future together.

I can’t wait.

36

LUKE

Iwant to go home, but there are things to do, rituals to perform. We all have to have a drink together and congratulate each other, come down a bit after the high of the show. We need to check in with the team editing the livestream for the two live versions of the singles, and verify that we’re on track for the releases.

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