I’ve never felt so high in my entire life.

The applause.

It’s intoxicating.

Alliance is sold-out, its entirety on their feet for an ovation I’ve never experienced.

I cannot stop grinning.

For once I’m not in the back making room for the stars. No wonder people chase a dream as hard as they chase this one, appreciation of this magnitude on the other side. I could get addicted to such a feeling.

Our star takes his solo bow, and I eagerly clap right along with the audience even though perhaps I’m not supposed to. I completely forget myself. Look at how he shines in the lights. So beautiful. Back poised, muscles in his legs flexed as he takes two steps back to be at my side. Asher truly is a star, dignified, even regal! But he has experience standing upfront like this, basking in the smiles of strangers who are grateful to have seen his talent tonight.

I glance to Logan, but find him staring expressionless.

He must be in shock.

We’ve always danced background. That he had a speaking role in this beautiful musical that brought tears to people’s eyes — they’re wiping them now! — is as uncommon an experience for him as for me.

Our choreographer steps forward to take her bow. Many in the audience know exactly who she is. Tonights crowd contains many of the theaters sponsors and benefactors. Besides them, Atlanta isn’t a huge city. It’s the biggest we have in Georgia, and we have much pride in our arts here. Galloway’s face and reputation are well known.

Her applause is stronger than ours. And just like Asher, she shines. With perfect timing, her fingers float to the orchestra and we all point as well, indicating that it’s time for the the audience to send a little love.

I clap very hard, beaming at Jacob Fiorentino, our composer. He will forever be burned into my memory as the one who guided my first lead-role dance. I’m acting like a complete dork right now, but so what? I’m beyond grateful.

Dad whistles from fourth row, center. Mom is grinning next to him. With them are Lexi, Hunter, Max and Natalie, all so proud. I wish Caden were here!

I wave and bend as the curtain closes.

But the applause does not stop.

Ms. Galloway directs us to remain where we are as it escalates. Music resumes. The curtains glide back open.

It was all worth it.

The bruises.

The tears.

Being yelled at by her genius.

Standing onstage, faces spotlit, every single one of us would do it all again.

My mind flashes to Marion, smile flickering. What a tragedy my ticket cost her so much.

Asher takes my hand and my focus, lifting both into the lights. This is very generous of him to showcase me. I don’t have a huge role. Logan’s part is much bigger than mine. I never even speak.

But the love story is what propels the story, so I guess I never needed to.

As I watched Marion rehearse every day and night, I always thought it powerful that Izzy never uttered a word as drama unraveled around her.

That’s how I knew the steps. I’d learned the main dance in the audition, the rest memorized from how many hours I spent watching her perfecting them. I could’ve scrolled through random stuff on my phone in some corner like most everyone else during our breaks, as the main act solidified. Instead I studied to become a better dancer.

There’s Zoe with her brothers, Nathan and Wyatt. Musicals aren’t their thing, but they showed! I want to kiss them, I’m so glad to see their faces. Nicholas and Maddie, I can’t see. I guess they couldn’t make it.

Oh, Hannah and Tobias! She blows me a kiss, and I laugh and throw one back. They must have gotten a sitter for Clara.

Where is Emma? They’re best friends, and this would have been exactly their jam.

Grandma Nance and Grandpa Michael are in the second row, so close I didn’t see them at first! And they’re with Ethan and Charlie.

“Grams!” I call out as I spot her on the other side of Grandpa, her ex-congressman son who dwarfs her, since she can’t stand with everyone else. She’s so tiny in the seat as bright blue eyes shimmer, her frail fingers separately waving hello. “I love you, Grams!”

My dad shouts, “You’re not supposed to talk to us.”

Grams yells back with her southern drawl, “Language, Jason!”

“What?! I didn’t swear!”

“You chastised her while she’s takin’ her bows!”

People around them laugh as the curtains close again and for the last time. I’m laughing, too, and even though Asher is still holding my hand, my gaze searches our cast for my best friend. He’s the one who will understand the comedy of that moment. I need to see the grin Grams gave him.

“Logan!” I call out. He’s walking away now that the audience can no longer see us. “Logan!” He doesn’t turn around. That’s odd.

“Sam,” Asher says. “You are amazing.”

Shyly tucking my hair back, I smile, “I was just following you.”

He traces my jawline, hazel eyes filled with meaning. He’s the prettiest man I’ve ever seen, and I’m on stage at the Alliance with him. How did I get so lucky?

He and I feel her before we see her, glancing over as Ms. Galloway approaches. Even she who has danced hundreds of performances, is glowing from the response we got tonight.

“Samantha, you did a fabulous job. I am very impressed. I didn’t know how you would pull that off, but I thought if anybody could do it, it was you. I pay attention. Just like you. You want to go far in this business, keep it up.”

“Thank you, Ms. Galloway.”

One of the singers pulls her to a corner with a desperate question, leaving Asher and I alone.

I’m staring at his lips, so happy it’s like my skin is singing. “Everyone is going to the Vortex for drinks after.”

“Why don’t you come back to my hotel tonight?”

I blink up, taken aback by the assumption I would jump into bed like that. I’m not as old fashioned as Zoe is, but come on. “I wanted to celebrate with everybody tonight, Asher.”

He opens his mouth to object, or perhaps be more persuasive, but my family walking up behind me interrupt, “Sammy!”

He lowers his voice to say, “I’ll catch you later.”

Nodding, I run to mom and give her a hug as she laughs, so happy for me. I’m taller than her—hell, the whole world is taller than her—so I bend to hear the whisper she wants to share with only me. “You were so beautiful I was crying.”

“Really?”

She nods, glowing with pride.

Dad envelops me in a bear hug, rocking us back and forth. “You were floating. I swear I never saw your feet touch the ground.”

“Dad, you’re exaggerating.”

“I’m not.” Pride shines from his eyes as he holds my shoulders and stares at me like he can’t believe I’m his little girl. “You were a superstar out there tonight.”

I melt and give him another hug, closing my eyes as he squeezes me tight.

Lexi and Zoe wait while everybody takes turns saying the most amazing things to me. Since we live together, they are biding their time until we are alone. I can’t wait to tell them about Asher.

Grandpa Michael has become a lot more talkative after he retired from politics. But tonight he’s just smiling in a silent way like the performance made him speechless.

Grandma Nance is his opposite. She is going on and on, gushing until finally Hannah says, “Grandma, where is Grams?”

“She had a cold last week and the cough has stuck around. One of her friends drove her here tonight, and they left since Samantha saw her and she was able to say hello from the audience.” Turning to me, she adds, “Grams didn’t have the energy to come backstage, honey, but she said she knew you’d be that good. It was no surprise to her.”

I laugh, and hug Max as he tells me, “Wow, just wow. I wish Caden was here to see that!”

“I know!” I sigh, pulling back with a sad smile. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“I videoed some of it to send to him.”

“You’re not supposed to do that!”

“So?”

I smack his arm and look at Hunter. He jerks his chin up at me, shoving hands in his pockets on a proud smirk.

With the albums Dad’s produced, and the music careers Mom’s managed, they’re thoughtful to call an end to the family congratulations.

“Are you going out with the cast tonight?” Mom asks, intending everyone to know.

Dad nods, “We’ve taken up enough of your time.”

I smile, “We’re going to the Vortex. You guys wanna come?!”

Mom rolls her eyes. “No, honey, this is your big night and you should be with the people who understand what it took to get here. We just wanted to be in the audience watching you shine.”

Hannah gives me a hug. “I have a sitter watching Clara.”

“Where is Emma?”

“Big as a whale, so she needed the beach. Aka her couch. She’ll come before the run is over, but she backed out at the last minute because her feet wouldn’t fit into anything other than slippers.”

Her MMA husband, Tobias, slips me a flask. “Take this to the party.”

“Woodford Reserve?”

“Like you’d drink whiskey.”

My jaw drops on a grin. “You don’t know what I drink! Maybe I take it straight.” Glancing to Grandpa Michael I demure, “I’m kidding!”

He gives me a wary look with humor crinkling his sharp, green eyes. “You better be.”

Turning comically away I whisper loud enough for everyone to hear me, “Seriously, what’s in this?”

“A green smoothie.”

“No, you didn’t!”

Tobias’s deep laugh shakes his shoulders. “Congratulations, Sam.” Turning to Hannah he says, “We could tell the sitter to wait.”

“No, Aunt Sarah’s right. Let Sammy be with her cast tonight. And that lead, wow! Was it just me or is there something between you?”

Everyone is interested. I throw up my hands. “Too soon, guys, too soon!”

We say our goodbyes and Zoe whispers to me, “He’s beautiful,” right before she goes.

Hunter lags behind the others. He throws me a look and shakes his head.