“I see,” Makenna muses.
Mia’s thumb brushes over my hand, as if she’s reminding me she has my back. That it doesn’t matter what her sisters think of my past—she’s accepted it and that’s what matters.
“I don’t want to repeat my mistakes,” I say. “It’s not about filling a void, it’s about building something that matters.”
Silence follows for a moment. Macy smiles dreamily, and finally, Makenna’s expression softens just a little.
“Well,” Makenna says at last. “You’re not what I expected. But then again, I didn’t expect Mia to end up singing on a national tour either. So I guess I’m keeping an open mind.”
Makenna’s answer isn’t an enthusiastic blessing by any means, but I don’t need that. I just need to start chipping away at the coat of armor she wears. She’s given me that—barely, but enough to breathe easier.
“Thank you,” I say, keeping my voice level. No ego, no bravado. Just gratitude. “That’s all I can ask for.”
Mia gives my hand a squeeze, her eyes filling with gratitude. I’m starting to realize how much these small moments mean toher—the silent encouragement, standing up for our relationship in front of her family. It’s everything.
“So,” Macy leans forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. “What’s it like being with a rock God? Are there groupies always following you around? Wild after parties? Oh, and aren’t you, like, living on a bus right now?”
I laugh, grateful to Macy for the shift in tone and for breaking the tension.
“Yes to living on the bus. No to the groupies. And as for the parties—if you count trying a new pizza place in every city, sore backs, and arguing over who gets the last electrical outlet or heating pad, then yeah. Wild’s the word I’d use.”
Mia snorts beside me. “Tony tried to crowd surf at the last show and pulled something. We could barely get him back to the bus. I’d say that was the highlight of the week.”
Macy dissolves into giggles, and to my surprise, even Makenna cracks a smile. For the first time since they arrived, everything feels normal.
Not like a meet-the-sisters interrogation, not like I’m on trial.
Easy.
But it doesn’t take long for Makenna to bring us back to earth again.
“So, what happens next?” she asks, crossing her arms over her almost too perfect blazer again. “After the tour ends and the hype dies down—where does this go?”
The air in the room shifts. She isn’t trying to be hostile; she’s asking all the questions a big sister should be asking. I can’t blame her for that. If she and I had traded places, I’d want to know, too.
I take a breath.
No deflecting.
No sugar-coating.
This needs to be real.
“I don’t have all the answers,” I admit. “My life’s chaotic. Most days, I’m just taking it one step at a time. Things are messy, loud, definitely unorthodox. But Mia… she’s the steady part. She’s not a placeholder—she’s the constant. The reason I want to be better. When everything else feels like it’s falling apart, she’s the one who brings me back to myself.”
Makenna holds my gaze for a long moment, probably trying to decide how much of what I’m saying she actually believes.
“That’s a start,” she says, giving a small nod.
Mia’s shoulder brushes against mine, soft, warm, reminding me she hasn’t gone anywhere. I can feel relief radiating off of her.
I’ve passed the test, or at the very least, survived the first round.
After that, the conversation lightens and Mia’s sisters stay for at least another half hour. Macy rambles on about her latest online dating disasters while Makenna shares how things are going now that she’s been named the youngest partner at her law firm. Finally, Mia is able to relax into me, and I find myself smiling more than I have in days.
By the time we stand to leave so Macy and Makenna can get to their hotel, it’s well after midnight. The Charlotte air has cooled and the breeze has picked up against the dark, cloudy sky.
I stay behind as Mia leads her sisters through the backstage area and to the service exit, wanting to give her a final moment alone with them. Macy hugs Mia and sweeps out the door, while Makenna touches her arm softly and locks eyes with her, murmuring something, before giving her a last hug and following her other sister.
