Page 134 of Fire

“Story Time,” I say, as my lips curve into a smile. “Once there was a rock star who fell for a ridiculously hot doctor…and she set his world onfire.”

EPILOGUE

Zara

THREE MONTHS LATER…

“Zara! We’re going to be late!” Hendrix hollers from the kitchen.

I let out an amused laugh. “It’s a Halloween party at your family’s bar. I don’t think it’s possible for us to be late.”

I check myself out one last time in the floor-length mirror and grin. He’s going to lose his shit when he sees the costume I picked out. Turning on my heels, I flick off the lights and exit our master bedroom and head toward the kitchen.

We’ve been back from tour for about a month, and we’ve been officially living together just as long. As soon as our plane touched down in LA, I was already packing my stuff at my sister’s place and hauling it over to Hendrix’s.

I’d like to say my sister was sad over me leaving, but she wasn’t. She values her freedom and her apartment. Plus, she’s just so damn happy I’m not with Tanner anymore.

That makes two of us.

I look at the photos we’ve added to the hallway since we got home: pictures of the guys on stage and playing together in Asher’s hotel suite, a candid shot of Hen’s sisters and me, and one of the two of us with my parents.

I’m amazed at how quickly we turned Hendrix’s house into a home for the two of us in such a short time. I spent years with Tanner in that cold, sterile house his parents bought us, and it never once felt like home to me.

I’ve quickly come to realize it’s not the duration, but the quality of time spent together that makes a relationship last.

“Hey, I’m ready—” My voice gets caught in my throat the second I round the corner and see him standing in the kitchen in… “Oh my god. Where did you get that?”

When he turns around, my jaw drops to the floor.

He’s not only wearing a white lab coat, but he’s also dressed from head to toe in scrubs, complete with a stethoscope and a fake badge. I thought that after marrying and divorcing a doctor, I’d be totally over them. But it turns out, seeing my incredibly hot boyfriend in scrubs really does it for me.

“Eric got them for me. They’re the real fucking deal. Well, except for the badge.” He waves it in the air next to his face, and that’s when he finally looks up and notices my shoes. Then his eyes lift upward…

“Jesus Christ. Please tell me you’re not dressing up as?—”

“A bass player?” I press my lips together, trying to hold back my smile. “Okay, I won’t.”

He scrubs a hand down his face as he takes it all in: the shiny Doc Martens, the fishnet stockings, and the tight black miniskirt. There’s also a shredded white band tee over the black leather bra. That’s my favorite part. I look like a rock star’s wet dream.

“All I need is a bass to hang around my shoulders.”

“Cupid, I love you, but there’s no way you’re taking one of my bass babies to a crowded bar.”Bass babies.This man.

“I know. I’m just messing with you. I wouldn’t want to lug that giant thing around all night anyway. But I wouldn’t mind doing a private photo shoot later.”

“Fuck me. How about we just not go?” he suggests, his voice dropping low. “We could just stay in, maybe play a nice game of doctor. I think you’re in need of a checkup.”

I laugh and then squeal as he reaches for me. I dash toward the door. He quickly catches up and, within seconds, has me pressed against it, caged between his large hands. “I cannot believe you just said that.”

He shrugs with an amused grin. “Seems only fair since I’ve been to the doctor so much lately.” My heart skips a beat at how at ease he is with his diagnosis now. His acceptance has not been a straight line. These things never are. It’s been a roller coaster of emotions, filled with grief, regret, and sometimes even anger.

There were days when I could see him drowning in doubt, especially after he messed up during a show. Once, after a particularly bad performance, he even tried to convince Asher to let him go, but the guys are firm in their decision.

Family is family, and they will support both their bass players through whatever life throws at them.

To say the internet went wild with that announcement is an understatement. Two bass players? It was unheard of. But when they discovered the reason, they rallied.

I knew Manic fans were passionate, but I didn’t realize just how intense their support is. The love and encouragement Evans and Hendrix have received have been overwhelmingly positive, and because of this, Evans has been able to stay clean, and Hendrix has been able to continue his treatment.