Then with one rock of his hips, he thrust himself inside me, feeding me, hitting me deep. And we were moving together, like a perfect wave rolling through the ocean. I didn’t know the direction we were headed or the pace that we would get there. All I knew was that, with Sebastian, I was ready for whatever came next.
The moment I’d agreed to move in with Sebastian, he insisted on packing my things and bringing them immediately while I stayed back and relaxed. He’d prepared a hot bath, dimmed the lights, and turned on some music while I “made myself at home.” I was more than happy to oblige.
For three hours, I soaked and read and explored the suite, getting used to the idea that it was mine as much as it was Sebastian’s. I was in the kitchen, drinking some water, when my eyes caught on the brightly lit horizon. It was the perfect canvas, smeared with hues of purple, pink, yellow, and orange, all blending together in the perfect sunset.
I set my glass down and walked toward the balcony while tightening the tie of my robe. The sun had dipped just low enough to peek beneath where the water ended. And just like what I’d seen a couple weeks before, a white sailboat was moving over the plane.
My heart caught in my chest as I watched it cut through the water until its entirety shaded into a silhouette.
The sound of the door opening behind me made me blink, but I didn’t look away. I couldn’t. For the first time in twenty years, I could feel my father’s presence, and I didn’t question the image in front of me. It was him.
Strong arms slid around my waist as Sebastian cozied up to my cheek. “Hey,” he said gently. “You okay?”
I hadn’t even realized a tear had slipped from my eye and down my cheek until Sebastian swiped it away. “I’m perfect,” I said with a smile. Then I let out a deep breath before turning to look at him over my shoulder. “I think I just came up with the perfect title of your next musical.”
His brows lifted. “Do tell.”
“How does The Trouble with Gravity sound?”
Sebastian’s entire face lit up. “It sounds like we’ve been writing that story together.”
I brushed my lips to his. “And we’re not done.” My eyes latched on to his. “Not even close.”
Epilogue
Kai, seven months later
Sebastian smiled, clutched my hand in his, and raised it above my head. Everyone in the audience who wasn’t already on their feet stood to add to the cheers and applause throughout the theater. I laughed through the mix of emotions swirling through me and curtsied my gratitude. I’d never felt closer to flying than in that moment.
When I stood straight again, I gestured to Sebastian, bringing on the loudest cheer of all.
It was the final curtain call after the final performance of Angst and Grace. I felt like I could cry, but my tears wouldn’t be sad ones. Not at all. The past seven months had been the best of my life.
Sebastian and I were more in love than ever with firm plans to move to New York very soon. And the score of his new musical, The Trouble With Gravity, was complete and ready to put to choreography. I couldn’t wait for that part. The story he’d created through music was beautiful on its own, but the vision he’d described to me—between choreography and lighting and the set—it was going to be something spectacular. I could feel it.
One of the backstage assistants jogged forward with a microphone and handed it to Sebastian. Sebastian put it to his mouth and tested it. “Hello.” His deep voice came through the surrendering speakers and the crowd yelled back, “Hi.” He chuckled. “Since tonight is the last Angst and Grace performance ever—“
He paused as a loud “Awww” sounded from the seats.
“I know. It’s bittersweet, truly. These last seven months have been heaps of fun thanks to audiences like you. But since it’s our last night, I think it’s important to call out someone who has been vital to the show’s success since its conception.” He leaned around me to check out sidestage. “Jimmy, are you over there?”
Jake and I made eye contact and then took off toward the side stage. We grabbed Jimmy, not taking his resistance for an answer as we dragged him onto the stage to elicit a round of applause for him.
“Bloody right,” Sebastian started, bringing on a roar of laughter. “Everyone, give it up for our brilliant director. The glue that keeps this show running. Jimmy Sweetwater, the best damn Broadway director I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.”
Sebastian slid an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Jimmy after they hugged. It was a bonus check, in the amount of what would have been Dirk’s cut, along with an offer for him to join Sebastian’s new show. Sebastian and I had talked in great lengths over what to do with that extra money. He could have put it into his new show. He could have taken it and been set for a very long time. But no. The only option Sebastian felt best about, was giving it to someone who had worked equally as hard as him, in his mind.
So, whether or not Jimmy accepted the new role, Sebastian had wanted him to know how much he was appreciated.
Jimmy squeezed the envelope tight and squeezed Sebastian’s shoulder. “It’s been a pleasure working with you, Bash.” Then he winked.
The nickname “Bash” had taken on a completely new meaning. It was no longer demeaning, stemming from a place of Sebastian’s darkest time. It was now meant more out of respect for a history they shared.
“Same to you, Jimmy. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Jimmy turned to the audience and placed the microphone to his lips. “It’s been an honor to work with everyone on this stage.” He waved his hand around the stage, high and low. “The cast, the crew. This is a group with impeccable talent who I’ll miss dearly.”
The moment the curtains closed, a fully catered party erupted backstage. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as everyone wished each other congratulations and good luck. The cast, being from various parts of the world, would separate and move onto new projects. They’d find new roles, new cast members. It was definitely a bittersweet ending to a significant chapter in our careers. One I’d never forget.
“You ready to get out of here?” Sebastian had leaned in to whisper to me during a round of pictures. Leaving functions early together had kind of become our thing, so I wasn’t at all surprised.
I squeezed his hand. “I just need to grab some things from my dressing room.”
He nodded, and at the first opportunity we could sneak off, we did. Sebastian closed the door behind us as I took in the space one last time. “I’m going to miss this show, Sebastian.”
I glanced at him. His eyes were glazed over. “Me too, Kai. Definitely more than expected.”
“I guess that’s the way the show should end. On a high note. There’s nothing stopping you from doing a revival down the road if you decide to.”
He was silent and I couldn’t read his expression which drove me crazy. I couldn’t imagine what he was going through by cutting something loose that had been a part of his world for so long.
Desperate to pick up his mood and set his focus on all the things we talked about accomplishing together, I reached around him and locked the door. When our eyes connected, electricity sizzled through the air, and I knew his attention was all mine. “I hear you’re in the market for a new lead for your upcoming production, Mr. Chase?”