Epilogue
Cassie
One Year Later
“Melody, Melody, Melody!” the crowd screams as I step out onto the stage.
The country music festival that takes place just outside Pine Grove every July is my first time performing since the night I sang with Austin at Bowman’s a little over a year ago.
I’ve been nervous all day, but the second I’m under the stage lights everything clicks into place the way it always did, even when I was pretending to be someone I wasn’t.
Unlike every other time I’ve walked onto a stage like this, I feel completely comfortable within myself.
I hired Jordan as my stylist, and they’ve done an amazing job helping me find a style that feels right for me at this stage in my life.
As I walk over to my mic in an ice-blue slip dress, oversized denim jacket, and chunky boots, I feel like the perfect blend of the old and new me.
“How’s everybody doing tonight?” I ask, and the crowd goes wild.
“My name’s Melody and I’d like to share a brand-new song with you all.
How does that sound?” More screams. “Alright, thank you. This one is called Emeralds. I wrote it for someone very special. My gaze slides over to where Austin waits for me in the wings. His emerald-green eyes are alight with curiosity since I’ve let him listen to every song on my new album except for this one.
The band behind me plays the intro, then I open my heart and sing the first love song I’ve ever written for someone.
It’s a song about how Austin and I met, how neither of us was looking for love, but we found it anyway.
By the final chorus, the crowd has joined in.
As the song comes to an end, I transition into a few older songs from my catalogue that I still enjoy playing.
The crowd sings along with every single word of those.
Then it’s over. My first performance as Melody in over a year.
It’s done. “Thank you so much, you’ve been amazing!
Whether you’re off to bed, or plan to keep dancing, I hope you all enjoy the rest of your night. ”
Feeling lighter than air, I walk offstage and straight into Austin’s waiting arms. He moved into my house six months ago and, while there were a few minor growing pains at first, we’re happier than ever.
Abby’s been hinting at wedding bells for at least three of those six months of cohabitation, but we’re not in any rush.
Marriage is something we both want, but Austin and I are enjoying discovering each step along the road there together.
“You were incredible.” He cradles my face between his palms and captures my lips with his in a passionate kiss.
We may have been together for a little over a year, but every kiss with Austin still feels special.
They’re all different. Some are no more than a quick peck as one of us hurries out the door, some are slow and teasing, and some—like this one—are full of enough passion to set my soul alight.
My arms form a loop around Austin’s neck, and he grabs hold of me underneath my butt, lifting me off my feet and startling a laugh out of me.
“Put me down.”
“Never.”
A throat clearing beside us makes both our heads snap to the side. “Excuse me, lovebirds, but I need Melody’s in-ears, please,” Mei asks, not looking remotely repentant for interrupting.
Austin gently sets my feet back on the ground. I can’t stop smiling as I pass the in-ears to Mei.
Even after everyone discovered I’d been hiding out in Pine Grove and saw the drama of my livestreamed confrontation with Miranda, my reputation remained solid.
I slowly began showing more of the real me on my socials and, after learning how Miranda treated me, most of my fans chose to stick with me.
It took about five minutes for me to receive an invitation to headline the Saturday night show of this festival once the organisers realised I was moving to the area.
I’m not remotely ashamed to say I used my pull to get Mei an interview to be part of the festival’s sound team.
Being the star that she is, of course she landed the job.
Hopefully, the first of many, although she made me promise not to meddle too much.
Mei wants to succeed on her own, and I can respect that.
“Congrats on a great show,” she tells me.
“Thank you.” I’m beaming, I can’t help it. When I came to Pine Grove, I was lost. Now I have the life I always dreamed of but never thought I would be lucky enough to live.
Mei leaves, and I immediately turn my attention back to Austin. “Do you like the song?” I ask, still a little short of breath.
“Trouble, I fucking love the song. I love you.” He hugs me again, and I melt into his touch.
“I love you too. Let’s go home.”