Page 11 of Sinner's Vow

So I close my own. I remember how it felt that night Noah and I met.

“You know,”Noah said, “I haven’t been able to talk to anyone about this. I’ve felt like I was…suffocating, for so long. And then I tried to make myself feel better. I was so damn desperate. And I’ve been so ashamed of what I’ve been doing to try to feel better. But this…” he shook his head. “If I had known all along that you were out there, that you’d listen and not think the worst of me.” he leaned forward and cupped his hand to my cheek, and my heart had gone crazy. It was right then that I knew this man was different. “I would have come and found you months ago, Kennedy.”

I open my eyes, and find myself eye to eye with the very same man.

So I hold on to how that night felt. I keep it right at the surface, and I let go of the complexities that have formed.

I sing. I sing like I sang that night. I feel every word.

I let myself fall into those incredibly dark eyes of Noah’s.

And as the last of the words fade away, he doesn’t look away immediately.

Neither do I.

But the crowd goes insane. Their cheers and clapping grow so loud that my ears hurt. I can feel the sound throughout my entire body.

And suddenly, Noah pulls me into his chest and he wraps his arms around me. I feel his lips on top of my head and those strong arms grip me tightly like he doesn’t want to let go.

Something about this feels different from when he held my hand before we started singing.

But over Noah’s shoulder, I see the stage manager waving for me to get off the stage. I clear my throat, getting Noah’s attention.

He stands, looking down at me once more. And it’s a natural move when I reach up, cupping his cheek like he did to me that night. I smile. And then I walk across the stage, feeling Noah’s eyes on me.

“Isn’t she the most incredible human being who ever walked this earth?” Noah’s voice echoes throughout the stadium. The crowd goes crazy again. And as I step backstage, Tyler launches into the intro of Fire Angel.

Mia squeals as I walk toward her and then throws her arms around me. “You were so amazing out there. You looked so calm and collected.”

“Trust me, I didn’t feel it,” I say as Sophia snaps a picture of the two of us.

“No one would ever know,” Mia says with another of her blinding smiles.

“Thanks,” I say. “Excuse me. My nervous bladder can’t take any more.”

Mia laughs and lets me go. I step around her, aiming for the bathroom I saw on my way to the stage.

“If that’s the best you’ve got then we’re screwed.” I pause when I hear Gina’s voice from farther behind stage. “All the tabloids will have a field day when they realize this marriage is a sham.”

“I…” I studder, taken off guard by her nasty words. “I’m doing my best. It’s kind of a complicated situation.”

She scoffs and shakes her head. “Better work on your acting skills, red. You screw up, and it’s not just Noah’s reputation you’ll damage. All of Sinner’s Run is counting on you.”

“Fuck you,” I say, anger rising in my throat. And I don’t give her any more chances to berate and belittle me. I turn and head straight for the bathroom.

Where I promptly throw up the moment the door is closed behind me.

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