5. Rae
Rae
Performing is one of my favorite things in the entire world.
Performing when my family and friends are here to watch, cheering me from the VIP section, makes it even better.
Every time I catch their eyes I can’t help but smile.
Especially when I see Grayson. He has his wire-rimmed glasses on, the ones he used to hate when we were younger.
Easton gave him shit because he didn’t need them, but Grayson did. But I’ve always loved them on him.
I smile, pulling my attention back to the rest of the crowd and try to give them the best show of my life. Every time I want to improve, I want to make it worth their time and money, but tonight I want it more, because it’s my last of this tour.
During the last song of the night, I can’t help but look at the group of the most important people in my life, and take them all in.
Aunt Chandler is swaying with her arms around Evie and Maya while their dads stand behind them just watching.
My mom leans against my dad with a soft smile on her face mouthing the words as I sing them.
Colton is holding Brynn from behind as they stand by my parents.
Audrey and Charlie sway together. My brothers are watching but almost look bored which makes me want to laugh.
Then there’s Grayson.
His focus is completely on me. He has a soft smile on his face, and I can see every angle of his chiseled face. I swear even with the bright lights shining on me I can even see the green of his eyes from up here.
I sing the last line of the song, unable to look away from him as I do. Even when the lights cut and the show is over, I don’t look away. And neither does he. Despite there being thousands of people here, I feel like it’s just the two of us.
I’m tapped on my shoulder by one of my dancers, and it breaks the eye contact.
“You did it!” my dancer, Katie, exclaims, wrapping her arm around my shoulders, pulling me into a half hug.
I shake my head. “No we did it.”
After the show, we’re all emotional, but I know we’ll all see each other soon.
They’re my team and I like to stay consistent with my people because change scares me.
I’m hauled back with arms wrapped around me and I squeal, but instantly recognize it’s my brother, Nash.
Steele joins in the hug, and I try to fight them off because they’re both so much bigger than me and going to squeeze the life out of me.
“Let go,” I complain playfully.
“We just want to congratulate our baby sister on another successful tour,” Nash teases, squeezing even tighter. I gasp dramatically, trying to push his arms off me.
“Let go or I’ll break your arm, then you can't play baseball, and I don’t need your team coming after me,” I threaten. All he does is laugh.
“Come on, boys,” my dad pulls them back gently and they let go.
I pretend like I’m catching my breath to be extra dramatic.
My mom pulls me in for a much tamer hug. “You were amazing,” she whispers.
“I learned from the best,” I tell her honestly.
She pulls back and I see the tears in her eyes that mirror mine, her hands bracket my cheeks. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Stop, you’re going to make me cry,” I complain.
My dad wraps his arms around both of us and pulls us into a group hug. “I love both my girls so much.”
“What about us?” I hear Nash ask.
“You two were our test runs. Third times a charm.”
“Hey,” both Steele and Nash call out while I giggle.
He lets go, and I see Grayson, making my heart instantly kick up in my chest that he’s right here. I’m already smiling, but I feel my face get warm with a blush I want to hide.
“Hi,” I greet, unsure of what else to say even though once the word leaves my lips, I feel silly for it.
He just opens up his arms for me to run into. This isn’t new, and as soon as they’re wrapped around me, I melt against his hard, muscular frame. He speaks against my hair, and I smother my smile against his chest. “You were amazing, Sunshine.”
I pull back so I don’t get too distracted by how good it feels to be in his arms, enveloped in his smell and try to put space between us. “Thanks, now it’s your turn to impress me on the ice.”
“You know I will.” He winks.
“I’ll be the judge of that. I got a new notebook for coaching notes and everything.”
“I’m sure you did.” He chuckles.
“Great show, Rae.” Audrey comes up behind me with a hug of her own.
“Thank you,” I beam at her. I don’t even think about what comes out of my mouth next because seeing her reminds me of the other night when I saw her brother. “Did Asher tell you he came to my Vegas show?”
She rears back, surprised. “He did?”
“Uh, yeah. Did he not say anything to you?”
She gives me a closed-lip smile, and I worry I may have ruined the lighthearted mood. “No, he hasn’t talked to me in a couple years. But it’s okay. How was he?”
Shit. “Oh, I’m sorry. He looked good. He was there for a pro fight.”
She nods, and I see her smile wider, but it seems forced. “Good.”
I look at Charlie, and he gives me a reassuring smile of his own, but I still feel like I shouldn’t have said anything.
“Come on, we’re all celebrating,” Nash announces. “But first, you need to get changed. And shower, you fucking smell.”
I shove him and he laughs, but he’s right.
Everyone ends up at my parents’ house after leaving the venue. Instead of me going with a driver, I go with Grayson. He’s the only one that hangs back to wait for me, and I’m surprised when I see him leaning against the wall outside my dressing room.
“What’re you doing?” I ask, pulling my hair up in a messy ponytail.
“You’re riding with me.”
“That right? Did you draw the short end of the stick or something?” I tease, walking next to him as we make our way toward the parking lot. Luckily, it’s cleared out a ton and we’re able to leave without being recognized and bombarded by fans.
“No, more like no one else wanted to deal with your backseat driving,” he retorts with a smile.
I roll my eyes. “I do not backseat drive.” He gives me a pointed look but doesn’t say anything. I smile. “Just say you’ve missed me.”
“I’ve missed both you and your backseat driving, Sunshine.” He opens the passenger door of his extremely modest Corvette for me.
“I see you’ve driven your everyday car,” I joke, climbing into the low, sleek vehicle.
He joins me inside from the driver’s side. “Of course. This is the one that’s loud enough where I can’t hear your complaining about my driving.”
Grayson turns on the sports car and the engine revs loud enough to wake the dead to prove a point.
I shake my head, but secretly like it. What you see isn’t always what you get, and that’s just one of the things I love about him.
If you didn’t know he was a professional hockey player, you’d never guess it.
Yeah, he’s tall and muscular, but in the cool Denver weather he’s usually wearing a sweater or other baggy clothes that hide his physique.
His dirty blonde hair always looks perfectly disheveled like he doesn’t care to style it.
Then there’s the glasses, they give him a hint of a nerdy look.
Especially when he pushes them up the bridge of his nose.
When he sends a wink in my direction, I fight my instinct to melt against the seat.
He takes off, and I squeal at how suddenly I’m thrown back against the seat from the speed. It doesn’t matter how fast or seemingly reckless he drives; I don’t question my safety with him for a single second. Even if I’ll jokingly complain, I don’t mean it.
I roll the window down, the cool air feels good against my skin while I look around and take in being back home.
I love seeing new places and adventuring, but nothing beats coming home.
The mountains, the air, everything is just home.
Closing my eyes, I lean against the door and let the air hit my face as Grayson clearly takes the long way back to my parents.
I don’t mind because it feels good to be here with just him for a little while longer. Especially after the high of a show.
A comfortable silence is exactly what I need. And he knows it.
I feel a warm hand on my leg. Opening my eyes, I look at him, still focused completely ahead of us, but resting his hand just above my knee. I smile, knowing it doesn’t necessarily mean anything. But when I turn back to look out the window, I secretly wish it did.