I sing the last line of the song, unable to look away from him as I do. Even when the lights cut and the show is over, I don’t look away. And neither does he. Despite there being thousands of people here, I feel like it’s just the two of us.
I’m tapped on my shoulder by one of my dancers, and it breaks the eye contact.
“You did it!” my dancer, Katie, exclaims, wrapping her arm around my shoulders, pulling me into a half hug.
I shake my head. “Nowedid it.”
After the show, we’re all emotional, but I know we’ll all see each other soon. They’re my team and I like to stay consistent with my people because change scares me. I’m hauled back with arms wrapped around me and I squeal, but instantly recognize it’s my brother, Nash. Steele joins in the hug, and I try to fight them off because they’re both so much bigger than me and going to squeeze the life out of me.
“Let go,” I complain playfully.
“We just want to congratulate our baby sister on another successful tour,” Nash teases, squeezing even tighter. I gasp dramatically, trying to push his arms off me.
“Let go or I’ll break your arm, then you can't play baseball, and I don’t need your team coming after me,” I threaten. All he does is laugh.
“Come on, boys,” my dad pulls them back gently and they let go.
I pretend like I’m catching my breath to be extra dramatic.
My mom pulls me in for a much tamer hug. “You were amazing,” she whispers.
“I learned from the best,” I tell her honestly.
She pulls back and I see the tears in her eyes that mirror mine, her hands bracket my cheeks. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Stop, you’re going to make me cry,” I complain.
My dad wraps his arms around both of us and pulls us into a group hug. “I love both my girls so much.”
“What about us?” I hear Nash ask.
“You two were our test runs. Third times a charm.”
“Hey,” both Steele and Nash call out while I giggle.
He lets go, and I see Grayson, making my heart instantly kick up in my chest that he’s right here. I’m already smiling, but I feel my face get warm with a blush I want to hide.
“Hi,” I greet, unsure of what else to say even though once the word leaves my lips, I feel silly for it.
He just opens up his arms for me to run into. This isn’t new, and as soon as they’re wrapped around me, I melt against his hard, muscular frame. He speaks against my hair, and I smother my smile against his chest. “You were amazing, Sunshine.”
I pull back so I don’t get too distracted by how good it feels to be in his arms, enveloped in his smell and try to put space between us. “Thanks, now it’s your turn to impress me on the ice.”
“You know I will.” He winks.
“I’ll be the judge of that. I got a new notebook for coaching notes and everything.”
“I’m sure you did.” He chuckles.
“Great show, Rae.” Audrey comes up behind me with a hug of her own.
“Thank you,” I beam at her. I don’t even think about what comes out of my mouth next because seeing her reminds me of the other night when I saw her brother. “Did Asher tell you he came to my Vegas show?”
She rears back, surprised. “He did?”
“Uh, yeah. Did he not say anything to you?”
She gives me a closed-lip smile, and I worry I may haveruined the lighthearted mood. “No, he hasn’t talked to me in a couple years. But it’s okay. How was he?”