46. James
Chapter 46
James
“ W e’re Atlas Veil. Thank you, London!” Tom belts into the microphone. We finish the set, and my ears ring as the crowd ignites—screams, cheers, and whistles rattle around the stadium like thunder. I’m riding a high I’ve never felt before, and after experiencing it, I don’t want to come back down. This is nirvana. This is my purpose. This is what I am meant to do.
I’ve never experienced anything like it.
We give the audience a final wave, soaking in the energy one last time before stepping offstage. As I reach the wings, I spot April waiting. She’s frozen, her eyes wide and cheeks splotchy with tears, her face a mix of disbelief and awe.
She’s wearing tight jeans tucked into heeled knee-high boots. A skintight bodysuit hugs her torso with a knitted cardigan draped over her shoulders. Her red hair falls in soft curls, cascading to her ribs, catching the light. Under the bright stage, her eyelids shimmer with a hint of sparkle, giving her an ethereal glow.
I wish I could capture this moment, this blip, and keep it forever.
I cross over to her, my own heart pounding, and lift her into my arms. She wraps her legs around my waist as I take her mouth in a deep, hungry kiss.
“Atta boy,” Will says, giving me a hearty smack on the back as he walks past. I laugh into April’s mouth, and she smiles against my lips. Gently, I lower her to the ground, pulling her close as I tangle my fingers in her soft curls.
“Sweetheart,” I murmur, cradling her cheeks.
“I love you,” she blurts out.
The words scorch themselves into my brain, and my heart stops. I swear it actually stops.
I move my hands to her neck, pulling her in closer, and place a tender kiss along her jawline. “Tell me it’s true,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s true,” she says.
A tear slips over her lashes, and I gently kiss it away, tracing a path down her cheek. I kiss her forehead, then her nose, and finally, her mouth.
“I love you too. So fucking much.”
I wrap her tightly in my arms, breathing her in, feeling her heartbeat against mine. This memory is already etched into my mind, a moment I’ll replay forever. I’m so certain of this woman, of us. I feel it, deep down, right to the marrow of my bones.