The humidity from the early summer day releases its hold on us about an hour into Mae’s amphitheater show. The crowd on the other hand has not let up. We played so many arenas on the tour earlier this year that I kind of forgot what an open air performance could feel like. I kind of forgot the absolute powerhouse performer Mae can be when she’s set loose.
As Mae goes into her second hour of performing, I’m finally given the relief of my post by one of the venue’s hires. Normally, I wouldn’t mind staying at my assignment all night long, but I haven’t seen Raleigh since she bolted earlier today, and the second half of the show would be the perfect cover for us to talk, tofinallytalk, as long as she’s not busy.
Who am I kidding? She will be busy.
I prepare myself for the idea that I might not be doing a whole lot of talking, but even the notion that I can just be near her after what she’s gone through emotionally this week is enough.
It doesn’t take me long to find her. Lights flashing from the stage continuously catch on the red of her hair like a homing beacon. She’s at the very edge of a larger group, some stage crew mixed in with a few guests with backstage passes. I’m excited to join them until I notice who’s standing beside her.
They’re trying to act like they’re not in conversation. There’s no move to touch each other or even turn their heads whenspeaking. It’s not until I come closer to them that I even realize that they are actually speaking directly to each other. Intently.
“This is what we gave up, huh?” Grant asks, his head glued to Mae working the stage.
“This is what you gave up for both of us,” she answers flatly.
Grant shakes his head but still doesn’t dare address her to her face. I should really turn away and leave them to their conversation, but something in Raleigh’s stature keeps me rooted to the spot.
“I’m sorry, Raleigh,” Grant says. The words should stop there but they don’t. “I did give it up, but there’s not a day that I regret the decision I made.”
Raleigh is the first to break the stalemate. Her head whips his direction and she stares at him until he finally has the courage to look at her.
“I never regretted the decision to step away from Nashville.” His throat bobs up and down, with the effort of the sentence. Out of fear or the strain of emotion, I can’t tell from here. “I do regret the way I handled the leaving though, I hope you know that.”
She blinks away the shimmer of tears before shrugging. “We’re both happy now.”
“Are we?” Grant asks, stepping so close that their shoulders brush. God, I want to intervene. I want to physically remove him from her side.
I nearly take it upon myself, going so far as to take a few steps forward but Raleigh’s already taken a step back. “I am. I’m very happy.” Her vocal level has risen, but only so far as to gain the attention of a stage hand who quickly moves away when he realizes what he’s stumbled upon. “Are you not happy?” she asks snidely.
Grant rubs the back of his neck and adds distance between them. “I am. Truly.”
“Well, good,” Raleigh answers, stepping backward again, closer to me. “There’s truly nothing more to say then.”
Grant turns fully, mouth agape ready to say something else, but then his gaze flicks up and he finally notices me. “Goodbye, Raleigh.” He’s directed his sentiment toward her, of course, but his eyes never leave my direction. With a gentle squeeze of her hand, he blows past her and then by me.
When he’s gone, I turn again to find Raleigh looking at me. There is sadness in her eyes, but also an outstretched hand in my direction. It takes nothing more for me to take it and join her at her side.
“You better stop looking at me like that in public,” she says, joining us at the hands. Mae and the band are still rocking behind us, and the crowd shows no signs of stopping, but in finding her, the world around me has slowed.
“Looking at you how?” I ask between breaths.
Her chin tilts up, and she sighs like she doesn’t want to admit the truth. “Looking at me like you’re in love with me.”
“I’m an honest man.” I gently remove my hand from hers and push back the hair that’s fallen into her face.
“Tell me then. Bare your soul, Dalton Cosgrove.” She’s said it just above a whisper, but despite the crashing of the concert behind us, I hear every word clear as day.
“I love you, Raleigh.” It’s a simple four words, but the truth I am putting behind them has never been spoken by another. “I fall more in love with you every day.”
Raleigh might have rolled her eyes at such a sentiment a week or two ago, but tonight she simply smiles at me and wraps her arms up around my neck. She releases a calming breath and then turns my world on its head. “And I love you, Dalton.”
Chapter 35
Raleigh
IT’S BEEN TWO WEEKS since I first said I love you to Dalton, and I can’t seem to keep the words from spilling from my lips. I’ve never been one to use the words freely or easily, but everything about Dalton has me spiraling. For the first time in my entire life I feel taken care of, like there’s nothing I have to prove. Even now as I lay curled up next to him on his couch after a nap, there’s not a part of me that feels like running to my next task or destination.
Merle senses my stirring before Dalton does and the lapping of his tongue against my arm quickly gives me away. Dalton’s arms tighten around me before he tilts his head to the side and kisses me on the forehead. He doesn’t say a word even as I shift myself further on top of him. Laying my head squarely on his chest, I try to force the remainder of my stressors to hit the road. The uncertainty of Mae and where her head’s at remains.
