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His hair is different. Shorter. He’s shaved it off since their win and subsequent public appearances.

My heart picks up pace in my chest. It feels good to see him, even if it is from a distance.

Decker smiles and laughs, throwing an arm around the big guy next to him.

Maleko. I’ve missed him, too. A little brunette butts up beside Decker, and my heart sinks when he smiles down at her, squeezing her to his side for a quick hug.

For a moment, I scan for the nearest exit.

This was a dumb plan. Why did I think he hadn’t moved on?

Why did I believe Joss's speculations? The brunette grins at something he says, laughing as she scoots around him and presses into Maleko. He tilts down as she pushes to her toes and plants a lingering kiss to his lips. Bitter envy leaves my veins as relief pumps through me. Of course. That’s Maleko’s girlfriend.

Madonna-Man finishes his song to enthusiastic applause and the music dies down.

A mic crackles on, and the DJ announces it’s time for a brief intermission.

I seize my chance. Joss and I part ways as I dart for the DJ booth, digging into my pocket and keeping my head down as I navigate through the crowd.

A couple of whispers and gasps break through the chatter, but I don’t look up.

Usually, I love meeting fans, but tonight I have one goal.

Decker. That’s it. He’s the goal.

Pulling a few bills from my pocket, I slide them across to the DJ who freezes with his water bottle halfway to his mouth.

“This probably seems weird, but can I request my own song? And can I jump the line? I’m kind of on a tight schedule.”

He counts the money, his eyes wide. “Miss Lux, you can do whatever you want.”

I didn’t expect him to say otherwise, but I’m still relieved.

Before I can fully process what I’m doing, he’s cutting the intermission short, and I’m mounting the stage.

Gasps echo through the room followed by a couple of screams and phones being thrust into the air.

I take a deep breath. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that even if this ends in a monstrous disaster, trying to fix it with a publicity stunt isn’t the answer.

Whatever happens happens, but I’ll fix it myself this time.

The boards squeak beneath my feet as I adjust the mic stand.

The stage is more of a makeshift platform, but it props me high enough to see Decker and Maleko still hovering near the bar, lost in conversation.

I nod to the DJ, and he starts the track.

The tinny karaoke instrumentals of the original recording of Pretty Hard to Find seep into the room through the speakers.

I keep my eyes on Decker who stiffens as the music starts, his shoulders losing the nonchalance they held seconds ago.

Maleko turns around first, a broad smile lighting up his tan face.

I fill my lungs, squeezing my eyes shut as I send up a quick prayer that this is enough to at least get Decker to talk to me.

The first few words come out soft and subdued and rife with nerves.

As my voice floods the room, I open my eyes.

Decker is now facing me. Staring up at me.

Smiling at me. Adrenaline takes over as I power through the song, my eyes never leaving his.

Seeing him smile at me is like chugging a big glass of water after singing until all the moisture has left my mouth. Refreshing. Nourishing. Needed.

When I hit the bridge, Decker begins making his way toward me, navigating through the packed bodies like we’re two magnets destined to reconnect. And we are. Well, at least that’s how I feel. I hope he does too.

He stops when he reaches the front row, standing beneath me, gazing up at me with that adoration I never deserved but he always gave me anyway.

In one sizable step, he places a foot on the apron of the rickety stage.

With a smirk, he pushes up to my level so we’re face to face as the song transitions into the instrumental break.

There are whistles as he steps closer, my heart thudding in my chest harder than the bass from the amp nearby.

“Hi,” he shouts over the music.

“Hi.” Suddenly, I’ve completely forgotten a single thing I wanted to say to him. He’s talking to me. That’s more than I expected.

“I heard you were in town.”

“I heard you were posting my song lyrics.”

He shrugs. “It’s a good song.”

“Did you have to Google them?”

He shakes his head. “I’ve known them since your first album.”

I arch a brow, ready to dispute because there’s no way that’s true, but then again, Decker has been nothing but honest with me from the jump.

The instrumental portion ends, and it’s time to sing again. Before I can utter a word, Decker pulls the microphone from the stand and starts in on the last couple of verses. Honestly, he’s not a bad singer. I would have never guessed.

I bite back a smile, completely elated to be in such close proximity to him again and excited by the fact that, despite loving this man, I still have so much to learn about him.

And I want to. I want to know every tiny detail of Decker Trace.

The good, the bad, the downright embarrassing.

His mom’s story of him puking on the sidelines pops into my head, and as disgusted as I should be by it, nothing can scare me away now.

Stories of his past only add to his irresistible layers.

Watching Decker sing, I laugh in shock of this entire situation.

The fake relationship, the fact that he’s here now, that I don’t think he hates me like I believed he would.

Joss stands halfway through the crowd next to some big dude I can’t quite make out.

I assume it’s Cole. She gives me an over-the-top thumbs up and her cheesiest smile. I cheese right back.

When the song ends, everyone goes nuts. Decker and I link together like we’re in some Broadway show, lifting our clasped hands above our heads and dipping down into a deep bow.

My fingers tingle at his touch, and my body goes berserk when he helps me down off the stage and leads me out the back door.

We park by the deplorable dumpster, and I couldn’t care less.

The ketchup and stale beer stench is quickly replaced with the smell of Decker.

I breathe it in, not knowing how long I’ll have the opportunity, how long he’ll stay.

I don’t know if this is the last time I’ll see him, but even if our last moments together are in this wretched alley, I’m just glad to have them at all.

We press our backs against the cool brick wall beside the exit out of the glow of The Malted Mule’s security lights.

“You’re a pretty good singer, you know,” I say, turning to face him.

“You’re not so bad yourself.”

I nudge him with a fist, and he rubs his shoulder where I prodded him. It feels natural, and fear immediately strikes through me that this is all too good to be true. How can he act so normal after how I denied him?

I suck in a deep breath. Time to rip off the proverbial bandage. “I miss you. And I’m sorry.”

He stares at me for a few moments, his green eyes thawing into something soft and loving I’m not sure I’ve earned. “I missed you too, Lena. So much.”

It’s the confirmation I need to plow through what I have to say.

“I’m sorry I acted like I didn’t care. I do care.

A lot. Sometimes it’s so much it scares me.

” My gaze drops to my feet at the admission.

“I know this started as something fake to salvage my career, but, Decker…” I chew my bottom lip as I finally let my eyes meet his again.

“None of that matters as much as you do. You’re the realest thing I’ve ever known and the only thing I care about fixing is us. ”

“ Us?” It’s like he’s trying the word on for size.

I chew my lip again, nodding as I wait for him to process everything.

His eyes widen. “You want to be an ‘us’ for real?”

“I’ve never wanted anything more, Decker. I love you.”

He steps forward, sighing heavily as he pulls me into his arms, kissing the top of my head as I melt into him. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for you to say that.”

“Let me guess. Three months?” I look up at him, my chin pressing into his sternum as I do.

He shakes his head.

I take a step back, my face contorting. “The gala was three months ago.”

“And I’ve been waiting longer.”

At that, I can’t resist another moment. I launch to my toes, my lips finally meeting his. It feels like home, like something I never knew I was searching for but now that I’ve found it, I never want to let it go. I never want to let him go.

His hands unwrap from around me, trailing up to my jaw and cupping my face. His kiss lightens as he pulls away, his long lashes still fanning across his cheeks as he starts to smile. When his eyes open, he examines my face like he’s memorizing it.

“Lena, I’d relive the gala a hundred more times if it means this is the outcome.

” He smiles, broad and sincere. “Yeah, it sucked, but we both got the time away we needed and we still found each other. You wouldn’t be my Lena if you didn’t bring me back down to earth in that unapologetic way only you can. ”

“Someone’s gotta do it,” I grin.

He presses a kiss to my temple, and I savor the feel of his soft lips on my skin. “And I’m glad it’s you. It’ll always be you.”