Page 71 of When the Stars Rise

I doubt that Gracie would ever succumb to peer pressure or fall for the first boy who shows her attention, so I don’t think they have anything to worry about.

“I have to do my soundcheck,” I say, reluctant to leave Lila. “You’ll still be here, right?”

“Where else would I go?” She links my arm to hers, and we walk down the hallway. “We’re here for you. Would it be okay if I sit in the audience and watch?”

“Yes, please do.” Soundchecks are not exciting, but I’m flattered she would want to. Tonight, I’ve arranged for them to sit in the VIP lounge, where they’ll have a good view of the stage, a buffet, and drinks throughout the show. “Sit anywhere you want.”

“She can sit with me,” Dean says, appearing at our side.

I’m half-expecting Lila to shoot him down, but she smiles at him and treats him like a friend, not an enemy. “Hey, Dean. It’s been a while.”

He nods and strokes his chin. “What’s it been? Two years?”

It’s been a little over two and a half years since the McCallisters came to see me at Austin City Limits—the closest I’ve been to home since leaving and it was a disaster.

I watch them walk away, then grab the metal railing and climb the stairs to the stage.

“Hay-Hay!” Gracie shouts, still using the nickname she gave me as a little girl.

She flies across the stage and launches herself into my arms. “This is so cool!” she says, her eyes lighting up. “Your life is like… oh my god…. amazing.”

I laugh a little, stunned by the change in her appearance. We’ve FaceTimed but seeing her in person is a lot different. She’s not a little kid anymore or a gawky tween.

At fifteen, Gracie looks a lot like Lila with a heart-shaped face, green eyes, and long, dark hair. She’s still slim and around my height, but her body has filled out, and she has hips and breasts now.

But the guy standing next to her is even more of a shock.

Levi McCallister must be as tall as Jude now with broad shoulders and what I suspect is a six-pack under his fitted white T-shirt. He looks so much like his dad, with the same shade of chestnut hair and blue eyes, that I can’t stop gaping.

He grins at me and puffs out his chest. “Yeah, I have that effect on all the girls.”

Gracie smacks his arm. “Oh my god, you’re so gross,” she mutters.

I pick my jaw off the floor and laugh, giving him a little slug on the shoulder. “Hey, Levi.”

“Hey there, Hales.” We hug and he gives me an awkward pat on the back before releasing me. “Good to see you.”

“You too.” I look from him to Gracie. “Wow. I can’t believe how much you’ve changed since I last saw you.”

“You should come home more often,” Levi says, echoing the prevailing sentiment of the day.

It’s never been more apparent that I’ve been gone too long as it is right now.

So much has changed in that time, but the McCallisters have adhered to their motto, “Family always comes first.” They’re always there for each other, no matter what, and I guess I’mpart of their family, too. The prodigal daughter who left home to chase her dreams.

It wasn’t only my dreams that I was chasing—I ran. And I’ve been running ever since.

I’m going to fix that though and face my past. Eventually.

But I still have three more weeks of this tour to finish and an impending visit with Shiloh that I’ll have to get through. I don’t want to think about facing Shiloh again, though. I’m still trying to take it one day at a time and live in the moment.

So I shake it off and flash them a smile. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

Gracie claps her hands together. “We’re so excited to be here.” She gives me a big smile. “My friends are so jealous, but I promised to get plenty of photos.”

She pulls out her phone but hesitates and looks at me for permission. “Sorry. Is that okay? I mean, you’re family.” She bites her lip. “I always think of you like my sister, you know? And we girls have to stick together. So I don’t want to abuse that privilege or, like, take advantage or anything?”

Gracie shifts on her feet, looking unsure but her words hit me hard.Sisters. Family.