Page 14 of Rockstar's Accidental Marriage

Cass kisses her, and the audience goes wild, their cheers shaking the walls of the arena. Even the band can’t help but get caught up in the moment, clapping and whooping as Cass and Kendrick bask in the glow of their love.

I glance at Emily again, and she looks like she’s on top of the world. Her eyes are bright, her smile radiant, and for once, she doesn’t seem to notice—or care—that I’m watching her.

Backstage, the energy is electric. Everyone’s talking about the proposal, the love song, the way the crowd ate it all up. Cass and Kendrick are surrounded by well-wishers, and Cassidy is bouncing with excitement, her joy obvious.

Emily stands to the side, watching the scene unfold. I sidle up to her, unable to resist.

“Emily,” I say, my tone supportive. “Looks like the fans loved this.”

She glances at me, her smile never faltering. “Of course, they did. I knew they would.”

Crossing her arms, Emily’s gaze shifts back to Cass and Kendrick. “Derrick always said that Cass having a family would ruin his image. That it would make him seem... less rockstar.”

“And you disagreed,” I state quietly, nodding my approval.

“I knew he was wrong,” she says, her voice firm. “Cass isn’t just a rockstar. He’s a man, a father, someone with a story people relate to. The fans don’t just love the music—they lovehim. And tonight proved that.”

I study her, the way her eyes shine with pride, the way her shoulders are less tense than usual. She’s right, of course. The crowd didn’t just accept Cass’s proposal—they celebrated it.

"This was great, Em," I say, surprising even myself with the sincerity in my voice. She's radiant, her guard down for once, and standing this close to her is dangerous. I can see the pulse point in her neck, remember exactly how it felt under my lips, how she gasped when I—

Her gaze snaps to mine, and for a moment, she looks almost vulnerable. “Thanks,” she says softly.

We stand there in silence, the noise and chaos of the backstage world fading into the background. It’s one of those rare moments where we’re not bickering, not trading jabs, just close.

But, of course, it can’t last.

“Sam!” Vince’s voice cuts through the air, and I turn to see him waving me over.

“Go,” she says, already retreating behind her clipboard. “You’re needed.”

As I walk away, I can’t help but glance back. She’s already immersed in her notes, her expression back to its usual focus.

But for just a second, I let myself wonder what it would be like if she let that wall down completely.

The rest of the night is a whirlwind of celebration. Cass and Kendrick are practically radiating love and contentment. Social media is already lighting up with clips of the ballad and the big moment, and Emily is right there in the thick of it, coordinating with the local PR team to capitalize on the momentum.

By the time we get back to the bus, everyone’s exhausted but happy. Emily heads straight to her corner, her earbuds already in place, and I can’t help but chuckle.

“Night, Boss Lady,” I say as I pass her, just loud enough to make her shake her head.

She doesn’t respond, but I catch the faintest twitch of her lips like she’s fighting a smile.

As I settle into my bunk, I can’t shake the feeling that tonight was a turning point—not just for the band, but for us.

And suddenly, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

Five

Emily

The bus is quieter than usual; the hum of the road and Vince’s faint guitar strumming are the only sounds. Most of the guys are in their bunks, catching up on sleep after the show and media storm in Nashville, but I can’t seem to wind down. My tablet sits untouched on the table in front of me.

I take a sip of water, trying to focus on the list of tasks I need to tackle before we arrive back home. But my mind drifts, unbidden, to a memory I’ve worked hard to bury.

It was years ago, not long after Cass invited me to tag along on the band’s first big tour. I was fresh out of school, starry-eyed and naive, eager to prove that I wasn’t just Cass’s little sister.

And there was Sam.

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