Chapter 20

20

Silas

I wake up in Kara’s arms, more thankful than ever to have her in my life. Yesterday was hard, and having her by my side helped more than she’ll ever know. I’m still absolutely fucked up from the first tragic call I was on from months ago, but at least I know with her by my side, I’ll get over this much faster than I did last time.

She feels me stir and kisses the top of my head.

That’s when I realize we’re still in our clothes from last night and lying on top of my bed.

“Good morning,” she says.

I inhale, then move to my side of the bed and pillow so I can see her better. “Thank you for being here for me last night.”

She turns to face me. “I’m glad they called me. Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah.”

I take a deep inhale and let it out slowly—something a counselor taught me after I kept getting panic attacks after that first call.

I know she doesn’t know what to say or how to respond, so I reach for her, bringing her to me this time and holding her the way she held me last night. I’m in awe at how just lying here with her makes me feel. It’s like all the weight of my entire life is completely lifted, and I can breathe when we are like this.

“You perform tonight, right?” I ask.

“Sure do.”

A huge grin covers my face at the thought of getting to see her perform again.

“You’re coming, aren’t you?”

I hold her tighter. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Kara

The nerves aren’t as bad as the last time I performed, but I also don’t know what to expect this time in terms of the crowd. I gained a ton of social media followers after the last show, and Silas’ sister helped me with another flier so we could promote it again, but there’s no guarantee that many people will show up for a second show.

I’m putting on the final touches to my makeup when Silas comes up behind me in the bathroom, leaning against the doorway and staring at me with a small grin.

“What?” I question the look he’s giving me.

“You’re so beautiful,” he says, his smile growing bigger.

I try to hide my blush as I turn to him and give him a kiss as my thank-you. I mean for it to be a quick kiss, but he grabs me and holds me there, kissing me deeper and making chills run throughout my entire body.

“Every guy there will be thinking about how they want to take you home tonight,” he whispers.

I laugh out loud. “Well, they can think all they want. I’m taken.”

“Hell yeah, you are.” He grabs my ass, pulling me closer to him, and kisses me again.

I can’t stop giggling as I try to push him away, knowing how easy it is to get lost in the moment and end up in bed with him, but I’ll be late if we do.

“I have to go.”

He pulls back and grabs my hand, leading me out of the bathroom. “Let’s get this over with so I can bring you back to my place and have my own private performance.”

His words make me laugh again as I follow him to the front door, grab my stuff I have sitting there waiting and we leave together in his truck.

We arrive at Ruby’s, and when I see a line at the door, my eyes open wide.

Silas reaches for my hand. “They’re here for you, Angel.”

He gives me a soft kiss before we exit his truck, then he reaches my guitar from the back seat while I grab my bag. Hand in hand, we walk to the back door, where Joey told me to enter for this show.

Silas sends him a quick text that we’re here, and he’s there in seconds to let us in.

“Hey,” he says in a hurry, rushing back to where he came from. “This place is nuts. You know where to go, right?” he asks over his shoulder.

“Yeah, I’m good,” I respond.

He gives me a thumbs-up as he turns the corner to go back to bartending, I assume.

Silas wraps me in a hug. “I’m so proud of you.”

I have to fight back tears as I hug him, still in disbelief that all of this is even happening. I know this is my dream, and I moved here for this, but it still feels unreal to see all of these people are here to listen to me.

He lets go of me and guides me to the backstage area so I can get ready.

Joey already has a few bottles of water sitting there for me, but Silas still asks, “Can I get you anything to drink? Maybe a shot to calm your nerves?” He bounces around like he’s nervous.

I laugh out loud at his shot reference. If I had a shot right now, I’d feel way too buzzed to perform. “I’m good. Do you need a shot?”

He places his hand on his stomach. “I might. How come I’m nervous?”

I place a kiss on his cheek. “That’s cute. I like that you’re nervous for me. You can go get something if you want. I’m good back here by myself.”

He shakes his head. “Nope. I’m not leaving you until you’re on that stage.”

I kiss him again, then grab my guitar case and open it to make sure everything is in tune, even though I’ve already checked it a hundred times today.

About twenty minutes later, Joey comes back to join us. “How are we doing back here? You ready to go on?”

I smile at him. “I’m ready.”

“Great. I’ll go announce you, then same thing as last time. You do your thing and just let me know if you need anything.”

I stand from where I was sitting with my guitar on my lap. “Let’s do this.”

Joey heads toward the stage, and Silas grabs me one last time.

“Good luck out there.”

We kiss, and I walk out of the room, feeling nothing but confidence racing through me, especially after that kiss.

“Thank you, everyone, for coming out to Ruby’s tonight. I know you’re here for only one reason, so without further ado, everyone, give a warm Ruby’s welcome to Kara Parsons!”

The crowd erupts with people clapping and whistling as I enter the stage, waving at everyone.

“Thank you all for being here tonight! I’m Kara Parsons, and let’s get this show started!”

I strum on my guitar, and the crowd claps even louder.

As I sing the first song, my eye catches Silas at the bar, jumping up and down while screaming at the top of his lungs. Knowing I have his support fuels me even more as I try my hardest to put on one hell of a show.

Once the show is over, I’m both exhausted and so full of energy that I don’t know what to do with myself.

I exit the stage, waving my goodbyes, and when I walk in the back room, Silas is already there, waiting for me.

“You were amazing!” he says with so much excitement as he picks me up and swings me around, making me laugh.

“Thank you!” I say, hugging him tightly. “Thank you for giving me this. Thank you for being here for me.”

He sets me down and looks into my eyes. “This is all you. They are here to see the incredible show you put on.”

He holds my head with both of his hands and kisses me with so much passion that I wish I could rip our clothes off right here and let him have his way with me.

“Okay, you two, no fucking in my back room,” Joey says as he enters the area.

Silas pulls back, laughing. “Way to cockblock, dude.”

He flips him off and comes straight to me. “You did fantastic up there tonight. I think we might have to schedule you for some more shows. People are asking for you to be here more often.”

I smile big at Joey, then Silas. “I’d love that.”

“Our bar would love it too.” He points at Silas. “I have to get back out there, but I’m serious—no fucking back here.” He cracks a smile as Silas slaps his shoulder playfully.

Once he’s left, Silas picks me up again. “Now, where were we?”

He leans in to kiss me, making me giggle as I push him away.

“Let’s get out of here and go back to your place.”

He stops so quick that I almost lose my footing. “Don’t have to tell me twice.”

He takes my hand and leads me out of the bar and to his truck in a hurry. We drive back to his place probably faster than we should. We rush to exit his truck and run to the door. We’re like two kids racing to the ocean, knowing the waves we are about to create will be much more powerful than anything else on this earth.

We’re barely in the door, and already, he’s peeling off my clothes as I kick off my shoes. The current in the air is so strong, feeling like if we aren’t together as one as fast as possible, lightning will strike us.

He picks me up, carrying me to his room and tossing me onto the bed. I shimmy out of my jeans and yank off my shirt, greedy for him and only him.

Once he’s completely naked, he swoops in, removing my panties and kissing his way up my body. I pull him closer to me, needing him inside me as fast as possible.

When he enters, it’s like heaven and earth, all at once. I can breathe easier. I’m fully alive, and most of all, I feel like my world is complete again.

Our pace is frantic as we both chase a high we didn’t know was possible until we met each other.

I moan, and he moves faster. I scream, and he pushes harder. I hold on to him for dear life, and he hits my G-spot so intensely that I explode all around him, clenching on to him from the inside out.

He’s quick to find his release, and then we hold on to each other tightly, afraid if we move, this high we’re on will disappear.

I never want any of this to fade in any way. A connection this intense can only mean we were absolutely meant to be. I’ve found my one, and together, we’re unstoppable.