Chapter Ten

Brandon

Blinding spotlights shine down on us like the sun. I take it in along with the welcoming cheers from the crowd.

Every show, we cast our hearts out into the arena, our music speaking what we’re incapable of saying, and this is our reward.

It’s not the fame. Hell, it’s not even the money.

It’s this. It’s them. The fans standing on their feet. Clapping. Screaming. Wanting more.

I give it all to them. A man hungry for their love. Starving for an endless night without a finale. Where I don’t have to go back to my empty hotel room.

Only this time, it’s not empty. And if I can convince Maria otherwise, it’ll rarely ever be empty again.

I want to wake up to her every day like I did this morning.

I want to brush the dark tendrils of hair from her face and trace a finger over her cheekbone, across her chin and to her mouth. I want to watch her wake up slowly.

It’s a scene I want to repeat over and over again.

From my periphery, I spot her blending into her surroundings as she photographs our show. I scream a final good night into the microphone and hold a hand up in the air. Maria lifts the camera to her face and from here, I know she nailed the angle.

Gorgeous and talented.

And mine.

Along with her pain in the ass brother who’s been watching our show from backstage, just like I promised. And her little sister who stayed in my hotel suite with Leah. Pretty sure I won’t have a problem convincing Leah to add babysitting to her list of duties. And although I know she’d do it with only a few sarcastic remarks, I make a mental note to increase her salary.

Royce bumps my shoulder when I give our audience my back. “You gonna go get your girl?”

I turn my head to follow his gaze to Maria, who’s camera is pointed at us.

“Yeah, I think I am.”

Long strides carry me to her as I edge farther away from the roaring crowd. I offer her my hand when I reach her and she takes it. It feels right, like this is where she belongs. Her lips spread and a soft sigh hits my face.

“That was amazing!” she shouts, hugging her arms around my neck.

Snaking a hand around her waist, I pull her closer to me. “You or me?” I whisper, nipping at her ear.

“Me, obviously.”

With her ear between my teeth, I tug and she slaps my shoulder.

“You weren’t too bad yourself, Rock God. But I need to get out of these shoes. They’re killing me.”

“Death by shoes doesn’t sound as exciting as death by multiple orgasms. Maybe you should hold off on dying until I have you beneath me.”

Against my neck, I feel her lips twitch. “Finally!”

She skirts away from me and does this weird little celebratory dance. The sides of my lips kick up even higher.

“There’s one condition before you can have all of this.” I wave a hand around my body.

She throws her brows to her hairline. “You want to get to know me even better?” she gripes.

“Oh for shit’s sake, Maria,” I grumble. “You can’t tell me you don’t feel this… whatever it is we have. It’s something more than just sex or…”

“Brandon…”

“… whatever. I know you don’t think you have the time or space for me but…”

“Brandon…”

“… what about us? It’s crazy. I know it is. But would it be that awful to travel with us as a photographer?” I rush out. “I know you probably think the road isn’t a life for kids, but we can make it work. Or at least, you could give it a try. We could homeschool Gabe and I dunno, we can be a team with Ada and Gabe and when our relationship works out – because I swear to you, Maria, we will work because I won’t stop trying, and you’ll come to love me as much as I know I can love you, we can show them what a family can look like. It’d be just like any normal couple, except…”

“Except you’re Brandon Wright,” she cuts me off.

My chest heaves as her words thunder in my ears. And damn it, I want to shake her, yell at her. I’m more than the music, more than the fame. I thought she’d at least know that by now.

I know she’s scared and I get it, I really do. She’s scared, but so am I. Sometimes you have to push past that fear and reach for more.

“You’re this stranger who came into my life and made me want to hope and believe in silly dreams.” She reaches for me and caresses a cheek with her soft hands. Her eyes search mine and I hope mine show her everything she needs to know. “You’re this incredible, beautiful man who reminded me what it’s like to have butterflies fly in my belly, and I don’t know how to say yes or no to you anymore. Do you even know what you’re asking, Brandon? You’re not asking me out on a date, but to take on my family, my responsibilities.”

“I’m asking you to be by my side with two kids I already care about. They’re not a burden and neither are you.”

That beautiful smile I seem to work so hard for reaches her eyes and it fills me.

“You want me to travel with you? With the kids?”

“Yes.” I bob my head. “Or if you want to stay here, stay, and I’ll fly you guys out to shows and come visit when I can.”

“But either way, you want me? You want us?” She sucks in her bottom lip and bites down.

My chest tightens and again, I nod. “All three of you.”

Tears brim from behind her eyes but when her lips spread even wider, it hits my chest and I swear my heart sings.

“Do you think we met by accident?” she asks, tilting her head to the side. “I think you were sent to me, Brandon. You forced me to find the silver lining. No one ever meets by chance or luck.” She presses her lips hard against mine and says, “You were sent to me so I could start a new life with you. I want to give us a chance and see how perfect we turn out.”

I pull her tight against my chest and rest my chin on the top of her head. Her heart beats against mine and tonight... tonight life gives us our fairytale.

‘I want to give us a shot.” She tilts her head up to look at me. “Lets see how perfect we can be.”