Page 13 of Rockstar's Accidental Marriage

“You know,” I say, plopping down next to her as the bus rolls down the highway, “you’d be more comfortable on your brother’s bus.”

She sighs, pulling out one earbud. “Why do you care where I stay?”

“I don’t,” I say with a shrug. “But Cass does. He’d sleep easier knowing you’re not stuck with us degenerates.”

“I’m fine,” she insists, her tone clipped.

“You keep saying that, but I’m not convinced.”

“What do you want from me, Sam?” She suddenly demands. “Do you want me to confess that I made a colossal mistake? That this bus is a nightmare? Fine. You got it.”

I blink, caught off guard by her outburst. “I wasn’t trying to—”

“Save it,” she says wearily, standing and fleeing to the back of the bus.

The rest of the ride is tense, the air between us thick with tension.

By the time we reach Nashville, I’m convinced that staying away from Emily is the right move. She’s too stubborn, too moody, and too damn distracting for my peace of mind.

But as I watch her expertly handling the show, I can’t help but admire her.

She’s maddening, sure, but she’s also beautiful, sexy, and so captivating that it’s driving me crazy.

And no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to stay away.

Nashville is alive tonight. The crowd is a sea of energy, their voices rising and falling in waves as the band delivers hit after hit. Cass is on fire, his voice raw and powerful as he pours himself into every lyric. The rest of us feed off his energy, drivingthe music harder and higher until it feels like the arena itself is vibrating.

But even in the middle of all this, my eyes keep returning to the side of the stage. Emily stands there, watching everything like a hawk. She’s all business, as usual, but there’s something different tonight. She’s not just managing. She’s enjoying herself.

As I watch, Emily tilts her head to the side, and her dark hair falls forward—I should be paying attention to my music and the crowd. Instead, my mind drifts to that night in Vegas. Emily was above me, leaning toward me, her hair falling forward. Then I rolled, and I felt the sting of her nails on my back...

“Eyes on the guitar, Romeo,” Luke yells over the music, glancing at me, his tone teasing.

I shake it off, refocusing on the music. The last thing I need is for anyone—especially Emily—to think I’m ogling her.

Cass finishes the current song with a flourish, the crowd roaring in approval. He steps up to the mic, a slow smile spreading across his face as he waits for the noise to settle.

“Thank you, Nashville,” his voice warm and familiar. The crowd erupts again, and he laughs. “You’ve been an incredible audience tonight. But before we wrap things up, I’ve got something special planned,” he says, his words slowing, his tone full of emotion. “Over the last year, my life has changed in ways I never thoughtpossible. I’ve found something more important than fame, more important than the music. I’ve found love and a family.”

I glance at Nate, who raises an eyebrow. None of us knew about this ‘something special.’

“I’ve got a new song for you tonight,” Cass continues, his blue eyes scanning the sea of faces. “It’s slower than my usual stuff—a love ballad, actually. And it’s one I didn’t write alone. I had the best co-writers I could ever ask for: my daughter Cassidy and her mom, Kendrick Cash.”

Cass gestures to the wings, and Kendrick and Cassidy step out onto the stage. The crowd goes wild, their cheers nearly deafening as Cass places a kiss on his daughter’s forehead, and then she waves shyly at the audience. Cass pulls Kendrick closer, and they ease into a slow, melodic song. It’s different from our usual setlist—softer, more intimate—but the audience is completely captivated. Kendrick’s voice joins Cass’s, their harmonies weaving together in a way that’s nothing short of magical.

Even Cassidy sings a line, her voice clear and sweet, and the crowd responds with a wave of applause so loud it gives me goosebumps.

As the final notes fade, Cass steps forward, his guitar slung over his shoulder. “I’ve got one more thing to say,” he announces, his voice carrying over the thunderous applause.

Cass turns to Kendrick. The crowd grows quiet, sensing that something big is about to happen.

He drops to one knee, pulling a small box from his pocket. The arena erupts in cheers, the sound almost drowning out his next words.

“Kendrick,” he says, his voice unwavering. “You’re my everything. You’re the woman who gave back my heart, my family, and a better life. Will you marry me?”

For a split second, the entire world seems to hold its breath. And then Kendrick nods, tears streaming down her face as she pulls him to his feet.

“Yes,” she says, her voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd. “Yes, Cass. A thousand times, yes.”

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