Chapter 42
DAWSON
“Who’s ready to fucking rock tonight?!” Brodie yelled out as he ran across the stage.
The sold-out stadium crowd erupted in cheers and hollers in return.
“Come on, L.A., you can do better than that! I want to hear you scream!”
Another roar blasted through the venue.
“I said louder!! Like you do when you’re fucking someone really hot. Or maybe more than one person?” Brodie laughed into the mic.
The boom from the audience this time around was ear-splitting.
I was standing in my usual spot, in the wings, but this time, I could stare at Iain to my heart’s desire.
And did I ever.
I was getting so turned on watching Iain strum his guitar as he strutted around the stage, the fans going wild in response. Seeing him in his element always made me so fucking proud. Some days, I still pinched myself that this incredible, talented man was all mine.
The past four months had been a whirlwind for both of us. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Therapy was going well for all of us, and Iain was more confident than ever. And secure in our relationship, which meant everything.
At the end of May, the band signed with Hardwick, a new label based in the UK. They’d just opened satellite offices in Nashville and LA, which was a perfect fit for the guys. No more dealing with Greg.
Zoe, along with Regan and some of the security staff like Lennie, had also left the label and signed on with Hardwick at Brodie’s recommendation. It was great that the guys in the band had familiar faces to work with on this new leg of their rock ’n’ roll journey.
That wasn’t the only big change.
The renovations on Iain’s house were completed. And just prior to leaving on this trip, Iain had asked me, Jaxon, my mom, and, of course, our newest family members, our tabby cats, Jimi and Hendrix, to move in with him.
The answer was a resounding “yes,” and his house became ours.
Now that Jaxon had finished school for the year, we had time to organize the move.
I decided to sell my place and use the money to invest in the PI business Quinn and I had launched.
The money would enable us to hire a full-time administrative assistant, something we desperately needed (invoicing was not in our skill set).
It only took us a few months to get our license, and we had clients from the start.
No doubt my boyfriend had a hand in our initial success, given that he referred some of his fellow celebrities.
The renovations to the house included a home office for me and Quinn.
It meant I’d be around more when Jaxon needed me.
Some might say Iain and I combining households was fast, but we’d discussed it as a family and agreed. Iain and I made it clear to everyone that someday soon, we were going to be husbands.
This was it.
And I wasn’t the only one anxious to make Iain a permanent part of our family. At Jaxon’s birthday party in April, he told me I should put a ring on it already. When I reminded him that Iain and I had only been dating a short while, he rolled his eyes.
I said it, nine going on nineteen.
The Wayward Lane family was expanding again, and I was so freaking happy to be a part of it.
“Holls looks good tonight,” Van murmured beside me.
Good?
My boyfriend was smoking hot in his skintight leathers, ripped T-shirt, and braided cuffs. Wearing black eyeliner, and with his blond locks styled in a 70s shag, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
“Sexy as fuck is more like it.”
Van laughed and nudged me with his elbow. I tore my eyes away from my boyfriend to look at him.
“You sure are vocal now when it comes to Iain.”
“He’s it for me, Van. I’m so fucking in love with him.”
“Knocks you right on your ass, doesn’t it?” Van sighed, staring at his husband as Brodie began to sing. “What is it with these Wayward Lane guys? We didn’t stand a damned chance.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Iain isn’t sneaking off anymore.”
“Only with me.”
And there would be sneaking off tonight.
As soon as Iain finished on stage, I was gonna haul him back to our hotel and do very dirty things with him.
This was the first weekend we’d had completely to ourselves in over six weeks. Jaxon was back home with my mom, and Iain and I had two days in California together. Alone.
We were gonna spend every moment (when he wasn’t on stage) naked.
Halfway through the concert, and before their third set, Iain took to the mic.
“Is everyone having a great time?” he asked.
The crowd shouted in response, and I heard several people yell at Iain, telling him they loved him.
Forget it, folks. He’s taken.
“Alright then, that’s what I like to hear.” He wiped the sweat off his face. “Before I let Brodie take the mic again, I’d like to give a special shout-out to a very special man. My boyfriend, Dawson Everly.”
Oh, Jesus, he didn’t.
“Come on out here, baby,” Iain encouraged as the band whistled at me and motioned for me to take the stage.
Despite my pounding heart and the cacophony of the crowd surrounding me, I walked out on stage.
“That’s right. He deserves all the applause because I tell you, this man,” Iain started as his smile unleashed, “this man is my world.”
The audience went wild with more shouts and whistles.
“And because he’s everything to me, I want to dedicate this brand-new song, one I had the pleasure to write, to him. Dawson, I love you.”
He stepped back from the mic for a moment, and I reached out, pulling him in for a possessive kiss.
In front of fifty thousand screaming fans.
I tasted his sweat. And cinnamon, from the gum he liked to chew before he got on stage (no more cigs).
More than anything, I tasted his love.
After one more kiss, I let him go, waved to the crowd, and walked back to the sidelines so he could perform his song.
“All the way, baby. This is you and me,” Iain spoke into the mic as he glanced at me, pointing between us. Then, he faced the audience again. “This is called ‘Running Start.’”
I laughed out loud at the title of the song until Iain began to sing.
To me.
About us.
Then the tears followed until everything around me was a blur.
And there was only him and me.
And our music.
Iain
As soon as I stepped up to that mic, my nerves sizzled, and my hands shook.
Only Dawson could have that kind of effect on me.
Keep it together. It’s just one song.
A song that meant so much to me.
I didn’t know if it was going to be a major hit—a Wayward Lane classic. I didn’t write it for that purpose, even though my band brothers assured me it was.
None of that even entered my mind. It was all about capturing a feeling that only Dawson inspired.
Ever since we’d committed to each other, not a day went by that I didn’t know or feel how much I was loved.
I always thought a romantic relationship meant heartache and pain and losing a part of yourself.
No doubt there would be ups and downs for us down the line.
Nothing was ever constant.
But Dawson had shown me that, with the right partner, you could be a better, stronger, brighter version of yourself. I was happy and whole before we became lovers, but my life now was so much richer, and none of it had to do with money.
Even if I lost all my fame and fortune overnight, I knew I’d still wake up smiling if I woke up next to him.
And while I sang in front of thousands of fans about running away from my feelings and finally coming full circle, I felt the weight of the gold ring in my pocket.
I’d bought the ring a month ago, and I was searching for the right time to pop the question. I’d already asked his family for their blessing.
And now I didn’t want to wait any longer to make that man officially mine.
But unlike my very public declaration of my love on stage, my proposal to Dawson would be private.
Just the two of us.
The hotel room was ready. The champagne was ordered.
I glanced over at the wings where Dawson stood and saw him wiping tears from his face. I smiled and sang the words I’d had etched on his ring.
Always, I run to you.