Page 114 of Grave Misgivings
I’ve always known what I wanted.
I just never said it out loud, but I am now.
I sing from the bottom of my fucking heart, that it’s always beenhim.
It’s always been Zeb, from the start.
I step down from my stool, walking slowly down the landing to stage right as I sing about castles crumbling and being pulled out of the fire, out of the water.
I sing about beingsaved.
And when I reach the end of that landing, I fall to my goddamned knees in front of him, and I sing.
His bright green eyes glisten, and in them, I can see the truth so clear.
He gazes at me like I’m not on a stage in front a stadium full of people. He looks at me, and I know he seesme,Geo Graves.
He sees my soul, and there is nothing greater than that.
The crowd around us fades into shadows and lights.
It’s always been him, and it’ll always be him.
When I stand, I take slow steps back to center stage, and I stand in the center of it all, and I smile. I belt out those last few lines, and then they cheer.
“Shhhh…” I wave my hand, motioning for them to be quiet, and they listen.
“You know, music has always been my passion, and nothing is ever going to change that,” I say, licking my lips.
I sigh, letting out my truth for the first time. I find him, my strength, and the words come naturally.
“This is going to be my last tour. For a while,” I declare, my shoulders relaxing as the crowd quiets.
“I will always be grateful, for you. Every single one of you. I promise it’s not goodbye forever, guys. It’s just goodbye for now.”
It’s quiet for a moment before the crowd erupts into sounds of happiness, of support, of love.
I smile at Zeb as the lights dim, my cue to leave.
“Good night, Tucson,” I shout as I exit stage left to find Mateo with Dare in his arms, his eyes teary-eyed.
“That was fucking beautiful, man!” Dare cries through a sniffle.
“So romantic,” Hailee says as she comes up next to us. “Thanks for letting me be a part of it.”
I smile at them, nodding in approval, heading for the dressing room, if only because the nerves have finally hit and I need a minute to process it all.
I find my reflection in the mirror, eyes red-rimmed, cheeks flushed with heat and sweat, my hair a mess, and I take a moment to feel the spark. I know it’ll keep me warm, always.
That safe, warm spark that makes me feelalive.
And then I see the door open, and familiar green eyes meet mine in the mirror.
CHAPTER 28
Zeb
It’simpossible to not feel the star power of Geo Graves in a room of thirty thousand screaming fans.
