Epilogue
FOUR MONTHS LATER
T wo weeks after our show, we got the call. The Lost Souls were parting ways with their usual opening band, Into Darkness, and Anthony asked us to be the official opener on their upcoming tour.
The label put our album on the fast track, and as soon as word got out that we were joining The Souls on tour, we started climbing the charts. That’s when we first realized how quickly things were about to change for us.
We had six weeks to make arrangements before we hopped on the plane to kick off the tour, and we’ve been traveling around Europe for the past two months now.
We’ve even started to get recognized in public once in a while, which was weird at first. I’ve always been a private person, so I wasn’t sure I liked all this newfound attention.
But now that we’ve been on the road for a while, I’m starting to get used to it.
I’m settling in to the whole idea, that we’re a bigger name band now.
We’re celebrities, of a sort, and this is our new life .
The shows are bigger too. So much bigger.
We play arenas now, which still feels crazy.
The first arena we played, I couldn’t even find my way to the stage from our talent room—that’s what they call the greenrooms at the bigger venues.
One of the security guys had to help me out—I’d gotten so turned around.
Another thing that’s changed? People know our songs.
When we play onstage, the audience sings along, especially “Know You By Heart” since it’s more of a ballad and it was the number one hit single on the album.
Micah still turns to sing that last line to me every time we play it.
Cheesy, I know, but it makes my heart swell every time.
There’s something comforting about it all, honestly, knowing this is what we do now. The two of us. We tour the world together playing kick-ass rock songs—Micah’s songs. It doesn’t get any better than this.
I blink the sleep out of my eyes, reaching to feel for Micah under the covers before turning on my side to gaze out the window of our hotel room.
The world looks so different here. Beautiful terra-cotta roofs stretch for miles around us.
I never imagined I would travel very far outside the Chicago area, but here I am in Rome. Who would’ve thought?
“Mmm. Are you awake?” Micah snuggles in close, wrapping his arms around me.
“Yes…” I turn toward him, nuzzling under his chin so I can kiss his beautiful chest—that sexy chest that’s all mine.
“You were amazing last night, you know that?” he whispers.
“Thanks. I was really feeling the energy. When we stepped out on that stage and the whole arena was roaring, I knew right then it was gonna be an incredible show.”
“Oh, you were incredible onstage, all right.” He kisses me softly. “But I wasn’t talking about the show.”
It finally dawns on me exactly which part of last night he’s referring to. “Ohhh, I see.” I roll on top of him, resting my cheek against his chest. “Well, you were pretty amazing yourself.”
He chuckles, tossing me onto my back and propping himself on his elbows, peering down at me.
“I love our new life. I love being on tour with you.” He shifts down, and soft kisses tickle my breasts.
“Traveling together. Playing shows together. Snuggling up with you every night. I could do this forever.” His lips press to my neck. “I want to do this forever.”
I nod, closing my eyes to savor the moment. “Yeah, I love every moment of it. I’ve never been as happy as I am with you.”
“You know, there’s no one else in the world for me, Kace. No one but you. I don’t ever want to be apart again.”
“Same,” I whisper, tears filling my eyes as his sweet words mingle with my memories of how it felt when we were apart. When I thought I’d lost him.
“I’m gonna make you my wife someday,” he says softly, kissing my chin, and my heart thumps hard in my chest.
“Mmm. Is that so?” I tease, my voice wavering a little with emotion.
We’ve never talked about marriage outright, but I can tell we’re headed that way. I can just feel it—the way we are together. Everything clicks so easily, but it’s still surprising to hear him utter those words. To think about being Micah’s wife someday. Having him as my husband.
“Mark my words: We’re gonna be a family someday,” he whispers.
My chest squeezes. I love the sound of that.
A family—something I never really had. But also, something I’ve always wanted to create for my own children.
I want to give my kids the kind of home I never had.
A safe place to belong. Micah and I have talked about kids a bit—how we both want them someday—but he’s never been so forward about his intentions before.
“I’d love that so much,” I say, tucking my chin to kiss the top of his head.
“I want to make you the happiest woman in the world,” he rasps against my neck.
“You already have.”
He pops up, grinning. “Oh really? So there’s nothing else in the world that you want right now?
” His warm hand cups my breast, caressing me lightly.
“Nothing at all I could do for you that could possibly make you any happier?” His thumb slides over my nipple, and he bends to lick my breast, sending tingles down my spine.
“I don’t know.” I squint in fun. “Let me think about it for a second.”
“Yeah, you do that.” He rolls to my side. His erection is already firm against my thigh as he runs a hand down my body, spreading my legs. His fingers dip into the wetness at my center, where I’m ready for him.
“Mmm, you know what?” I squirm to feel him closer, and he shifts his body over mine, but his fingers stay, circling over my clit in smooth, slick motions. “There is just one more thing.”
“You got it, girl.” He grins, his eyelids growing heavy as he positions himself at my entrance and makes good on his word.
The End