EPILOGUE 2
Lex
The music from the theater thrummed through my ears as I sprinted backstage for a costume change. I had precisely three minutes to put on my next outfit—a black sequined bra, jean shorts, and a pair of white high-tops.
By now, I had this down. I knew I’d reach my entrance marker with around two minute to spare. I knew the rest of the girl Ravens would be right beside me the entire time, but for the sake of my focus during the immense rush of live performances, I didn’t even see them. Not until I was safely waiting for our cue to get on the stage.
“All right, girls, take your marks. You’re on in two.”
The countdown began as we edged around the stage and prepared to join Winter. From this spot in the wings, I could see the stretch of crowd that was eating out of the palm of Winter’s hand as she chatted them up. They couldn’t take their eyes off her.
But then why did it feel as though someone had eyes on me?
I felt it on the back of my neck—a tingling that raised my hair, a warmth that crawled under my skin and wrapped my chest. And somehow I knew Theo was there.
I searched the crowd until my gaze got to the side stage and slowed. My pulse raced as our eyes locked, and a smile slowly grew on his face.
I took off running. Left my mark. Tore through the twelve feet that separated us, over tangled cords and light poles and speakers. I leapt onto the rail of the side stage until Theo was directly in front of me. My heart felt as if it could burst from my chest.
“Surprise,” he said, his eyes traveling to my lips. “Miss me?”
Seeing him there after an entire two weeks apart, his light eyes shining back at me, I couldn’t resist him a second longer. My mouth crushed against his as my arms slid around his neck to hold him closer.
“Lex,” someone hissed.
I ignored them.
“You weren’t supposed to see me until after the show,” he said before I kissed him again, inhaling his scent like a damn junkie. “But now that you’ve spotted me, you should know there are others here too.”
I grinned over his shoulder at Janelle. “I already knew Janelle was here, silly.”
He shook his head as his eyes moved toward the media pit below the stage. “I made sure to give them front row seats.”
I cocked my head at him and narrowed my eyes. Okay, something is up. “Theo?” I questioned in warning. Then I turned in the direction his eyes were pointed and gasped when I saw my parents looking stiff and awkward, just as I remembered them. They were here for me. Emotion felt packed in my throat as I turned back to Theo. “You did this?”
He bit his lip and nodded.
“I love you.” I smiled with my words, just as someone hissed my name again. It was Amie, calling to me from the stage, where I knew time was running down to the final second.
Through the fog in my brain, I sucked in a breath, jerking away from Theo with a laugh. “Rain check?”
Theo nodded. “Definitely.” He jerked his head up, gesturing behind me to the stage. “They’re waiting for you. Time to kill it.”
This time, I was the one who winked as I dropped back down from the rail. “Always do, Theo.” I bit my bottom lip, my chest swelling as I realized in the moment just how far I’d come. “Always do.”
And then I flipped around to take the stage, carrying my center with me.
It would never leave me again.
SURPRISE! The extended epilogue can be found here: