Double Interference (Dragons Legacy #1)
1. Rae
Rae
Iwasn’t destined to live an ordinary life. Growing up the daughter of a world-famous singer and a hockey goalie, I had two choices in my life. I could follow in my mom’s footsteps and choose a musical path. Or follow in my dad’s and become an athlete.
After failing at several of the sports I tried, but excelling in anything music, the choice was easy.
It was also the thing I loved most. Learning to read music led me to mastering guitar and piano along with singing.
Then there was writing it. When I was younger, my mom and I used to sit down and write music together.
Sometimes it would be songs she would go on to sing herself.
Others she would tell me we would save for me when I was ready.
As I got older, I wrote more on my own. I didn’t want to use my parent’s connections to find success, I wanted to do it myself. But even when I tried to use a different name to put my music online it didn’t take long for people to figure out who I am.
Then I chose to embrace it.
I decided to use my mom’s last name instead of my legal one. Rae Sparks sounds much better than Rae Colver. And I make sure to tell my dad that all the time, which I know he really appreciates.
“It’s not too late to rebrand,” he tells me, and I shake my head.
“I love you, Dad.”
“Love you too. Good luck tonight.”
“Thank you.” I fluff my red hair in the mirror with my parents on speaker as I finish getting ready for my show.
This stop is in Las Vegas, and no matter how many times I do this I can’t shake the nerves that hit right before I step onto the stage.
I know that I’ve sold out arenas, but I feel like another person as soon as the lights hit me.
My mom hops on the phone, and I can picture it perfectly as she steals it from my dad. “Don’t forget to have fun.”
I smile. “I always do.”
“Good. We’ll be watching on the live stream.”
I chuckle. “Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, sweetie. Have you talked to Grayson yet?”
My cheeks heat at the mention of my childhood best friend. “Not yet.”
“We’ll let you go because I’m sure he’s waiting.”
I huff out a laugh. “Goodbye. Love you both.”
We hang up, and I know she’s right, especially when I see a text from Grayson already waiting for me. Our moms, Brynn and Spencer, have been best friends since before we were born and it’s resulted in our families being extremely close our entire lives.
Our dads, Colton and Jared, were also on the Denver Dragons hockey team together. Them, along with several other players, became friends over the years and has resulted in a big, somewhat oddly dysfunctional family between all of us.
I have two brothers, Nash and Steele, who both like to torture me, but also act like I need to be protected from the world. And the three of us grew up around Grayson and his identical twin brother, Easton.
Grayson and I have always been the closest. He’s the one person I’ve ever met that I feel like gets me.
As we got older my feelings toward him started shifting, but it scared me and I’ve tried to push them down.
Way down. We’ve grown up, and he’s an attractive man.
That doesn’t mean there has to be anything more between us.
We both got busy, me with music and him with following his dad’s footsteps of being a hockey player for the Denver Dragons. But one thing has stayed consistent. We don’t go a day without talking.
Grayson
Remember, whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But don’t go too crazy.
Rae
You know me, always getting into trouble. Keep an eye on the news. You may see me make an appearance.
Grayson
If that ever happens, I’ll make sure to use the article as wallpaper for my house.
Rae
I’m so glad you support me.
Grayson
Of course I do. Good luck tonight, Sunshine.
I heart the message, smiling like an idiot when the stage manager tells me I only have five more minutes.
I finish putting my in-ears in and attaching the monitor to my pants.
I say my affirmations my aunt Audrey has told me before stepping out of the dressing room and head to where I’m going to enter the stage.
The intro starts, and then I’m being lifted as the floor pushes up beneath me. The adrenaline is coursing through me; I grip the microphone tightly in my hands to stop it from slipping with how sweaty my palms are.
Closing my eyes, I take one last deep breath.
When I open them, I’m in front of thousands of people.
The craziest part is they’re all screaming.
For me. And everything else fades into the background as the music plays.
My focus is on this show, on my songs and on all the people that have come here to see me.
It’s surreal that this is my life. That I get to do what I love, and there’s this many people that support me and also love what I do.
As I perform, I look around the crowd, glancing at people singing along with me. Some are crying, some are screaming. But we’re all here experiencing this together.
I’m in the middle of a chorus when I look up and see a familiar face up in a suite.
I have to do a double take and try not to completely lose my focus.
But it’s him. Asher Hudson. I haven’t seen him in years since he moved away to train at some prestigious MMA gym somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.
Why is he here?
My aunt Audrey isn’t technically my aunt; she’s just another one of my mom’s best friends. When I was a teenager, we all found out she had a half-brother that had to come live with her and her partner, Charlie.
That happened to be Asher.
He kept to himself for the most part. Grayson and Easton didn’t like him very much. He got along fine with my brothers but never seemed to be friends with anyone at all. Then he left, and we haven’t seen him since. Five years, and now here he is at my show in Las Vegas.
I almost miss my cue as the next song starts, but I manage to pull myself together and focus.
I never get distracted on stage, but it’s like I just saw a ghost. Now I can’t help but wonder if I’m going to see him after the show is over.
He must have come for a reason, and my music hasn’t seemed like the type Asher would enjoy.
I’m going to tell Grayson about this; I bet he’ll have some thoughts to share about Asher appearing out of the blue.
I just want to know why.