Page 68 of Before We’re More Than Friends (When We Faced the Music #1)
Tears burned in the back of my eyes from the emotions that coursed through my veins.
As soon as we sang the last word, I restrained myself from pulling Raina into a kiss right then and there on the stage.
However, the tears I’d been fighting trailed down my cheeks, and I covered my face with my hands.
I’d managed to make it three minutes before embarrassing myself.
But this was a good reason to be embarrassed.
Raina wrapped me into another tight hug as she cried, her heartbeat roaring against mine. The rest of our bandmates joined our hug, tears running down Hayden’s and Arielle’s cheeks as well, and I nearly fell off the stage from how much weight was on me.
But I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Wow, I think I’m going to cry, too,” Ivan said, his eyes glassy as he clapped. “That . . . I haven’t seen an emotional performance like that in a long time.” He flashed us a grin .
Sienna shrieked as if she were going to pass out. Arielle snorted.
“Let’s hear it for Like Airplanes!” Ivan shouted.
The audience roared, echoing my pounding heartbeat in my ears. Mom, Dad, Kami, and Toby cheered with the rest of our families.
Raina’s mom leaned her head on Raina’s grandpa with a huge grin. She and Raina have the same smile . My own smile grew as I wiped my tears away. For once, everyone looked so freaking happy together. Happy for us.
Man, I was so glad we hadn’t backed out.
It took me a moment to realize that my bandmates were leaving the stage. Raina brushed her hands against mine. “Time to go,” she said softly. Even though she’d been crying, her makeup was barely ruined.
As soon as we went backstage, Hayden pulled us into another hug.
“We freaking did it!” he shouted as he nearly crushed my spine.
“Bloody heck, you guys were so great, I’m surprised you didn’t combust and start making out on the spot.
” He laughed as he pulled away. “Which is a good thing because I would’ve been pissed. ”
I snorted. “We wouldn’t have done that to you.” I grinned at Raina, who grinned back at me. “Though it was tempting.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt so single in my life,” Oliver said before cringing. “Oh, gosh, I sound like a hopeless romantic.”
“What’s happening to us?” Sienna asked. “Dallas and Raina are about to suck face while Oliver hasn’t done it with anyone in a hot minute. Caleb hasn’t made one joke?—”
“And you were able to look Ivan in the eyes without turning into confetti,” Caleb said.
“I wouldn’t have turned into confetti!” Sienna’s cheeks flushed. “I’m very chill.”
“Until he starts coming around with his heaven-sent voice and dreamy eyes.” Caleb fluttered his eyelashes and touched his chest. “Then you’re a goner.”
Sienna scoffed. “Let’s be happy that we performed well and didn’t make any mistakes.”
Arielle giggled. “And that we got Ivan’s attention.”
“Hey, this isn’t about Ivan!”
“Pretty defensive for not being about him,” Raina said.
Sienna sighed in defeat.
After waiting for the other four bands to perform—and a few stolen kisses with Raina here and there—the voting round started. Votes were limited to one vote per family, which meant we wouldn’t have the advantage of getting a lot of votes because of all the family members we had here.
After ten minutes of agonizing torture, the top five bands were announced so we could be on stage.
When our name was called, we all bounced around before joining the other bands on the stage.
Of course Joker Avenue was there, and Eddie had no problem giving us another smug look.
Lauren had the audacity to wave at us, her smile cheery and confident.
“Don’t focus on them,” I told Hayden, who looked seconds away from either strangling Eddie or throwing up. I definitely had to keep myself from doing the latter.
Hayden let out a deep breath and gave me a small smile.
Ivan cleared his throat. “The winner of this year’s Battle of the Bands is . . .”
Nick performed his usual drumroll, building anticipation in the atmosphere.
I closed my eyes, holding Hayden’s and Raina’s hands. We did the best we could , I told myself, hoping the words would be enough to fight my disappointment if we lost. There’s nothing else we could ? —
“Like Airplanes!”
The gasp I let out was so loud that it came out as a scream.
Nothing compared to his piercing sounds Hayden and Arielle let out as they bounced around the stage, tackling each other in a hug. The people across the street probably thought a murder had happened from how loud the audience roared.
Mom, Dad, Kami, and Toby leaped out of their seats, along with the rest of our friends and families.
My bandmates and I joined Hayden and Arielle in the hug, ugly tears streaming down some of our cheeks. This was definitely embarrassing, especially after all the time we’d put into our appearances, but nothing could be better than this moment.
“We did it!” Hayden shouted. “We actually did it!” He was so excited that he didn’t bother to look glance over at Joker Avenue, who looked like they’d stepped in dog poop. Lauren and Jaxon slowly clapped, but Eddie only crossed his arms.
We deserved this win.
“We did do it,” I told Hayden before kissing Raina on the lips. “And I knew we could.”
It took longer than I’d thought for things to die down after we won Battle of the Bands. Once What Do You Bean started to close, all our families and friends went to April Springs Animal Shelter to celebrate our win.
And so I could give Raina the surprise she deserved.
I’d underestimated how many of us would actually be there. On top of our six families and Toby, Gracelynn and her brother had come. Caleb kept glaring at Gracelynn, who apparently was his ex-girlfriend and ex-best-friend, but he seemed to be in too good of a mood to bicker with her.
Hayden seemed to get along with his parents and Lana, though he barely interacted with them. When they hugged for a few seconds, I smiled, hoping this was only the beginning of Hayden’s success.
After a few minutes, Oliver brought me to the kitten area and handed me the crate Moonlight was in. My insides nearly burst from the cute meow she let out.
“Raina is waiting for you in the break room with your surprise.” Oliver patted my back. “Good luck.”
“Thank you,” I said, the butterflies in my stomach rising to my chest. I smiled at him before making my way to the break room.
True to Oliver’s word, Raina stood in there with a huge smile, holding something in her hands. When I got a closer look, I realized it was a crate identical to Moonlight’s. Something moved inside of it and meowed.
“W-What’s that?” I asked, my heart jumping in my chest. “Did—you—” I placed Moonlight’s crate down on the nearest table, worried I’d drop it from the weakness in my knees. “Raina.”
She giggled, excitement flaring in her eyes. “I can’t believe we both had the same idea!” She handed me the cat crate, her grin making me weak in the knees all over again. “I hope the cat of my dreams is in there.”
Tears spilled onto my cheeks as I lifted open my crate to see Sunshine’s orange face and big green eyes. “My kitten.” She let out a high-pitched meow, melting me to my core. “How did you get my dad to say yes?”
“Things have been different with your mom lately.” Raina wiggled her eyebrows.
I gagged. “Don’t ruin the moment by doing that.”
She giggled again before picking up her crate and opening it. “Moonlight!” Mascara streaked her cheeks as Moonlight let out a deep meow. “My baby.”
“Now they both have loving homes,” I said as the two cats meowed at each other. “And they’ll still be able to visit each other.”
“I love you, Dallas and Sunshine.” Raina’s lips brushed against mine, and warmth spread to my skin.
If we hadn’t been holding the cat crates, I would’ve kissed her all the way, like there was no tomorrow.
But our sweet moment was perfect the way it was.
Just the two of us and the two kittens we loved to pieces.
Just the warmth between us and the excitement for what was to come.
Just our love.
“I love you, Raina and Moonlight,” I murmured against her gentle lips. “I used to believe things were better before we collided, but nothing can be better than this right now.”
She pulled away for a second and looked at me, the blue eyes I loved so much dancing. “I’m glad I have enough of an effect on you to change your mind and hold your heart.”