Page 93 of Sing Me Home
With the world premiere of our music video lighting up the screen behind us, Cash grinned at me as we crested the bridge, his guitar slung across his lap. He put his mouth to the microphone while I hummed his part.
I held on through silence, through every goodbye.
I replied with,
I let go, so you'd never have to lie.
I never stopped hoping you’d turn around.
But I was scared you’d break me somehow.
Then we slid into the final verse, him hitting the harmony while I took the melody.
It was hard to love you, hard to leave you too,
But the hardest part was not holding you.
Even apart, we were never through?—
Maybe some hearts break just to tell the truth.
We hushed on the outro.
You loved a dream…
And I still do.
We finished together, our voices barely a whisper.
But I’d love the real you—if you wanted me to.
As the last chord faded into the night, the fans exploded at a level that made my ears hurt. It was incredible.
Cash beamed proudly like I was the one about to take the country music world by storm. “Ladies and gentlemen, Charlieeee Dupreeee!” He thrust his hand at me and they cheered louder.
“I’ll let y’all get back to the star of the show,” I gave him a wink. I hopped up and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. When I tried to pull back, he wouldn’t let me, really hamming it up, dipping me across his lap.
Catcalls and whistles pierced the air.
“There are children present!” Anna called from the first row with the rest of our family.
Cash smiled against my mouth. When he righted me again, I was a little tipsy.
The stands screamed as I walked across the stage. I gave them one last wave, shocked by how at ease I’d felt while performing. But I guess it wasn’t that surprising really. As long as I had Cash by my side, I felt at ease just about anywhere.
Coming down the stage stairs, I saw Theo waving for me to rejoin my family. As I ducked under the ropes, I was fully aware that cameras were filming me. Not just the cameras taping the concert, but news crews and fans.
“Great song, Charlie!” someone yelled as I darted in and out.
“Thanks!” I waved, no idea where the compliment came from. “Excuse me. Sorry. Excuse me,” I said, weaving my way through.
I was fifty feet from my family when suddenly, someone grabbed my braid—using it as a weapon against me—and yanked, snapping my head back. My breath caught and my eyes burned as pain shot through my scalp. I stumbled, falling against a random guy.
“Hey!” he barked.
I spun to see a harem of college-aged girls glaring me down—all wearing matchingCash Dupree: Hard to Love YouT-shirts.
The ring leader—raven black hair and cat-green eyes—wore a smug smile on her overly lined lips. “Are you for real?” Her eyes flashed wickedly. “What in the world would Cash Dupree be doing with someone like you?” She snapped her fingers. “Oh, I’ve got it. It’s a PR stunt. He agreed to be a wish granter for Make-A-Wish—for the sad, little disfigured girl.” The verbal slap landed just like she wanted it to, stinging worse than any real slap I’d ever experienced. My mouth fell open but I couldn’t form words. Her eyes flashed to my scar and she shuddered. “Gross. I can’t believe you’d actually show that in public.”
