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Humming, Bea listed forward.

“Bunny!” Siena’s loud voice boomed through the fog of arousal that coursed through Bea, and apparently Bunny, since she jerked back. “We’ll talk about a press release for this later, but you missed your cue.”

Bunny growled but climbed up the stairs. Piper was still up there, and Jo was at the top, waiting to come down, with a big shit-eating grin on her lips. Bunny said nothing as she walked by. Jo, however, was not so subtle.

“So you two talked it out, I see.”

“Kind of,” Bea said on a sigh, watching Bunny from the bottom of the stairs. Normally she’d be taking an actual break, but she’d never been this close to Bunny and Piper performing. And she couldn’t force herself to be that far from Bunny. Not just yet. Not without some more answers first.

Were they dating?

Was this a formalization of their relationship?

Bea desperately wanted it to be, but they didn’t have enough time to actually get those words out.

“I’ve been preparing for this for years, Bea. I promise you, I have it handled.”

Bea looked into Siena’s sure gaze and nodded. “Yeah, I didn’t think you wouldn’t.”

“I just never thought I’d get to use any of my plans.” Siena grinned. “I’m glad to have been proven wrong.”

But had she been proven wrong yet? Bunny had kissed her. It was clear that Bunny was happy that Bea was there, but they hadn’t talked yet. And Bea needed that confirmation of what they were doing. She needed to know that Bunny was going to meet her halfway, not just on stage, but everywhere else.

Bunny and Piper finished, and then it was time for Bea to sing with Jo. She barely got to slide her fingers along Bunny’s arm as they passed by each other on their way up and down the stairs. She just wanted a few minutes. Why was her timing always off when it came to these kinds of things?

Sweat poured down the small of Bea’s back when Bunny and Piper finally came back on stage for the final few numbers. She had wondered if she was going to be freezing tonight since the forecast had shown the weather to be questionable, but with as much moving around as they were doing and how much energy that she was pouring into the performance, it wasn’t as bad as she thought.

Straightening her shoulders while Bunny introduced the next song, Bea stilled. The snow started falling again. This time in big, gorgeous flakes, ones that drifted down slowly. She caught Jo’s eye and held up her hand to catch the next snowflake. Together they started moving toward the center of the stage and laughed while Bunny stood in front of them, still talking.

Did she ever shut up sometimes?

Then again, it was probably a good thing in times like this. Siena grinned at them from the edge of the stage. They were so close to being finished with the concert. It was dark outside, save for the lights from the venue, which lit up the snow like a soft blanket coming down to cover them. It made the sky look like it was filled with a million stars that they could reach out and touch.

Bea moved up close to Bunny and touched her arm lightly, a smile on her face. Bunny paused, and Bea leaned in close to whisper. “I thought we were going to sing our song.”

Bunny scrunched her face up. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Bea laughed. “Kick those two off the stage, and let’s do it. Meet me halfway, remember?”

“Yeah.” Bunny pulled up her microphone. “Change in plans. Bea, here, has a brilliant idea since the temperatures are dropping and the snow is falling. She and I are going to sing one last duet before we get to the big finale.”

Piper and Jo gave them both curious looks, but stepped off to the side with Siena. They didn’t go far, probably just as curious what was up their sleeves as everyone else.

“Oh, and we’ll do it acapella.” Bunny pointed at the drummer and backup guitarists and pianist behind her. “Just give me a G.”

Bea smiled, humming to herself. This would be so much better than when they’d sung the song the other week. It would have so much more meaning now. They were ready now. She and Bunny were ready for the commitment that this was going to take, and for the reasons they were there. And they were both finally starting on the same note.

Bea couldn’t stop staring at Bunny throughout the entire song. Their voices wove together, the magic of the snow and the conversation she was still waiting to have breathed life into every word she sang. Bea stepped in closer, toe to toe with Bunny, as they came to the conclusion of the song. The last note left her lips, and Bunny immediately dropped Bea’s hand and grabbed her by the back of the neck.

Bunny pressed their mouths together, bending Bea backward and holding her firmly as Bunny kissed her deeply. Bea clung onto Bunny’s arms, holding as tightly as she could while their tongues tangled, heat rising between them, and hope bursting in Bea’s chest.

When Bea finally figured out what was happening, and Bunny pulled her upright, she didn’t want to let go. Leaning up on her toes, she pressed her entire body against Bunny’s, keeping their mouths connected, lips touching.

She couldn’t believe this was happening.

Bunny was kissing her, on stage, in front of a live audience. Bea’s heart nearly burst from the joy. This wasn’t halfway. This was way the hell more than halfway. Bea wrapped herself around Bunny while the crowd cheered them on, growing louder and louder as each second passed.

When Bunny eventually pulled away, a few soft kisses on Bea’s lips, Siena’s angry voice finally reached Bea’s ears. She tensed.