Page 106 of Courageous Hearts

“Shit,” I mutter. “You’re Grant.”

“Well that didn’t take long for you to figure out,” the woman at his side says. She has a huge, amused smile on her face, and she’s sitting right up against Grant’s side.

How did I miss her?

“You must be Sophia,” I say, practically groaning the words as my eyes trail a little further, landing on an older woman with gray-streaked brown hair and her sons’ smile. “Oh, my God. And Dominica.” Jameson and Grant’s mother.

I cover my eyes, my cheeks burning, but Dominica only chuckles good-naturedly.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Bo,” Jameson’s mother says.

“You, too,” I say, dropping my hands and forcing a shaky smile. “I’ve heard so many good things from Jameson about all y’all. Sorry ’bout, uh…” I wave toward Grant’s lap, too mortified to say the words.

But he just shakes his head, his shocked expression from earlier morphed into an easy smile. “Don’t worry about it.”

“You two should really get different haircuts or somethin’,” I say.

Grant laughs at that, his brown eyes twinkling so much like Jameson’s. It’s eerie. His dimple, though—I notice with some curiosity—is on the left side.

“Did I just see you jump into my brother’s lap?” Jameson himself asks, sliding up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

I spin in his hold, tucking my face away. “I plead the fifth.”

Jameson chuckles against me, and I come out from hiding. “Everyone, this is Bo. Bo, this is everyone. Grant, Sophia, and my mom, Dominica.”

I give them a little wave as if the past couple minutes didn’t just happen.

“Are you performing tonight?” Sophia asks excitedly.

Clearing my throat, I answer, “I am. I’ll be openin’ the show, actually.”

Sophia claps her hands together once. “I can’t wait. This place is gorgeous,” she adds, eyes swiveling around the room.

I take it in, too, remembering how I felt when I first walked through these doors. How the glamour of Gertie’s hit me like all the best, warm feelings rolled into one. Incidentally, it’s the same sort of sparking warmth that hits me every time I see Jameson.

Looking around the bar now, it’s much the same as it was two years ago—the midnight-blue velvet curtains, the crystal chandeliers, the gold accents, and the wide-open stage.

To me, this place represents freedom.

“I should get ready,” I say, noting the time before turning to Jameson and speaking in a low tone. “Just wanted to see you before we started.”

He smiles at me softly, so much love in his eyes. It steals my breath away, that smile.

“Break a leg,” he says, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

Stomach somersaulting, I turn back to his family. “It was so nice to meet you all.”

“You, too, dear,” Jameson’s mother says warmly. “I can’t wait until we can spend some more time together.”

I give her a nod, throat tight. “I’d really like that.”

Squeezing Jameson’s arm one last time, I spin away. His family continues to chat as I head backstage, and only once I’m firmly out of sight do I let a tear roll down my cheek. A happy one.

Maybe things do have a way of working out in the end.

Chapter 33

Jameson

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