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“You missed your cue.”
My eyes darted back to my fellow cheerleaders as the music changed and they shifted into the next dance sequence. I was supposed to be in the middle of them, showing off my raccoon moves. With an amused laugh, I pulled Savannah into a tight side hug. She stiffened beneath my arms at first, but then wrapped her arms around me for a quick embrace. And then we were off, rejoining our team for a final breakdown and cheer.
All the while, I rejoiced in my new found confidence. No longer the beaten down, loser inside of a decomposing mascot suit, I’d found my new me. All that was left was to show the world the music inside of me.
My heart hammered away like a jackhammer. I couldn’t wait. If only Collin could’ve been here to see me shine.
I wasn’t going to be afraid anymore.
Chapter Twenty-Six
My fingers wrapped so tightly around the neck of my Gibson guitar that I was pretty sure it was going to crack. After the cheerleading performance, I’d taken my place behind the stage once again. The Glee club had to perform first and then it was my turn to solo.
Watching Mrs. Banks walk up on the stage to introduce me was incredibly nerve-wracking. This was it — the moment I’d been waiting for my entire life. I should’ve been ready to burst through the gate with literal fireworks.
Instead, my heart was heavy.
This wasn’t just my song. It was Collin’s too. And now I had to perform it without him. It didn’t feel right. He should’ve been here.
“Get it together, Audrey,” I mumbled, shaking my head. “If you want to be the next Taylor Swift, you can’t let a broken heart get in the way. You’re strong. You’re fearless. You’ll get through this.”
“I’d say talking to yourself isn’t a good sign,” said a deep voice behind me. “But hey, what do I know? I was the one crazy enough to let you walk away.”
I spun around to see Collin leaning against the stage
as if he were posing for a shot in GQ, his dark brown eyes watching me closely. The left side of his mouth was curved in the tiniest hint of a teasing grin. He wore the bottom half of his football uniform and a white tank top that showed off his muscular arms.
I blinked my eyes about ten times to make sure he was real. Yep, still there. Collin Preston in the flesh. My heart lurched in my chest.
“You’re back,” I exclaimed, the outburst sounding more like an accusation than a fact.
He nodded, his grin dissolving into something serious. “I’m back.”
I shook my head dumbly. Was this real? Was he here to stay? Instead of voicing any of the millions of questions bouncing around in my head, I glanced down at his cleats.
“You’re wearing your uniform.”
He nodded again and took a step closer. Every bone in my body ached at his nearness. “After you left yesterday, my dad went and talked to Coach Goodwin. He agreed to let me back on the team, with the promise that I’d do everything I could to catch up with my school work. And I’m moving back in with Tripp and Gina for the rest of the year.”
His dad had talked to the coach? And now he was moving back in with the Kingsley family? It didn’t make sense. He’d seemed so set on Collin working with him at the garage. What had changed?
“Why?” I asked, my voice sounding small.
“Let’s just say, you made a big impression on my dad,” Collin said matter-of-factly, moving closer until there were only twelve agonizing inches that separated us. I gulped, feeling a flush start on my chest and work its way up my neck. “For the first time, we actually sat down and talked. I told him how much my family, school, football, and this performance meant to me. And then I told him about you.”
My lungs refused to work as he reached out and tenderly touched my cheek. Grief poured into his face and he leaned down slightly to look me in the eyes.
“I told him what an idiot I’d been. How I’d built a wall around my heart when Mom died and how I’d used it as an excuse never to get close to anyone again. But you broke through, and I did the one thing I do best — I lashed out. I pushed you away. I thought I was saving you, but I did the very thing I was trying to avoid. I hurt you.”
Tears stung at the corners of my eyes. I blinked them away, desperately trying to keep myself together.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, closing his eyes. “I’m sorry for not telling you how I was feeling. For running away. And for making you chase me down again. I’m sorry for being a grade A jerk.”
He had been a jerk. A total dream shattering jerk who’d run off with my heart. But all of that hurt was slowly evaporating as I looked up into his face. I fully expected to never see Collin again and yet here he was, standing in front of me. Leaning into his hand still cradling my cheek, I soaked in the warmth of his touch.
He opened his eyes again, his gaze softening. “Audrey...” He bit his lower lip and stepped closer until there was hardly any room left between us. “There’s no one like you.”
My breath left my lungs in a rush and everything seemed to disappear, except for the boy standing in front of me.
