“I never thought we’d get to see this day.” His voice shook.
“She has a bright future ahead of her.” Alistair breezed up beside us.
After Eva’s parents had joined us for breakfast, Alistair had arranged for them to have a tour of the city. Molly tagged along, while the rest of us hung out at the hotel. They’d asked me to go but I'd declined, wanting Eva to have space to discuss the future with the people closest to her. She was an adult now. She didn’t need their permission to come on tour with us, but I knew she’d want their blessing.
Of course, she'd got it.
“Mr. Portman, thank you, for everythin’, truly.” Gavin grabbed his hand, shaking it.
“You can be rest assured, we’ll all take good care of her.” Their eyes all found me.
“Rafe’s still got a little way to prove himself yet, Mr. Portman.” Gavin smothered a grin.
But I wasn’t worried.
After what I planned later, there was no way they could doubt my intentions where Eva was concerned.
I only hoped she liked it.
Eva ended her set and the whole place went wild, the noise deafening. “Listen to that, Jesse,” Mr. Portman hugged his wife, “that’s all for our sweet girl.”
Eva bounded off stage, her smile so wide it had to hurt. “I don’t think I’ll ever tire of hearin’ that.”
Her parents swamped her, the three of them crying and hugging. The lump in my throat doubled.
“Hey, you good?” Levi clapped me on the back. “Are they okay?” His expression turned hard as he watched Eva with her parents.
“I think it just hit them, you know?” I lifted my eyes to his.
“Yeah, I know. Listen, I’ve been meaning to ask you... are we good?”
“We’re good.”
His whole demeanor changed, as if a weight had been lifted. And I knew I was probably reflecting the same expression back at him.
“Are you ready for this?” he asked me.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Let’s do it then.”
“Give me a second.” I cut past him, hovering near Eva and her parents. Mrs. Walker noticed me first, her smile full of so much acceptance I felt a little winded.
Eva glanced back, beaming at me. “Hi.” We both moved, gravitating like magnets. I reached for her, pulling her into my arms.
“Before I go out there, I just want you to know one thing.” Her parents backed off, giving us some space, but I felt Gavin’s sharp gaze drilling holes in the side of my face.
“One day, in the future, I’m going to make you mine in every way possible. But until then, I hope you know that I love you with all that I am, and I hope it’s enough, Starshine. I hope I’m enough.” Pressing a quick kiss to her lips, I left her standing there, rosy-cheeked and breathless, and wondering what the hell I was up to.
* * *
Eva
* * *
My mom and dad were glued to my side as we watched the guys do their thing. I hadn’t expected my parents to enjoy it so much, but both of them were tapping their feet and nodding their heads.
“Ooh, I like this one,” Mom yelled over the heavy beat.
I rose a brow at Dad, and he chuckled. “She made a point of downloadin’ their album.” My eyes widened, and his chuckle turned into full on laughter. “She’s become quite the fan.”
“There’s somethin’ super sexy about them, don’t you think, Gavin?”
“Okay, Mom. That’s enough wine for you.” I peeled the cup out of her hand and passed it off to a roadie.
“You should break out your old guitars, Gavin, and serenade me.”
“Oh, dear lord,” I mumbled under my breath.
Having my parents show up at the suite this morning, after I’d spent the night tangled in the sheets with my rock star boyfriend, was mortifying enough, but watching my mom lust after my rock star boyfriend and his bandmates was a whole other level.
“Behave, Jesse. You’re embarrassin’ Eva.” He switched sides with me, wrapping his arm around Mom.
“Okay, Louisville, we’re going to switch things up a little. This is where I’d usually bring Eva back out on stage and create a little magic. But tonight, my brother Rafe...” Twenty-thousand screams filled the arena. “He wanted to let you in on a little secret.”
My heart sped up.
No one had told me about this.
Letty, Molly, and Phoebe appeared, surrounding me as if they thought I might pass out at any second.
“What is goin’ on?” I asked.
“You’re guess is as good as mine.” Letty shrugged.
A couple of roadies ran on stage, moving around some of the equipment.
“Give it up for my little brother, Rafe, everyone.”
“Oh my god,” I breathed, reaching out for something to steady me.
“We’ve got you, babe,” Molly said, wrapping her arm around me.
“Good evening, Louisville. You’re looking pretty fine tonight,” Rafe was a natural on the mic. He sat on a high stool, one foot on the floor, an acoustic guitar cradled in his hands. “Some of you might know this isn’t my usual style. I let my brother have the spotlight because no one I know does it better than him. But you see, there’s this girl...”
Blood roared in my ears as I tried to process what was happening.
“Evangeline Star Walker is one of the best people I know, and I don’t know what I ever did to deserve her, but she’s mine.”
“Oh, sweet baby Jesus,” Molly shrieked. “He wrote you a song.”
Rafe cleared his throat. “People always say actions speak louder than words, but I didn’t want to take any chances.” His eyes flicked to mine. “Starshine, this one’s for you.”
* * *
She’s just a lost girl, drowning in space.
Nowhere to run, nowhere to go.
All she needs is an anchor, someone to reach out and pull.
Take my hand, I’ll be the one,
* * *
You saved me, but now it’s my turn
To lift you up whenever you fall
Together we’re stronger, I’m not letting go
Just give me your hand, and let me show you
* * *
I’ll be your anchor, let me be your anchor.
* * *
She’s just a lost girl, fighting through the dark.
Nowhere to run, nowhere to go.
All she needs is an anchor, someone to reach out and pull
* * *
I’ll be your anchor, let me be your anchor.
* * *
I had no words.
None.
Rafe’s song was so pure and honest, our love story woven into every lyric, every carefully thought out note.
“Wow, I think my ovaries just exploded.” Phoebe smiled.
“Gosh, sweetheart.” My parents made a beeline for me. “We knew that boy loved you, but we didn’t realize it was quite so serious.” She swiped away the tears staining her cheeks.