Nothing has changed in the two weeks I was away from Center Stage Marketing. All the employees work furiously on their computers as I pass by. Diana scheduled a meeting between us first thing this morning. I think she’s anxious to see the plan I’ve come up with for Black Falcon’s charity. I don’t believe Noel ever told her I left the tour a few days early or else she would have just fired me over the phone. 

The door to her office is open wide. I stick my head inside, and she waves me in. I take a seat across from her and balance my computer in my lap.  

“Lanie, it’s so good to see you, and congratulations for lasting the entire two weeks on tour. Noel called me this morning and said you stuck out your time like a champ. Not that it was a major task for you.” She winks at me. 

I swallow hard, feeling a little uncomfortable that she knows so much about my sex life. “Thank you, Ms. Swagger. I actually have the proposal done as well.”

I flip open the screen and stand, but Diana holds up her hand. “No need for that, dear. The more experienced members of my team already outlined the project, and we have things in the works.”

I tilt my head and furrow my brow. “You don’t even want to see what I’ve come up with?”

She holds up her hand, like I’m being ridiculous. “You’re only real job was to look pretty and keep Noel Falcon happy. And you’ve done just that. Leave the real work up to the rest of us.”

I pull my lips into a tight line and slam the lid closed. “You were never going to take me seriously no matter what I did, were you?”

She pulls off her glasses. “Lanie, dear, the sooner you understand that certain people are used for their brains and others are meant to just look pretty, the better off you’ll be. I’m a thinker—a visionary—while you’re the type of person that can wrangle in the clients for me.”

I blow a rush of air through my nose and roll my eyes. “Do you know how archaic that sounds? As a woman, surely you don’t really think that way.”

She shrugs. “That’s reality, honey. You better get used to how things work here in the real world.”

Anger boils through me. Part of me always knew she was using me, but I never imagined she would completely shut me down. She doesn’t even want to give my work a chance. Suddenly, the dream of working under her doesn’t seem like such a grand idea anymore. 

I lift my chin. “You know what, Diana, I quit.”

She flinches. “You can’t quit. Have you forgotten about the contract you signed with me?”

“I didn’t forget. I made it my two weeks on tour, so you can’t sue me, and there’s nothing you can do if I quit now.”

He eyes narrow. “You’ll never get another job in this town again.”

I shrug. “The non-compete was only for New York. I’m fine with leaving this state if this is how business is done here.”

Her jaw drops. No one is going to treat me like a piece of meat, especially not her. The expression on her face shows, that never in a million years did she expect an intern like me, to tell her that she can basically shove her job up her ass. I grin at that thought and turn around, without a second of hesitation, and walk out.

****

“I can’t believe you quit!” Aubrey says as she watches me pack my suitcase. 

I smile as I think about the smug look on Diana’s face disappearing when I quit. “Believe it. That woman’s a tyrant.”

She pokes out her bottom lip. “You sure you can’t stay here? There are a thousand other jobs in this city other than marketing.”

I zip up my suitcase. “I love marketing. That’s where my heart lies. It sucks that I can’t stay here with you, but going back home will be good. Mom misses me like crazy, and I can find a job in Houston or something.” I set my bag on the floor and pull up the handle until it clicks. “I think I’m all set.”

Aubrey steps around the bed and wraps her arms around my neck. I close my eyes and lean into her as a tear escapes down my cheek. I hate leaving her. She’s the only thing I don’t want to leave behind. She rubs big circles on my back. “It’s going to be okay, sweetie. You and Noel can finally have your happily ever after.”

I squeeze her tight. “I don’t know if we can. The entire time we’ve been fighting over him having a girl pregnant, he asked me not to leave him—to let him show me I wasn’t second to him. Then at the first sign of a problem in our relationship, I ran. I don’t know if he’ll forgive me for walking away from him a second time.”

She pats my head. “Sure he will. True love can get through anything. He’ll forgive you.”

God, how do I even go about fixing this? The whole thing is one big clusterfuck. 

She pulls back and wipes her eyes. “Go on, before I decide to hold you hostage here.”

I frown. “You sure you’re going to be alright by yourself?”

She sniffs and then smiles. “Are you kidding? Now I can have all the wild sex parties I want with you gone. Maybe I can even get Riff to visit.”

I roll my eyes. “I’ll tell him you miss his…”

She smacks my arm. “Don’t you dare tell him that, no matter how true it is. That boy has one giant—”

I shove my fingers in my ears. “La! La! La! La! Not listening to you!”

She laughs. “Go on smartass, before you miss your flight. Riff says the pass to get into the V.I.P show for tonight will be at the door under ‘Long-Dick Dong’?”

I shake my head. “Those guys really love giving that pseudo name. I’m so glad to hear he and Noel are working things out since Mike finally told them the truth.”

She sighs. “Me too. I can’t believe that bitch would do that to them. Doesn’t she know she nearly destroyed one of the greatest rock bands ever?”

“Love makes people do insane things, Aubrey. Look at me. I’m traveling cross country to apologize to a man I’m not even sure wants me anymore. He’s not called once in the last couple days since he learned the truth. This is probably a mistake.”

She pushes my long hair over my shoulder. “The only mistake when it comes to love, is not going for it.”

****

I practice everything I want to say in the cab as we speed towards the venue of tonight’s show. Black Falcon is doing a small acoustic show to kick off the children’s literacy campaign for a small audience of three hundred people. I read on the internet the ticket prices jumped up to nearly three hundred a piece for a person to attend such an intimate event.

Aubrey arranged for Riff to leave me a ticket at the entrance after she advised him not to tell Noel I’m coming. I don’t want to cause a scene before the show, so I figure I’ll slip backstage and talk with him after. 

The cab driver stops at the entrance of the A&R Bar and I slide some cash to him before I slip out the door. My heart thunders in my chest as I walk through the entrance. This is it. He’s somewhere in this building. 

I collect my pass from the girl at the door after she snickers at the ridiculous name Riff left it under. Someday I’m going to have to speak with these guys about changing their incognito name.

A small stage sits along the far-back wall, and tables and chairs are arranged to face it. Every seat is packed, except for one in the left corner furthest back from the stage. Silently, I say a prayer of thanks. The further back I sit the better. I don’t want to distract Noel. These people paid a ton of money to watch him sing for an hour.

Chatter all around me dies down as soon as the guys take the stage. Their normal grand entrances aren’t anywhere insight. Instead the guys smile and wave as they take their seats to play an all acoustic set. My eyes lock on Noel as he sets a bottle of water on the floor beside him. The distressed jeans and black t-shirt he’s wearing hug his body perfectly. Dark hair sticks up in every direction and has that messy look that I find unbelievably sexy. Even from a distance, I can see he looks beat down and tired, not his usual upbeat cocky self. A pain in my chest hits me hard and I clutch my shirt in my hand. 

He pulls the mic up to his lips and says a simple, “Hello.”

Trip starts off the beat, thumping rhythmically on a box looking thing, while Tyke and Riff strum their guitars. Noel nods his head and closes his eyes as he sings. His voice is always beautiful, but this time it sounds different. A little more tortured.

Every song goes on that way, most of the time his eyes remaining shut as he belts out the words. Finally, he announces to the crowd this was their last song, and I know it’s almost time to face him. When the last chorus break happens, I stand and grab my suitcase to find my way closer to the stage. As I near the security team, I flash them the backstage pass Riff left for me.  

“Lane?” Noel’s voice echoes around the room. “Is that really you?”

This is exactly what I wanted to avoid—a public scene—but I know I have no choice now. I turn slowly, and our eyes lock. His lips quirk up before he bends down to whisper in Riff’s ear. He stands and meets my stare again. Riff nods and leans over toward Trip and Tyke to fill them in on whatever Noel just told him. 

He brings the mic up to his lips. “This song goes out to the girl who is my everything. I’m not an easy man to love, and music is about the best way I know how to express my feelings to her. This is called Faithfully.”

Riff plays out a few notes on his guitar, and I instantly recognize the melody made famous by Journey. 

After the song intro, Noel’s voice blends into the acoustic chords beautifully. He takes a couple slow steps before hopping off the stage. His eyes fixate on me while coming closer with each step he takes. My heart pounds as he stops directly in front of me. He sings the sweet words about life on the road being tough and how loving a man involved in the music business is hard. Especially, when things don’t always go the way they’re supposed, too. Noel’s eyebrows pull in as he gazes into my eyes and continues the verse. The last few lines he directs to me. They are about me standing by him through everything and that he’s mine, forever, and faithfully. 

A lump catches in my throat and I swallow hard, trying not to cry in front of a room full of strangers. 

Noel grabs my hand and threads his fingers through mine. I squeeze his hand as a tear slips down my cheek. He lets my hand go and brushes it away with his thumb while he continues to sing, He says he’s lost without me, and being apart isn’t easy, but we need to learn to fall in love all over again.

He sings, “Faithfully. Oh oh oh oh…”

 A sob escapes me, and everything I planned on saying to him flies out the window. I can feel how much he loves me through the passion in these lyrics. Noel drops the microphone on the ground, and a loud thud snaps around the room. He cups my face and pulls it to his. Tears stream down both our faces, and he leans in and presses his lips to mine. 

“Forever,” he whispers. “I’m yours.”