Page 121 of Hard Rock Muse

Epilogue

“You ready for this?” Julian asked.

“No clue,” I breathed. “Ask me when it’s over.”

Nerves fluttered in my stomach. Not as many as I had feared, but enough to make me vaguely nauseous.

It had been years since I’d been on stage. What if I didn’t have that spark I used to? What if I couldn’t command the stage the way I used to? What if—

“Hey.” Julian’s hand was a reassuring warmth squeezing mine. “It’ll be fine. We’ve been practicing for months.”

“Jam sessions aren’t the same as getting up on stage.” My shaky voice betrayed my unease.

“You’re going to be amazing,” Julian said confidently. “I have no doubt.”

“You think?” I laughed nervously as I scanned the audience from behind a crack in the curtain. “What if they’re only here for you and Seth? What if I get out there and they hate me?”

Julian put both hands on my shoulders, making me face him. His eyes were lit with excitement, the kind of vibrant energy that came from being seconds away from performing in front of a crowd. Still, beyond that excitement was a soft, loving look. He pressed a kiss to my forehead.

“Listen,” he said against my skin. “They’re calling for you.”

I turned my attention away from the fluttering in my gut and toward the pit.

The fans were crying out names, mostly Julian and Seth, but among the buzz there were people crying out for me, using both Ever and Everly. They remembered Where Angels Burn. They remembered our break up. And they couldn’t wait for our much-anticipated return.

“They love you,” he said. “Soak up that energy, just like before. Use it. Don’t let it frighten you. Breathe it in and let it sustain you.”

I did as he said, taking in a deep, slow breath. It did help. I took in another. The buzz of the audience began to buzz in my veins. Anticipation of my own washed over me.

I clutched the guitar slung around my shoulder. A smile spread across my face.

“We really are going to kick ass, aren’t we?” I asked.

“We are,” Julian agreed. He played with a strand of my pink hair. “You’re going to blow the roof off.”

“What the hell are you guys waiting for?” Seth bounced up like a kid hopped up on sugar and threw his arms around us. “They’re going to call our cue in five seconds.”

My fingers went cold, but I clenched them tight, refusing to let nerves overtake me again.

“Let’s rock our goddamn hearts out,” I said with determined grin.

We waited those five seconds, then sauntered onto the stage to thunderous cheers and applause.

I took my place in the center and grabbed the mic, bringing it to my mouth.

“Been a while, hasn’t it?” I called out.

The crowd roared back.

“You guys ready for a show?”

They roared again, waving their arms and stomping their feet.

“Let’s fucking do it!” I cried.

With a forceful strike of my hand on the strings, our first song began.

Pure joy flooded my system. As we played, all my old instincts returned, muscle memory kicking in as I strutted around on stage, owning that shit like I was born for it.