Page 31 of Pretty When It Burns (When The Lights Go Down #1)

Chapter twenty-eight

"The Love You Want" - Sleep Token

Grayson

The story I tell Mia’s sisters is honest.

From the moment Mia walked back into my life, I knew she had to be a part of it.

Did I know that it was going to end up with her practically saving my life, being the one thing tethering me back to earth?

No.

But I need Makenna and Macy to know how important Mia is to me.

“When I saw her again… everything else just kind of faded into the background,” I tell them.

Macy gives a swoony little sigh, but Makenna eyes me as if she can see through bullshit even if she were blind.

“Nice line, Mr. Songwriter,” Makenna smirks. “Didn’t you just get divorced, like, five minutes ago?”

I’ve been waiting for that one to come up.

“My marriage was in trouble long before your sister came along,” I say honestly. “We’d decided to split up before Mia even came to LA. But seeing her again… it was like coming up for air after years of drowning. Everything just realigned.”

“I see,” Makenna muses.

Mia’s thumb brushes over my hand, as if she’s reminding me she has my back. That it doesn’t matter what her sisters think of my past—she’s accepted it and that’s what matters.

“I don’t want to repeat my mistakes,” I say. “It’s not about filling a void, it’s about building something that matters.”

Silence follows for a moment. Macy smiles dreamily, and finally, Makenna’s expression softens just a little.

“Well,” Makenna says at last. “You’re not what I expected. But then again, I didn’t expect Mia to end up singing on a national tour either. So I guess I’m keeping an open mind.”

Makenna’s answer isn’t an enthusiastic blessing by any means, but I don’t need that. I just need to start chipping away at the coat of armor she wears. She’s given me that—barely, but enough to breathe easier.

“Thank you,” I say, keeping my voice level. No ego, no bravado. Just gratitude. “That’s all I can ask for.”

Mia gives my hand a squeeze, her eyes filling with gratitude. I’m starting to realize how much these small moments mean to her—the silent encouragement, standing up for our relationship in front of her family. It’s everything.

“So,” Macy leans forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. “What’s it like being with a rock God? Are there groupies always following you around? Wild after parties? Oh, and aren’t you, like, living on a bus right now?”

I laugh, grateful to Macy for the shift in tone and for breaking the tension.

“Yes to living on the bus. No to the groupies. And as for the parties—if you count trying a new pizza place in every city, sore backs, and arguing over who gets the last electrical outlet or heating pad, then yeah. Wild’s the word I’d use.”

Mia snorts beside me. “Tony tried to crowd surf at the last show and pulled something. We could barely get him back to the bus. I’d say that was the highlight of the week.”

Macy dissolves into giggles, and to my surprise, even Makenna cracks a smile. For the first time since they arrived, everything feels normal.

Not like a meet-the-sisters interrogation, not like I’m on trial.

Easy.

But it doesn’t take long for Makenna to bring us back to earth again.

“So, what happens next?” she asks, crossing her arms over her almost too perfect blazer again. “After the tour ends and the hype dies down—where does this go?”

The air in the room shifts. She isn’t trying to be hostile; she’s asking all the questions a big sister should be asking. I can’t blame her for that. If she and I had traded places, I’d want to know, too.

I take a breath.

No deflecting.

No sugar-coating.

This needs to be real.

“I don’t have all the answers,” I admit.

“My life’s chaotic. Most days, I’m just taking it one step at a time.

Things are messy, loud, definitely unorthodox.

But Mia… she’s the steady part. She’s not a placeholder—she’s the constant.

The reason I want to be better. When everything else feels like it’s falling apart, she’s the one who brings me back to myself. ”

Makenna holds my gaze for a long moment, probably trying to decide how much of what I’m saying she actually believes.

“That’s a start,” she says, giving a small nod.

Mia’s shoulder brushes against mine, soft, warm, reminding me she hasn’t gone anywhere. I can feel relief radiating off of her.

I’ve passed the test, or at the very least, survived the first round.

After that, the conversation lightens and Mia’s sisters stay for at least another half hour.

Macy rambles on about her latest online dating disasters while Makenna shares how things are going now that she’s been named the youngest partner at her law firm.

Finally, Mia is able to relax into me, and I find myself smiling more than I have in days.

By the time we stand to leave so Macy and Makenna can get to their hotel, it’s well after midnight. The Charlotte air has cooled and the breeze has picked up against the dark, cloudy sky.

I stay behind as Mia leads her sisters through the backstage area and to the service exit, wanting to give her a final moment alone with them.

Macy hugs Mia and sweeps out the door, while Makenna touches her arm softly and locks eyes with her, murmuring something, before giving her a last hug and following her other sister.

When Mia returns, she wraps her arms around my waist and slips her hands into the back pockets of my jeans. I return her embrace and place a kiss on top of her head.

“What did she say?”

Mia smiles. “She said you’re growing on her.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

“Slowly,” she adds, a teasing tone in her voice.

“Wow,” I grin. “That’s practically a standing ovation, coming from her.”

We gather our things and step out into the night air, our steps in sync as we begin the walk back towards the tour bus to meet up with the rest of the gang.

“I know that wasn’t easy,” Mia says, leaning into me and entwining her fingers with mine as we walk. “I didn’t mean to put any more pressure on you, especially with everything going on. So thank you, for being so great with them, and for doing it at all.”

“I’d do it all over again if it means I get to be with you,” I tell her sincerely.

We stop under a streetlight and her green eyes meet mine… illuminated, clear, and steady.

“You mean it?”

“Dead serious.”

She smiles, and I kiss her, slow and sure.

No performance.

No crowd.

Just us.