Epilogue
Paige
“Dallas. Make some noise for Sip Station…”
From the wings, I watch the crowd, bodies packed shoulder-to-shoulder under the electric haze of the arena lights. New Ruin are up onstage, halfway through their set, hyping the crowd with the same energy we used to pour into every second as an opener.
Their lead singer is practically vibrating, oozing seduction in his tight leather pants and bare chest, pacing the edge of the stage, working the fans like it’s second nature.
Two years ago, that was us getting them loud and ready for Reign Cooper.
Two years ago, I stood behind the same curtain, sweating through my shirt, trying to pretend I wasn’t terrified.
Well, the first show jitters are well and truly gone, because back then, we were the new kids, the ones trying to win over a crowd that wasn’t there for us.
Now?
Now, they’re ours.
Now, we’re the main event.
The lights start to strobe as New Ruin plays their final chords, and the noise in the arena rises to a scream.
I move closer to the stage, hidden in the shadows, looking out over the crowd, at the flashlights dotted around, the signs being waved around near the front, so many already wearing our merch.
“Crazy, isn’t it?”
Maddox wraps his arms around my waist from behind, tugging me back against him like he’s done it a thousand times, which at this point he has. His chin rests on my shoulder, his breath warm against my neck.
“You finally got your dream,” I say, leaning into him. “Look at them all. I can’t believe it.”
“You should. We’ve worked damn hard to get here.”
His arm winds around my front, his fingers splaying out across my stomach. Laughing, I try to wriggle out of his hold, spinning instead and looping my arms around his neck.
“Will you stop that?” I glance over his shoulder at Eli sitting with Olive on his knee, Beau not far away from them, talking animatedly with Thea. “They’re going to get the wrong impression.”
“I can’t help it,” he murmurs, his lips finding my throat. “I want what I want.”
“God, you’re so impatient,” I moan when he kisses that spot that makes my knees go weak. “I told you, I’m not touring while pregnant.”
He groans dramatically. “How long is this one again?”
“Two months, then we head to Australia,” I remind him, stepping out of his hold. “Until then, we’ll just need to have fun practicing.”
Maddox’s lips curl up into a salacious grin, his brown eyes almost black as he tries to reach for me again.
“We’ve been New Ruin,” Kane yells into the mic, the crowd’s chants of Sip Station, Sip Station, Sip Station giving me chills. “You were amazing! Goodnight!”
It doesn’t feel real, the sound of them introducing us. I don’t think it ever will.
“They’re loud tonight,” Kane says as they leave the stage, all sweat and adrenaline.
“Hell yeah.” Eli fist-bumps him, handing Maddox his guitar. “Louder than Reign’s crowd ever was.”
“Let’s not get cocky,” Beau teases, clocking him around the side of his head, quickly giving Olive a kiss before passing me my sticks.
I sweep my gaze over my bandmates and my best friend, my heart swelling inside my chest.
Two years ago, I was trying to figure out who I was without Penny. Without a future I could count on.
Now?
Now, I’ve got Maddox at my side, our band’s on fire, our name’s climbing the Billboard charts, and we’re headlining a nearly sold-out tour.
Thea’s thrilled, Deveraux Records is behind us, and the songs on our set list are ours. Every lyric, every chord, every second feels earned.
We aren’t chasing it anymore.
We are it.
“You ready, baby?” Maddox asks, his brow furrowing.
I smile, linking my fingers in his and drawing a deep breath into my lungs.
“Ready.”
Maddox squeezes my hand before throwing an arm around Beau’s shoulders, Beau doing the same to Eli, closing our circle.
“Sip Station on Three…”