Page 76 of Chronicles of a Rockin' Mess

Harry shrugs again. “Point?”

Kade runs a hand down his face. “Never mind,” he says as he turns to me. “Everything is ready. Ellie is gonna have her up front when we need her there.”

“Cool,” I manage. But inside, I’m dying. I’m about to profess my love to Lark, and she may very well shoot me down in front of an entire arena of fans. This only has two possible endings, and I shudder to think of the one I hope doesn’t occur.

I walk back to my dressing room. Lark is standing there talking with Gwen. She’s already let my team know about her future departure. Gwen and Tiffany are currently in discussions about our upcoming duet. It’s like watching two lions battle for territory. I can’t say it hasn’t been entertaining to watch them. Even Gwen and Tiffany know about tonight because it will affect us all whether I succeed or not. After tonight, everyone will know about Lark and me. After tonight, there’s no going back.

Lark

I watch the guys go on, and they are killing it. It makes me excited for things to come. I can’t imagine having an entire arena packed with fans who know the lyrics to all my songs. The mere thought of that has me smiling as I walk down the hallway.

Ellie runs up to me. “Hey, can you come with me, I want to make sure there’s enough water on the side stage,” she says. I give her a “seriously” look but she just pulls on my arm. I lament and follow her down the hall. The best part about being here is that it’s home. We can sleep in our own beds tonight. We can go eat familiar food. Even Harry’s stupid wings are from a local wing place that we all love. I’m feeling nostalgic. This is my last time being with the band as a PA. It marks the end of an era for me. And the beginning of my own chapter. I’m nervous and excited. I have to say I wasn’t sure how the team would handle it, but everyone has been great, even Gwen. Mostly, I think that’s because she sees money signs with that duet Lincoln and I are recording, but at least she isn’t being a bitch about it.

My biggest surprise was Hank and Mimi’s encouragement. Leo and Joe also expressed how happy they were for me. I mean, I guess I shouldn’t be that surprised, but they’ve been like four proud grandparents. I just got out of my apartment lease in New Orleans yesterday. And, unbeknownst to Lincoln, I’ve found a few apartments for rent in LA. They are small but affordable. I will miss living with Lincoln and Asher. I’ll miss Maria and hanging out with the band all the time, but it’s time for me to move on, and I can’t stay there. Lincoln and I still haven’t discussed what is going on between us. Every time I feel like we are going to have “the conversation” something goes wrong. And so, here we are, heading into the unknown, blindfolded.

Ellie and I reach the side stage. There’s an entire case of water there. I turn to Ellie.

“I think we’re good,” I say to her. I’m turning away when something happens.

The lights dim, and Harry stops his drum beat. The entire amphitheater goes quiet. Then, I hear his voice. Lincoln’s deep, baritone vocals fill the silence like a wave filling a tidal pool. One second there’s nothing, and then the whole place is filled with life.

“This song is for someone who I love and care about with all my heart. She’s been by my side when I’ve been at my worst and my best. She thinks I didn’t notice her, but she’s wrong, so very, very wrong. She’s impossible not to notice. She’s my sun and my moon. She’s my everything. She’s always been my everything,” he says.

I freeze and turn toward the stage where a single spotlight is on Lincoln.

“We fight a lot about the best love songs. And tonight, I want to play this one for her,” he ends as he begins to belt out “All of Me” by John Legend.

My knees nearly buckle as he croons the words with such feeling that my body vibrates in response.

My eyes find his and our gazes lock. Everything else dies away as he sings to me and god does he sing to me. I’m completely bewitched by his voice. I don’t know what comes over me as I walk toward him. I’m like a moth to a flame. He holds out a hand to me, and through my haze, I hear the crowd roar.

He reaches for my hand and pulls me close to him as he sings. Those words are so real coming from his lips. He pours his whole soul into the song, belting out the lyrics like he was born to sing it to me.

When he finishes the entire audience is silent, holding their breath to see how I react.

Lincoln pulls the microphone away from his lips.

“Don’t leave me,” he whispers. “I was stupid, Lark. So stupid. I pushed you away on purpose because I thought you deserved better. I’ve kept myself from telling you how I feel because I was afraid of admitting how I feel about you. Afraid you won’t feel the same.”

I smile up at Lincoln. “How could I not be completely and utterly in love with you? You are Lincoln Fucking Grant, after all,” I answer while fighting a smile.

“So, that’s a yes that you’ll move in with me. And by ‘in with me,’ I mean in my room and in my bed,” he clarifies.

I grin. “Since you asked nicely,” I say.

I grab the microphone as my emotions overrun me. “Not that we owe anyone here an explanation, but just for the record, Lincoln Grant is mine, ladies,” I say as I toss the mic down on the floor and launch myself into Lincoln’s arms. Our lips smash together as the crowd erupts into cheering that is so loud, I wonder if we might bring down the walls of the arena.

Lincoln pulls back after a moment and looks down at me. “So, that’s a yes to moving in then?” he yells over the screams of the audience.

I shake my head, and he looks momentarily confused.

“That’s a hell yes,” I yell back with a giant grin on my face.

“I fucking love you, Lark!” he screams up at the sky and whoever can hear him.

I pull his face against mine. “I love you, too!” I scream back as I giggle. “Lincoln! You are crazy!” I yell as I look around at the chaos surrounding us.

Lincoln leans in so we are touching foreheads. “I’m crazy for you, baby bird,” he whisper-yells. And with that, he leans in and kisses me again. Neither of us caring whether the whole world sees us kissing. At that moment, he’s the man I always knew he could be, and I’m the woman he always knew I could be, and together we are going to make all our dreams come true.

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