Page 31 of Rockstar's Accidental Marriage

“This one’s for all of you,” Cass says, flashing his signature grin before launching into the opening chords of our first song.

The music takes over, the familiar rhythms coursing through me like second nature. My fingers glide over the strings, the notes pouring out of me in a way that feels effortless. The crowd is on their feet, singing along to every word, their voices blending with Cass’s in perfect harmony.

Moments like these remind me why I do this, why I love it.

The set flies by in a blur of lights and sound, each song flowing seamlessly into the next. By the time we hit the halfway point, the energy in the arena is palpable, a living, breathing thing that feeds off the music and throws it back at us tenfold.

Cass pauses between songs to catch his breath, the crowd wildly cheering as he steps up to the mic. “How are we doing, Jacksonville?”

The response is deafening.

“We’ve got a few more for you,” he says, strumming the opening notes of one of our biggest hits. “But first, I want to take a second to say thank you. Thank you for making this night unforgettable.”

The crowd erupts again, and I can’t help but grin as I glance over at Cass. He’s always been good at this—at connecting with the fans, making them feel like they’re part of something bigger.

We dive into the next song, the familiar chords filling the air. It’s one of my favorites to play, the kind of song that makes you lose yourself in the music.

I catch sight of Emily standing off to the side of the stage, a sweet smile playing on her lips. Something warm unfolds in my chest at the sight of her —not the usual heat of desire, but something deeper, more tender. The stage lights catch her face just right, making her glow, and for a moment, it's like she's the only person in the arena.

By the time we hit the encore, the crowd is at a fever pitch, their energy driving us to give it everything we’ve got. Cass steps back to let the spotlight shine on Luke and Vince during their solos, and I take a moment to soak it all in—the lights, the cheers, the way the music vibrates through my bones.

When the final note fades, the applause is deafening, the crowd chanting for more. Cass steps back up to the mic, wiping the sweat from his brow as he smiles at the sea of people.

“Thank you,” he says, his voice warm and sincere, “for being here tonight, for sharing this moment with us. Jacksonville, you’re amazing!”

The cheers grow louder, and I can feel the pride swelling in my chest. This is what it’s all about.

Cass glances over at me, then at the rest of the band, before turning back to the crowd. “Before we wrap this up, there’s someone I want to acknowledge. Someone who’s been working her ass off behind the scenes to make nights like this possible.”

“Emily,” Cass says, his voice carrying easily over the noise. “Come out here.”

The crowd cheers, and I glance toward the wings to see Emily standing there, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Don’t make me come get you,” Cass teases, and the crowd laughs.

I catch her eye with a grin, and after a moment, she steps forward, the spotlight catching her as she walks onto the stage.

Cass meets her halfway, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as he turns back to the mic.

“For those of you who don’t know,” he says, grinning, “this is my sister, Emily. She’s not just my sister—she’s our manager. And let me tell you, she’s damn good at her job.”

The crowd cheers, their applause echoing through the arena as Emily blushes, her expression a mix of embarrassment and pride.

“She’s the reason we’re here tonight,” Cass continues, his tone sincere. “She’s the reason we’ve been able to take things to thenext level. And I think she deserves a hell of a lot of credit for everything she’s done for us.”

The applause swells, the crowd chanting her name, and I can see the way her shoulders straighten, the sparkle in her eyes as she takes it all in.

“Say hi to the crowd, Em,” Cass says, holding the mic out to her.

She hesitates for a moment, then leans in, her voice steady despite her obvious nerves. “Hi, everyone.”

The crowd roars, and I can’t help but smile as I watch her. She looks radiant under the lights, her usual calm professionalism giving way to something more genuine.

Cass hugs her again before turning back to the crowd. “All right, let’s give it up for Emily one more time!”

The applause is deafening, and as Emily steps back toward the wings, she glances over at me, our eyes meeting for a fleeting moment of connection. Then, her smile freezes, replaced by a look of sheer panic. Her hand reaches out, grasping for anything, but finds nothing. Her steps falter, and she stumbles, her knees buckling beneath her.

The world tilts as, in slow motion, she collapses onto the stage.

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