Page 74 of Home Coming

“I’ll see you all later,” Quinn said loudly, over the laughter at his expense.

“And we’ll see you in the morning newspapers.” Mark grinned.

“Go get your girl!” Carter called as Quinn turned for the door.

“And tell your Mom thanks again for the hot cocoa and cookies. She was handing them out to me and the paparazzi the night I was on duty outside your house,” Mark added.

Good Lord. What had happened to his world? He didn’t know, but he did know one thing. He wanted Bailey in it. He just had to figure out how to accomplish that.

A text vibrated his phone as he was about to get into the car. It was from Josie.

Josie

Welcome home! B left a tix for me at the Garden box office. Yours if you want it.

His eyes widened. He wanted to jump on the offer, but he couldn’t steal Josie’s ticket. Bailey was her best friend. And this was the Garden.

Don’t you want to use it?

Caught the show with Mom & Dad in Philly. You go for it!

He grinned. It looked like he was heading to the city. More important, in three hours he’d be with Bailey again… if he could drive with the way his hands were shaking from just the thought of seeing her again.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

It had been the most amazing month of Bailey’s life.

She’d traveled the country with three of the biggest female singers in her genre.

Crowds of tens of thousands had sung her lyrics along with her. She had chills just remembering it.

She’d loved it all, even the grueling parts of travel, but now she was ready to be home. At least at her temporary home.

Tonight was the end. She’d been living in a dream world and now it was midnight and Cinderella had to go back to reality. Back to living in the Baldwin’s house and making influencer videos on TikTok. But also back to her best friend. Back to the family she loved as much as if they had been her own.

But not before one more sold-out show. Even after all the past shows it was still hard to wrap her head around it all.

It was going to be a good night. Madison Square Garden was packed.

She could feel the energy radiating off the crowd. It was intoxicating. Addicting. Now she understood why Axel sought the spotlight.

Funny, before this tour she’d always shunned attention. Except on her TikTok. Though that felt different. Like she was inviting her followers into her safe little corner of the world, not throwing herself out into their big scary one.

Axel.She hadn’t thought that name in what felt like a long time.

Unless someone brought him up or she saw his name on social media, she’d been able to put him completely out of her mind and it had been a relief.

Even the song she’d written about him didn’t conjure him anymore.

The song itself seemed to have taken on a life of its own. Now it represented all heartache everywhere. Every woman who’d ever loved the wrong man. It was a universal feeling she shared with the world.

The song and the pain belonged to her and her fans. Not to Axel. Not any longer. He might have been the inspiration but his usefulness was over.

Quinn though, now that was another story.

He was on her mind day and night. She didn’t know where he was but she’d step in front of the spotlight night after night and imagine he might be there in the crowd watching her at that very moment. Feeling proud of her. Wishing he hadn’t ducked away from that kiss. Hadn’t flown back to California without a goodbye.

But if she knew anything it was that he’d have moved on with his life. Just like he’d done at eighteen when he’d joined the Navy and barely looked back.

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