Page 112 of Here's to Yesterday

“He’ll say yes,” Joey tells me withcertainty.

I open my arms up to her, and she huddles in close to me. I kiss the side of her head and say, “I love you, bug. Hope you drove Uncle G nuts while I wasgone.”

“I did,” she says, pulling out of my embrace. Hudson clears his throat behind her. “Oh, yeah. Daddy says for you to tell Rae to ‘say yes’ while you’re singing. He thinks it willhelp.”

I raise brow at Hudson, wondering what the hell that’s about. “I will,Joey.”

“Good. Love you, Uncle Tuck! Bye!” she hollers over her shoulder as she runs toward the waiting car at the side of thebuilding.

I wave to Hudson’s mom, Elle, and immediately turn back to my bestfriend.

“Youdidn’t.”

Hudson’s smile is fucking huge. “Idid.”

“And?”

“Well, you heard the kid.” He points to the door behind me and says, “So you better get your ass in there and tell my girl forme.”

I turn toward the door, pulling it open slightly, and pause. Pivoting back to Hudson and gulping loudly once, I ask, “Isit…?”

“No,” he answers immediately, knowing I’m asking if it’s too late for me and Maura. “It’s not. Stop worrying and go get up on that stage. Sing your heart out. And for the love of God, tell Rae to sayyes.”

We walk back inside just in time to hear Gary step up to the mic. Hudson and I part ways as I head back to the band’s area, and he heads over to ourfriends.

“Welcome, welcome!” The crowd cheers. Gary tries to talk twice but keeps getting drowned out. In typical Gary fashion, I hear, “All right, shut it already!” I chuckle because damn, did I miss the old man. “We’ve got a treat for you tonight. One of our own—myown—decided to run off and make himself into a trending new artist. He’s chosen tonight to grace us with his presence for the first time in over three months. So without further ado, please welcome my son, TuckerBentley!”

The place goes nuts and for the first time in three months, I get pre-show jitters. Not certain if it’s because I’m playing in front of my hometown crowd or because Maura’s out in thecrowd.

Either way, I don’t have time to freak out. When I walk up onto the stage, Gary pulls me into a firmhug.

“Missed you, son,” he says in myear.

“Missed you too,Dad.”

He gives me a pat on the back and hustles off the stage, and if I’m not mistaken, wipes hiseyes.

Sitting down on my stool, I clear my throat in my usual way, and the house goes quiet. I search beyond the lights for the person I came backfor.

My eyes find hers almost immediately, whisking away the air in my lungs. She seems happy and sad and unsure all atonce.

But she’s still fuckingbeautiful.

Maura looks different yet still the same as she did when I left. Her eyes are still a vibrant shade of blue, but they’re somehow happier now. Her pale blonde hair that was once tipped with dark pink is now dipped in dark blue. Her clear complexion is as radiant as ever, maybe even more so now than before. She’s still everything Iwant.

Then that guy I saw her with earlier comes into my line of sight. He’s gigantic, packed full of muscles, and a little intimidating. I have to give the dude credit because he’s hovering over my girl with a fierce sense of protection—exactly what I’d be doing if some jackass was leering at her the way Iam.

But I’m no average jackass. And that girl is stillmine.

My chest is thumping, and I’m fighting the urge to jump the stage, punch Fuck Face, and kissMaura.

But Idon’t.

Instead, I peel my eyes from hers, lean down toward the microphone, and give that same smirk I always do. “Did you guys miss me or what?” Cheers erupt again. “Good. The road has been fun, but Wakefield is home. Since I missed you all so much, I’m going to play you all a new song calledYesterdaythat hasn’t been recorded yet. It’s for a special someone, who I hope is listening closely tonight. But first I just have one thing to say.” Holding my hand up to my eyes to shield my gaze from the lights, I find Rae and stare her down. “Rae, sayyes.”

“HUDSONTAMELL!”

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