Page 91 of Rock Bottom

Music filled the room once again. I leaned back against the wall, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips as I listened to the band laughing, playing, and having a good time.

In the midst of the music and laughter, Dante caught my eye and mouthed a silent “thank you,” but I didn’t know what he was thanking me for. Maybe I’d pulled him out of that mine and come just in time to keep Oscar from kidnapping him from the bar, but he’d saved me just as much as I’d saved him. Maybe not in the same way, but he’d shown me what love could look like, and that my happiness was worth fighting for. So was his.

“That boy’s chaos on two legs,” Boone muttered, leaning against the wall next to me. “You sure do know how to pick ‘em.”

I chuckled softly, the tension of the earlier confrontation slowly dissipating. “What can I say? I like a man who keeps me on my toes.”

Boone grinned. “Well, Dante definitely does that. But hey, you got your guy and saved the day, and he canned his management. The chances the label is going to drop their best performing band are less than zero, so everybody wins. I think this counts as a happy ending, at least in my book. Now there’s only one thing left to do.”

I glanced over at Dante, who was engrossed in playing his guitar and sharing a smile with Remi. The weight of everything that had transpired, but it felt lighter somehow knowing Dante was by my side, now and forever.

“What’s that?” I asked, watching Dante with a soft smile.

“Ride off into the sunset with your man by your side for the next adventure.” Boone clapped me on the back. “Good luck out there. You’re gonna need it.”

We shook hands one final time. “Thank you, Boone. For everything.”

“I know you’ll make me proud.” He patted my arm.

The song ended, and Dante handed his borrowed guitar off to Remi before coming over to me. “The guys want to know if you want to go to In-N-Out for some burgers.”

I frowned. “What’s an In-N-Out?”

“Only the best cheeseburgers in the country, man,” Jake scoffed.

Remi agreed with a grunt. “Debatable, since they’re not all over the country.”

“We’ll have to take the jet,” Dante said with a shrug. “But I’m sure we can touch down in L.A. before they close. If we call ahead, they’ll even clear the restaurant for us, but I think it’d be nice to just…show up. Sam would hate it. We might need someone to help with security, though.” He gave my arm a light punch. “How about it, kitten? Unless you’ve got another job lined up?”

I smiled and shook my head. “Nope. I’m all yours now.”

He laughed and kissed my cheek. “You’ve always been mine. You just didn’t know it yet.”

Two months later

I peered out at the sold-out arena. Seventy-five thousand screaming fans had showed up for the first stop on our tour in my hometown of L.A.

I was a whirlwind of nerves and excitement, pacing back and forth in the green room of the sold-out arena like a caged tiger. The buzz of the crowd seeped through the walls, a constant reminder that they were there for us, for our music. Church stood in the corner, a pillar of calm.

I still couldn’t believe he was with me, still here, still cheering me on. It was hard for him with all the noise and the loud music, but we’d worked out a way for him to be close by without it being too triggering. The soundproof headphones he wore around his neck were the best idea I’d ever had.

“You're ready for this, Dante,” Church said, his voice firm but gentle.

I ran a hand through my hair. “I know, but what if I mess up? What if I forget the lyrics or freeze? I’m not used to doing this sober.”

Church stepped forward, placing a steady hand on my shoulder. “If you forget, just think about me making you pancakes in nothing but an apron.” He cracked a grin and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

I hummed and leaned in to run a finger down his chest. “Maybe I’ll imagine you without the apron.”

“Imagine me however you want as long as I get to keep everything on while we’re on the bus.”

I snorted and leaned forward to lightly bite his chin. “You’d better. I don’t want Jake eye fucking my boy toy.”

He chuckled. “If I can live with all the love letters and proposals from your adoring female fans, you can deal with Jake’s eye fucking.”

“He can get his own man. I don’t share,” I said, kissing him. “Be in my dressing room after the set so I can fuck you until you beg me to stop making you come.”

“That’ll never happen,” he said with a huff. “Why would I ever beg you to stop?”

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