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Asher appeared at her side and reached for her. “Dani just asked us to sing the closing set with Dahlia Denton.”

Sadie gripped Asher’s arms as her heart thundered in her ears. “Are you serious?”

His grin widened even more. “Yes, Miss Dahlia watched the talent show and loved our song.”

Sadie pressed a hand to her chest. “I can’t believe it. You should do it.”

Asher’s grin faltered. “Not without you. We are a team, remember?”

“But—”

Asher pressed a finger to her lips. “No buts. You can do this, Sadie. Sing from your heart.”

For the second time in the last hour, his words permeated her soul. An almost supernatural burst of courage surged through her, and she nodded. Then she curled her fingers through Asher’s. “Come and meet my parents.”

“Mom, Dad, this is Asher Quinn.” Then she glanced at Asher. “These are my parents, Colonel Greg and Joanne Hudson.”

He extended a hand to both. “Pleasure to meet you both. And thank you for your service, sir.”

As Asher talked with her parents and accepted a hug from Gran, Sadie’s heart swelled with pride.

Scars would always be a part of their story. They nearly destroyed what could have been. But healing brought them together and offered a new beginning.

Asher had performed around the world, but nothing gave him greater joy than singing with Sadie.

Still buzzing from adrenaline and the applause still echoing in his ears and the gushing from a few fans, Asher tightened his arm around Sadie’s waist as they talked with her family. Thankfully, other concert attendees had given them privacy.

“Asher!”

He turned at the sound of his name, and his heart slammed against his ribs.

Bending his head, he whispered in Sadie’s ear. “Excuse me a moment. I’ll be right back.”

She nodded and returned to talking to her parents.

Asher strode across the grass. His sister and his mom hurried over to him. Mom’s dark hair pulled back in her favored ponytail that emphasized her high cheekbones and was strung through a white hat she usually reserved for playing golf with Asher’s dad. She wore a pink Summer Sunset MusicFest T-shirt purchased from one of the vendors on the lawn and a pair of white, cropped jeans. Abi wore a matching shirt in light blue and a pair of jeans with frayed slices through the thigh. Her hair, the same color as their mother’s, had been pulled back and fastened with a decorative clip.

“Ash, you were really great.” Abi hugged him, then she smacked his chest. “I’m mad at you for ditching Dad’s party before I arrived.”

“Sorry, sis. I had to get out of there.” Not wanting to let his still-fresh argument with his dad dampen what he was feeling after singing with Sadie, he slung an arm around his sister’s neck and faced his parents.

Pulling Dad along with her, Mom dropped his hand, then flung her arms around Asher’s neck as she had done at his father’s birthday party.

“Sweetheart, you were wonderful. I’m so proud of you.”

Dad remained a few steps behind her.

Par for the course.

But then to Asher’s surprise, Dad moved next to Mom, slid an arm around her waist, and thrust out his right hand. “Great job, Ash. Really great job.”

Asher glanced at his mom and then back at his dad. A beat passed, then he took his father’s hand. “Thanks, Dad.”

Instead of shaking his hand then dropping it, Dad jerked Asher closer into a one-armed man hug and thumped him on the back. “So proud of you.”

When was the last time his father had hugged him? Or told him he was proud of him?

The compliments swirled around in Asher’s brain. The warmth of his father’s praise washed over him, then his eyes narrowed as he cracked a smile. “Are you dying?”