Page 159 of He's The Reason Why

“That’s fantastic,” Renic said. He high-fived Blake. “Way to go.”

“We earned back our spend in the first three days,” Blake said. “Still can’t believe it.”

“It’s the Bellamy Babes fan group. I told ya, they’re rabid,” Piper said.

“What’s it done since then?” Adam asked.

“Two twenty-five and counting,” Piper told them. “But what’s better than the money—”

“Nothing’s better than the money,” Renic put in.

“What’s better than the money,” Piper repeated, “is there’s already rumors about a Golden Globe nomination.”

“That’s awesome!” Della clapped. “I want to go to the award ceremony.”

“It hasn’t happened yet,” Blake cautioned. “These things are super political, and it’s just a rumor. We might not even be nominated, much less win anything.”

“It’ll win,” Della said with authority. “It’s fantastic, and the end credit song Piper did is still topping the charts.”

“No way they don’t recognize that kind of firepower,” Blake agreed.

“You both starred in two massive hits in the same year,” Lizzie pointed out. “Didn’tScorchedbreak box office records?

“They say it might top a billion worldwide,” Blake said. “It’s insane how fast that took off. It turned out to be a great idea to hold the release for February.”

Mattie came out from behind the rack of clothes in a long black skirt and crop top that revealed a sliver of stomach. “How do I look?”

Piper grinned at the look on Adam’s face. He adored her sister, and it showed.

“Baby, you look like a million stars just volunteered to leave heaven to be your dress.”

Blake snuck up behind Piper and gave her a hug. “You look better than that,” he whispered.

A stagehand knocked on the door, then opened it. “Curtain’s in five. Everybody ready?”

“Oh yeah,” Piper said. “I’m more than ready. I’ve been waiting for this for months.”

“Years,” Mattie said.

Della beamed at them. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my entire life.”

“Okay, ladies, and gentlemen, let’s do this,” Lizzie said. She stood by the door and waited for them all to file out.

Piper did most of the show by herself, like she always did. Her fans knew something was up, and the excitement had reached a fever pitch by the time she got to the most important part of the night.

“There’s somebody special here tonight. Please help me welcome Blake Ryan!” she told them over thunderous applause.

Blake ran out onto the stage dressed in the charcoal suit he’d worn fors. She loved him like this. He looked confident and sexy, and she had a feeling he broke every heart in the sold-out arena with his smile, if the screaming from the front row was any indication.

“Would you like to hear him sing?” she asked to even louder cheers.

“I think that’s a yes,” Blake said in his microphone.

“I think you’re right.” Piper cued the band, and they playedthe intro for “Trouble Wandered In,” the song that played over the end credits of the movie.

Blake flirted with her, she teased him, and the audience ate it up. If this live stream didn’t boost the box office forConned, nothing would.

When the song was over, Blake stayed on stage. She held his hand and waited for some of the noise to die down with one finger against her lips in a silent plea for them to hush.

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