Page 62 of Giving Chase

When it's over, when the reporters file out and the cameras power down, she crosses the room to me. Everyone pretends not to watch.

"So," she says softly. "Worthy of me, huh?"

"Too much?" My hands itch to touch her, but we're still in public. Still navigating this new reality.

"No." She straightens my collar, fingers lingering. "Just right. Like everything else lately."

"Even though I didn't ask first? About going public?"

"Chase." Her smile is soft, private. Just for me. "You just told the world you love me. In front of cameras. Completely sober. That's... that's everything I never let myself hope for."

"I do love you." The words still feel like freedom. "Figured it was time everyone knew."

"Good." She steps back, professional mask sliding back into place, but her eyes are dancing. "Because Page Six is going to have a field day with this, and I'd hate to have to deny it."

"Does this mean I can finally kiss you at the ceremony?"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." But she's still smiling as she walks away.

Will claps my shoulder. "You know the board's going to have opinions about this."

"Let them." I watch her go, the swing of her platinum hair, the confidence in her stride. "Some things are worth the hassle."

"Yeah?" He grins. "Like what?"

"Like finally getting to write happy love songs."

His laugh follows me out of the room. For the first time in twenty years, I'm leaving a press conference steady on my feet, clear in my head, and absolutely certain about where I'm going.

Right where I've always been heading.

Right to her.

Later, when it's just us in her office, I show her how worn the engraving has become on the stainless steel guitar pick from ten years of worrying it between my fingers.

"You kept it." Her voice is soft with wonder. "Through everything?"

"My good luck charm. My reminder. My..." I laugh softly. "My sobriety chip before I earned the real ones."

"Chase..." She traces the worn edges. "All those years, even when..."

"Even when I was at my worst. Even in rehab. Even when I thought I'd lost you forever." I fold her fingers around it. "Some things you just know you have to hold onto."

Her laugh is everything I've ever tried to capture in melody.

Some songs don't need to be written. They just need to be lived.

Don’t Stop the Devil

ELIZA

"Your phone is blowing up,"Chase observes from my office couch, where he's sprawled with an amused smile. "Mine too."

"Mute it," I mutter, staring at my laptop screen. Every industry blog is running with the story. Photos from the shoot splashed across headlines, intercut with footage from the press conference. That clip from the Grammys is trending again – Chase kissing me on his way to accept Album of the Year, leaving me stunned in my seat as he took the stage.

Michelle bursts in without knocking. "Okay, so TMZ is running with 'Rock's Greatest Love Story Finally Confirmed.'Billboard'sgoing with something more tasteful about your professional history.Rolling Stonewants an exclusive interview?—"

"No," Chase and I say in unison.

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