Chapter 47
Tate
The low sound of a squeaky hinge hits my ears, and I’m surprised, because up to now, I haven’t been able to hear anything but the rapid beat of my own heart.
I’m so honored to meet all these people, even though I know they didn’t come for me.
They’re still treating me like they did though.
As soon as my hand releases the little girls, and I go to step inside the theater, the crowd goes wild.
The sound of it nearly knocks me off my heels.
I look back and freeze. Levi is standing on the opposite end of the carpet, staring at me.
I press a smile into my hand and raise it as a small hi.
The gesture unlocks something in him, and he starts to move, all long strides as he walks the length of the carpet in under ten steps. He stops in front of me.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” I say back.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
My mouth cracks like a dam, releasing the untethered joy of just being in his presence again. “It is.”
He smiles back, and for a minute, the theater, the crowd, everything leading up to this moment...feels insignificant.
“I— I have to tell you something...” I say, nervous for some reason. His face remains soft, nonreactive.
“I’m here because...”
“Levi!” Gabriella calls, hands planted on her denim-clad hips.
He looks at her, then back to me, jaw tightened. He wraps himself around me, my head resting just under his chin.
“I’ll see you after the show?” It’s a question, but before I can answer it, he’s walking back towards Gabriella and Jan.
They link arms and start the slow walk down the carpet.
Thankfully, Callie pulls me in, or I probably would have sat there and watched the whole thing.
Lovesick is what they’ll say about me tomorrow.
I can see the headline now—Tate shows up unannounced and can’t keep her eyes off of Levi and Gabriella.
I don’t realize I actually said that out loud until my sister laughs. “I would totally buy that magazine, but I think your surprise performance is going to turn those yells into whispers.”
“Thanks, Callie.” I roll my eyes.
“Looks like we’re right in front,” Tim says, using the flashlight on his phone to see our tickets.
He’s the only one paying attention to the details tonight.
We take our seats at about thirty minutes to showtime.
I see Lenny, one of the main camera guys, and Cheryl, one of the many awesome production assistants.
So many people, all working together for the common goal of entertainment.
Gratitude falls upon me in the form of a single tear.
I rush to scoop it up with the crook of my finger.
Levi’s mom catches me and smiles. “It’s only the beginning, Tate.”
“I’m just appreciative, that’s all.”
She leans over and squeezes me into a side hug. There’s a crackle in the speakers before the music stops abruptly as the crowd falls silent and the lights go dark around us. A spotlight circles the stage.