Page 118 of Hollow Heart

Lou smoothesout Duncan’s shirt, his jaw tense.

“Are you sure about this?” he asks.

Duncan stands tall, which isn’t difficult. “I’m sure.”

Lou looks at me, shaking his head. “And you? You sure this... is worth it? For you?”

I nod, my voice serious. “If Ghost can choke each other on stage and ignite a hundred fanfics, I’m sure we’ll be just fine.”

Duncan raises an eyebrow.

“You do know who Ghost is, right?” I ask, and he shakes his head.

“I’m starting to wonder if you are worth all this trouble,” I tease.

Duncan glares at me, his lip twitching.

Which is exactly what I want.

Punish me, Daddy, please, please, please.

“All right, five minutes, guys. Take your places,” a staffer says as Romano waves at us.

Lou sighs. “Then I got your back. Both of you. Now, let’s break the fucking Internet. Or whatever the kids say.”

Duncan turns to look at me, giving me a soft smile.

One. Two. Three.

“That’s low even for you.”

Four. Five. Six.

I shrug, haughtily grinning at him, feeling like for the first time in my life I don’t have to worry about a thing.

Seven. Eight. Nine.

Because as long as Duncan is by my side, I know I can handle any storm.

“It’s show time,” Lou says as Romano announces me.

I slide my hand into Duncan’s and he holds it tightly.

Ten.

I walk out among the lights, my hand in his, for all the world to see, as we take our seats.

One WeekLater

Duncan

“Did you pack your toothbrush?”Bobby asks as I zip up my duffel.

“Yes, Bobby, I packedtwo.”

“Okay, what about your?—”

“I have it under control,” I reply as Bobby huffs in annoyance.

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