Page 95 of Our Little Moments

The joy in the mundane things, the peace of being with people who love you as you are, the fulfillment of doing what you love,seeing the beauty in the small things that would otherwise pass you by.

I never want to miss another moment, whether big or small, that could make life a little brighter.

With a smile on my face and happy tears in my eyes, we all head inside to prepare for the concert. When we get inside, the crew all beam up at me, each of them trying and failing to keep their curiosity at bay. Smiling, I answer each of their questions about what I’ve been up to.

I meet Adrian’s eyes across the room and . . . Gosh, how can his eyes get even more beautiful? They’re sparkling with pride, making the deep green in his eyes glitter and I can’t look away.

Until something Derek says grabs my attention. “. . . Yeah, the storm from earlier was crazy.”

I try to keep my voice steady as I turn my head his way and ask my friend, “What storm?”

The hair stylist puts my head back in its place and I chuckle, but it sounds all wrong.

Derek’s eyes meet mine through the mirror. “Yeah. There was a tournament earlier today. The girl was a force to be reckoned with and her powers got out of control and escaped the temple, quickly spreading across the city. It was the biggest storm we’ve ever seen. We almost cancelled your show because we all had to keep ourselves locked in buildings.”

My blood turns cold. “Wow that’s . . . That’s awful. I can’t imagine what it was like . . .”

I quickly glance at Adrian while Derek continues, making sure he didn’t hear this conversation. I don’t want him to get triggered or to be worried, especially since it’s his first time back in the city.

“It took hours for the storm to calm. It was over for about an hour when you two arrived, but it was quite intense.”

My heart practically swells in relief.It’s over. It’s all good.

The next few hours of preparation go by quickly, and the next thing I know, I’m getting into my dress for the concert and nervously rehearsing my songs, even though I know them by heart. I meant every word I wrote and they’re ingrained in my brain. Some have been there for a decade.

I get out of the changing rooms, caught in my head with my songs. I meet Adrian’s eyes as he looks at me, his gaze soft.

He meets my eyes and grins, before he walks over to me, grabs my hand, and twirls me around. I can’t help the giggle that escapes my lips.

Heat slips beneath my skin and the air whooshes from my lungs.

Every moment with this man seems to last forever and makes me feel soalive.

“I love you,” the words slip out of me before I can hold them in.

Adrian smiles and it’s blinding. “I love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love someone.”

Butterflies break free and I grin.

This night will be one of the best nights of my life.

Not only because it’s the start of a new chapter, but because Adrian Westwood is with me to cheer me on.

Chapter 39

Adrian

I’m mesmerized by her.

I’ve heard Stella play before, but this is different. Watching her tonight is like witnessing the sunrise after a long, dark night.

The building feels alive from her music, her magic, and everything that makes Stella Brookstoneher. Her heartfelt lyrics about life and what it means to feel alive make their way into my heart more than I thought was possible. I’m in awe of everything she is capable of.

The melodies from the piano she plays are delicate and hauntingly beautiful. They turn the air electric, alive with the emotion she pours into them. It’s inspiring to see Stella in her element, with that vibrant smile on her face.

I would do anything to keep that look on her face forever.

There’s pride in the way she moves, her hands flowing across the keys like they were always meant to be there. Passion burns in her eyes, an intensity so fierce it makes my chest ache.

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