Page 113 of Undone

I glanced at Noah, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. Her playful smirk told me she was enjoying this.

“Uh… maybe,” I replied, trying to keep my words casual while my heart raced.

“Yes!” Gracie squealed, bouncing in her seat. “You have to! You can’t be a couple and not hold hands!”

Laughter filled the car again. With Gracie and Sawyer’s excitement in the air and Noah’s presence, I hit the gas, ready for the concert—and whatever came next.

FORTY-TWO

Noah - November

LONG LIVE (TAYLOR’S VERSION) - TAYLOR SWIFT

We metup with Dotty and Trent, who drove separately since they were leaving for their honeymoon the next day. The stadium stretched out before us, a sprawling sea of movement and color as we all watched from the suite. Ellie wasn’t just performing, she commanded the entire space. Thanks to Sawyer’s NFL connections, we had the perfect view—close enough to see her on stage but far enough to enjoy the moment without being overwhelmed by the crowd.

I’d always enjoyed her music, but something about seeing her live… it was different. Every lyric hit deeper, every melody resonated with something unspoken inside me. The way she moved, graceful but powerful, reminded me of all the times I’d gotten lost in music. It could carry you away from reality long enough to make you feel invincible, like you could accomplish anything.

And seeing Gracie light up, singing every word to every song was something special. She was having the time of her life, and I knew Sawyer would be getting serious uncle points for pulling this off for her.

Dorian stood at the back of the suite, arms crossed, watching the stage with that same intense expression he wore when he thought no one was looking. I caught his eye a few times, and he smiled.

Dotty sang along with Gracie to every word, while Trent stood beside them, attempting to join in but clearly guessing half the lyrics.

When Ellie played her acoustic set, the energy shifted. The lights dimmed, and the entire stadium seemed to hold its breath. Her voice was raw and haunting, filling the space as she sang about heartbreak, love, and everything in between. It was impossible not to get swept up in it. I found myself thinking about everything that had happened over the past few months—John, Dorian, Gracie—and how tangled up my life had become. It was a whirlwind of emotions, but despite all the heartache, I wouldn’t change a damn thing.

But then, just like that, the moment was over, and the tempo kicked up again, fireworks bursting overhead as Ellie launched into her final song. The crowd roared, phones up in the air, trying to capture the magic on their screens, but I didn’t even bother. Some things couldn’t be recorded. They had to be felt.

As the last note rang out and Ellie bowed, the stadium exploded in applause, and I was grateful to be able to experience this with not only my best friend but with Gracie and Dorian too.

“Well, G. What did you think?” Sawyer asked, grinning widely at his niece.

“That was amazing!” She ran over to give him a hug so forcefully, I knew it would have knocked me on my feet, but Sawyer easily had a hundred pounds on me, maybe more, and he barely flinched. “I think this might be the best day ever!”

“I’m glad you had fun. You were a freaking rockstar yourself out there, singing along to every song,” he said, ruffling her blonde locks.

“Daddy even said I could say the bad words during the songs this one time!”

We all laughed, letting the moment sink in.

“We better make our way down there if we are going to do the meet and greet with Ellie,” Sawyer said.

“Meet and greet?” Dotty asked.

“Yeah, did I not mention that?” he said, smiling as if he knew that little bit of information would be a surprise. Gracie pretended to faint, letting the back of her hand on her forehead.

“Okay, I lied. This is definitely the best day ever.”

FORTY-THREE

Dorian - November

RUNAWAY - RAMIN DJAWADI

The energyin the room buzzed as we made our way backstage. The concert was everything Gracie had hoped for. Ellie Miles had given one hell of a performance, and now, minutes from meeting her idol, Gracie was practically bouncing on her toes. Her wide eyes gleamed with excitement, and the contagious thrill of the moment was enough to make me smile.

The backstage area was bustling—every corner filled with quick-moving staff, security guards in dark uniforms, and fans in line still buzzing from the concert. The room was full of the sound of conversations and the low hum of background music coming from hidden speakers. Tall walls surrounded us, painted a sterile white that contrasted with the vibrant energy of the crowd.

“Do you think she’ll like me?” Gracie whispered, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her Ellie Miles T-shirt she threw over her outfit.

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