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“Levi’slaptopwasbugged.For what it’s worth, I don’t think he leaked your story, Tanner.”
I let out the breath I’d been holding on to all day. My relationship with Levi had saved my life. The thought of him selling me out rocked my foundations and made me question everything. Which was obviously the point of the leaked story.
I reached for my phone and typed out a message.
Me: I know it wasn’t you. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, but it was a lot to see our sessions laid out there for the world to see. Speak to you on Friday for our usual session?
Seconds later, my phone pinged.
Levi: You don’t know how happy this message has made me. Enjoy tonight. See you Friday.
I pocketed my phone again, hearing a cough behind me. I turned to find my brothers and sister standing there dressed like the Cosmic Gods they were, and I couldn’t help but smile. But then they parted and behind them was Emmy.
My mouth dropped.
Her chin length wavy hair was a brighter silver, lips deep red, and eye makeup smoky and dark. She wore a tight, fitted, black top that sparkled as she moved, her black jeans were ripped and distressed, and her red bottomed heels finished the outfit to perfection.
She turned to show me her exposed back and tattooed across her skin were large black angel wings with the word cosmic written across the base of her neck. She waited a moment before she looked back over her shoulder at me.
“You like, rock star?” She raised her eyebrows at me. “They’re temporary because I didn’t think a red back was a good look for tonight, but if you’ll have me… if you want me as a permanent feature, then I’m all in. I will have them tattooed on me tomorrow.”
I growled, rushing towards her, pulling her mouth to mine. “I’m all in, Em. It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful. Although that sounded very much like a proposal, angel.”
She sighed, her lips inches from mine. “I would marry you in a heartbeat, Tanner.”
I looked around the room, realizing Frankie and my brothers had left us alone. “While I love the sound of marrying you, Em, you hated me a couple of days ago. If I’m honest, I’m worried you will realize it’s too much, too soon, and leave my sorry ass while I sleep again.”
“What can I say. I’m fickle.” She laughed, twisting her fingers in mine, looking down nervously. “Honestly, I never stopped loving you. I think it’s been you since you rescued me that first night.” Her eyes came up to meet mine. “You’ve seemed so different since I came back. So confident in yourself, in us. There isn’t a hint of that needy, broken man I was with before. I told you before that I would have loved you for a lifetime and followed you around the world, so you never needed to feel alone again. We weren’t ready then, but I really think we are now. You’re it for me. I want to be your angel for a lifetime. I want those wings on my back, so everyone knows who I belong to.”
I had so much I wanted to say to her. To agree with her that I’d known she was it for me since I met her. That I loved her so much that a lifetime with her didn’t seem enough. That I’d learned how to love her like an equal rather than rely on her like a fix for my addiction. And that the months we’d spent apart had just made me love her more. But I knew we had minutes until we had to leave for the gig, and I didn’t have time to say any of it properly. So I did the only thing I had time for. I crashed my lips against hers and placed my hands over her angel wings, hoping she could feel how much I wanted her.
Someone coughed. “I don’t want to interrupt all this romance, but we have a gig to play. Can you save it until afterward, Tan?” Gray’s urgency forced me from the moment, but I couldn’t help but smile at our conversation.
Pulling her so her ear was next to my mouth, I whispered so no one else could hear. “We will finish this later, angel, but for the record, you’re it for me too. I want those wings permanently on your back tomorrow.” She fisted the shirt I was wearing and pressed her forehead to mine.
“Later,” she husked out.
“Tanner!” Mav yelled. “I know your woman looks hot as hell, but the world is waiting for us and I don’t think ‘I was dry humping my girl’ is a reason to keep them all waiting for us, do you?
“Right, I’m ready. Thomas, give us our instructions,” I murmured, my eyes still fixed on Emmy’s.
“Each of you has two guards. Do not accept food or drink from anyone but them. Do not leave their sides. If you go to the bathroom, they stand outside the stall. This is how serious it is. I can’t protect you if you don’t listen to me. And don’t assume this person is only after Tanner. They went after Emmy, so we have to assume they’re going after you all.”
“We understand, but, guys, this is also the biggest gig we have ever played and we’re allowed to enjoy it. Plus, we get to sing some new songs.” I nudged Frankie who blushed.
“Right, let’s go,” instructed Matt and we all followed.
“No cat piss tea or foot rubs? I’m disappointed, angel.” I pressed my lips against hers at the side of the stage, the screaming from the audience making me shout.
“Go be a rock star, Tanner.”
I walked out onto the stage with Frankie and the twins and everything else fell away.
“Well, hello, world, I’m so happy you tuned in to watch us. For us, any charity that supports children is huge. Because we want to help, but also because I didn’t have the best start in life. I was lucky and found a family who loved me and helped me change everything. Lori, Phil, if you’re watching, which I know you are, I love you. We love you.” The twins riffed their guitars and Frankie played out a drum solo in support of my words.
“Tonight we are going to play you some old faves, but we also have some new, never before heard songs from a new album that we worked on while we were on tour. But before we start, I know I’ve been in the press today. Someone bugged my therapist’s office to get a story about me. I sought out help when I needed it. I was so hooked on drink and drugs that I overdosed. The fact that someone would take my pain and turn it into a story is shameful, but my therapist and me want you to know that I’m not broken and I’ve been sober for nearly a year, so to all the reporters that leaped on the story of me seeking help for my mental health, screw you. You should be ashamed of yourselves. And for anyone feeling the same, don’t be afraid to ask for help. It works. Now, who wants to hear some rock music?”
The crowd went wild as we broke into the first song.
