Page 104 of Anything But Lonely

Never mentioned the way I would suddenly forget what I was saying halfway through a sentence whenever I stood too close.

Never corrected Theo, Silas, or Eddie when they yelled at us to stop flirting.

But we both noticed.

We haven’t crossed a line—not really.

I didn’t steal any more pairs of her underwear.

She didn’t send me any more videos to watch when I’m alone and left aching for her.

Because the dangerous part was never one of us crossing the line.

It was realizing neither of us seemed interested in finding it anymore.

And tonight, I plan on doing something about it, and I’m fucking terrified.

Because I’m falling in love with Emerson Hasting.

Crew and I have a special surprise tonight, and that’s exactly why I made sure a member of our stage crew had Emerson and her friends ushered to the front of the VIP section with my family and friends, an area sectioned off just for the people who matter most to me, Eddie, Theo, and Silas.

I’m not usually this nervous for a show, but I’ve also never gone on stage with the plan to basically confess to Emerson that I’m all in—whatever she wants that to mean.

I don’t want to say goodbye after this last show. I want to see where she and I can go from here—if she wants me.

I shake my hands out, bouncing on my toes as I tilt my head from side to side. The nerves are buzzing just under my skin, and I can’t sit still.

“Hey.” Eddie joins me in the wing. “I forgot to ask you how you managed to keep Crew’s rehearsals with us this week from Emerson?” Eddie asks, and it helps me focus on something other than how nervous I am.

With the special surprise I have planned tonight, I needed to make sure Crew felt comfortable on stage with me. And I had to do it without Emerson knowing.

“Talia kept her busy,” I tell Eddie.

Lucky for me, Emerson and Talia really hit it off, so I was able to enlist my ex-wife’s help to keep Emerson distracted while I brought Crew to a few rehearsals.

“How long is Talia in town?”

“She’s actually home for good,” I answer, happy to share the good news.

Talia worked her ass off getting trained at the Paris agency, and she really proved herself to the current owner in the months she was there. The transfer of ownership happened a few months earlier than they initially planned, and Crew is so happy to not only be home but be home with Talia.

Pepper, on the other hand, was not as happy to have Talia home.

Apparently, the stupid cat refused to go back to Talia’s, hiding under my bed when Talia tried to pick her up last week after she landed in Milwaukee.

She hates me yet refuses to leave my house.

“Do you think Crew is nervous to come on stage?” Eddie asks.

I shake my head, smiling as I remember the look on Crew’s face when I asked him if he wanted to help me surprise Emerson. “I don’t think the kid has ever been so excited for something.”

Eddie chuckles just as Silas and Theo come over to join us.

“Can you assholes believe it?” Silas says, slinging his arm over my shoulder.

“Our last show,” Theo says on a sigh.

“It doesn’t feel real.” Eddie crosses his arms over his chest as he peeks out into the crowd—no doubt trying to spot Mia and his daughters.