Page 148 of Even Beneath the Stars

The crowd's cheers surge along with my pulse. I shift the guitar strap higher on my shoulder. Then drag my fingers across the strings—a nervous habit that was born that night at the Foundry.

"Holy shit." My gasp carries through the speakers, and I let out a low chuckle, when I realize the mic just broadcast my nerves to an entire sea of people.

I duck my head. Inhale once, steady. Then exhale slowly.

I can do this.

I lift my chin, grinning.

"Hey," I say, my voice deep and rough over the mic. "We're Salt Vein."

The screams sound like a jet engine. My heart feels like it could soar.

But it's not the crowd I'm looking at. My head tilts sideways, just enough so I can spot them off in the wings. I catch Finn's wide-eyed gaze first and wink.

He grins back, hands clasped together tightly beneath his chin.

Then my eyes sweep over to Maggie, who is watching me like I hung the fucking moon.

And maybe I didn't hang it. But I am the one who showed it to her. So I can't be that unworthy of her love.

I haven't been an epic disappointment so far.

So far, the ride has been bumpy and scary and sometimes wild. But also beautiful, and surprising, and better than any version of my life I ever dreamed I could have.

"This is a song I wrote about a girl… " I say into the mic, "Who is everything." I tilt my head so I'm looking at Maggs. My fingers still on the strings. "This one's for you, Lambkins. It's calledEven Beneath The Stars."