Page 127 of Lucky 22

Time stretches, bends.

I feel Christian’s thumb stroke the back of my hand, slow,steady, and comforting.

“Ella Lucas, The Echo Wars!”

For half a second, I don’t react.

Ella Lucas. That’s…me. That’s my name. They said my name!

Christian laughs under his breath, joyful and stunned at thesame time, and then he kisses my cheek. Suddenly, I can move again. People areclapping. A few are standing. Someone behind me screams. I press a hand over mymouth because I can’t make my face behave, I can’t school it into any semblanceof calm.

I’m crying.

Great. Perfect.

Christian stands with me, his hand on the small of my back,steadying me as my world tilts just a little in the best way possible.

“You did it,” he whispers, his voice thick. “This is yourmoment.”

The stage is somehow both the longest walk of my life andthe shortest. The lights swallow me. The applause sounds like ocean waves.

They hand me the statue, and it’s heavier than I expected.

My voice wobbles immediately because…of course, it does.

“I…was not prepared for this,” I manage, and the audiencelaughs softly, kindly, like they all know exactly what I mean. “I didn’t growup dreaming of winning an award for voice acting. I just…fell in love with acharacter. A stubborn, fierce, snippy, brave girl named Ashla Voss, who taughtme how to fight, and grow, and help, and believe I could still get back up,even when life kept knocking me flat.”

My breath shakes.

“I want to thank the Echo Wars team for trusting mewith her. For letting me grow up with her. For letting me share a heart withAshla.” I swallow. “To the fans who show up in costume, who write letters, whotell me she helped them feel seen—you have no idea what that means. I share thismoment with you. Ashla lives in all of us.”

Then I find him in the sea of faces. Eyes bright, handsclasped as if he’s holding the entire moment together for me.

“And to my husband,” I say, my voice softer now, moreprivate, even through the microphone, “who has stoodbeside me in every season, who has lifted me up when I doubted myself, whonever once made me feel like I had to choose between love and ambition…this isyours as much as it is mine. Thank you for believing in me, even when Ididn’t.”

Emotion swells again, and I swallow hard.

“I never thought I’d be standing here tonight. I neverthought…I’d be this person.” I laugh a little, the sound watery andoverwhelmed. “Thank you for letting me be her.”

The music swells, and I lift the Emmy, dazed and grateful,and take a moment to absorb it all. As I walk off the stage, all I can think ishow I can’t wait to go back down to my seat, sit beside Christian, and hold hishand.

Because this isn’t just my dream, it’s ours.

And this award is just as much his as it is mine.

ChapterTwenty-Two

It’s late when we arrive back at the apartment, butbefore we step inside, I look up at the glorious, star-filled sky. I alwayshave a wish ready. Always. But tonight, I don’t. Because all my wishes havecome true. All the years of wishes and struggles and what-ifs were worth it. Idon’t think my feet have touched the ground since they called my name earlier.It’s like an out-of-body experience, even though I know I am firmly withinmine.

Encased in this gorgeous gown.

I look at Christian. He’s got this serene smile on his face,and I know he’s patiently waiting for me to make my usual wish upon a starbefore we go inside.

But instead of a wish, I whisper a simple, “Thank you” tothe universe.

Satisfied, I take the hand my husband extends to me and lethim lead me into the building and up to our humble home.

I hold my trophy close as we step inside, like I’m afraid itwill disappear if I loosen my grip. It reminds me of how Christian carried hisMVP trophy after the World Series.