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The idea sends a thrill through me. Last night’s performance was magic partly because it was spontaneous, but the thought of recreating that connection with audiences across the country is intoxicating.
“I love it,” Justine says immediately. “Some of our best songs would be incredible stripped down.”
“We’d need to rearrange everything,” Dana points out, but she sounds excited rather than concerned.
“New arrangements, new staging, completely different approach,” Keane adds. “It would be a risk.”
“The best things usually are,” I say, and I’m looking at Justine when I say it.
“I’m going to put out feelers and see what I can book. I’m looking at weekends only, give you more down time in between shows. The way sales are now, you’ll be able to charter all the flights.”
A thunderous cheer erupts from all of us, which causes Elle to beam. She should be proud of what she’s created.
“Thanks for taking a chance on me,” Elle says. She disconnects before we can even thank her for believing in us.
As we leave the restaurant, the paparazzi are still there but somehow less intrusive. Maybe it’s because we’re walking out hand in hand, completely comfortable with who we are together. Maybe it’s because the acoustic show has shifted the narrative from scandal to romance to serious artistry.
“How does it feel?” Justine asks as we slide into the car.
“What?”
“All of it. The attention, the opportunities.”
I consider the question as the city lights blur past the windows. Six months ago, I was heartbroken and lost. Now I’m sitting next to the woman I’m in love with, discussing SNL appearances and major label deals, planning acoustic tours that could redefine both our careers.
“It feels like everything’s exactly as it should be,” I tell her. “Like we’re finally where we belong.”
She leans against my shoulder, and I can feel her smiling.
The car pulls up to our hotel, and I know that tomorrow will bring more interviews and appearance requests, more attention, more decisions about our rapidly evolving careers. But tonight, I get to fall asleep next to the woman who changed everything, in a world where we don’t have to hide or apologize or explain ourselves to anyone.
Some things are worth waiting for. Some people are worth changing everything for.
And as Justine’s hand finds mine in the elevator up to our room, I know with complete certainty that she’s both.
THIRTY
The neon lights of Vegas flash past the bus window as we roll into the city, and I can’t help but smile at the familiar sight. There’s something about Vegas that always gets my blood pumping - maybe it’s the energy, maybe it’s the fact that anything can happen here. It feels like the perfect place to end this incredible tour.
“Almost there,” Justine says as she looks out the window of the bus.
“I can’t freaking wait to sit by the pool,” Wynonna adds.
“I just want a cabana boy or whatever,” Priscilla says. “And lots of booze.”
“I’ll be your pool boy,” Hendrix says, and before any of us can chastised him for being inappropriate, he rolls his eyes and adds, “Because they want to drink and are underage. Someone has to look out for them.”
“Wow, I’ve never seen you act so mature,” Dana adds, earning a scowl from Hendrix.
“We’re flying high,” he says. “None of us need something bad to happen to any of us. And I’m sorry, this city is full of creeps, and we need to be on high alert.”
For once, in a long time, Hendrix is right. Keane and I give him a solid fist bump. Looking out for everyone, not just our leading ladies is the right thing to do.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and look at the screen. “Elle just texted that my family’s already at the hotel,” I say, leaning into Justine. This will be the first time I’ve seen everyone since Noah announced his retirement at the end of the football season. Thankfully, when he had his press conference in Portland, we had a tour stop there. While most of our hotels have been nice, staying at Noah and Peyton’s high rise, overlooking the city of Portland, was a nice change of pace, and comfort.
Justine smiles. There isn’t a hint of nerves showing on her beautiful face. She’s about to officially meet my parents, as my girlfriend. It’s one thing to know someone professionally, but when you cross the proverbial line between personal and professional, things are different.
My parents are kick ass and I know they’ll fall for Justine just as I have.