Page 72 of Rising Star

My breath itched on its way in.

Halting by the side of the stage and supporting my weight on the crutches under my armpits, I pressed my hands over my chest to calm my overzealous heart.

Sam blinked. And blinked again. His fingers played the keys with more determination. His shoulders relaxed. Fire returned to his gaze. The one burning for me. The one directed at me.

A lazy curl grazed his lips. The one I couldn’t wait to kiss.

His eyes stayed locked on mine as he poured his heart in front of a stadium full of fans. Cell phone lights brightened the dark amphitheater. Shiny stars, the witnesses to our love story unfolding before them.

…Let me shine in your light

Let me breathe in your air

With you, I’m alive again

With you, I’m myself again…

With careful movements, I neared the center of the stage, unable to stay put. Sam’s magnetism couldn’t be avoided anymore. He mouthed, “You’re back?”

I bobbed my head, my lips stretched so big, they would stay fixed in a grin for the rest of my life.

“For good?”

I bobbed my head faster.

With a jerk of his head, he gestured for me to join him.

I frowned, not sure if I understood right.

I perused the area around me and caught Riley’s eyes. He nodded, letting me know it was fine.

My gaze returned to Sam, waiting for me, scooting to the left on the bench, engrossed in his music. And me. All at the same time.

Rolling my lips over my teeth, to prevent them from trembling, I ignored the fact that thousands of people had their eyes on me. I blocked the wolf-whistles and “Oohs” and “Aahs” as I took the spot next to my man. While he sang the last verse, my love for him blossomed.

…And kiss me

I crave the kiss of an angel

Of an angel

A kiss from my angel

His band took over. Sam, abandoning his instrument, turned toward me and crashed his lips on mine, not giving me a second to catch my breath.

“I love you, Maddie,” he whispered against my mouth. “I’m fucking gone for you. I’m not letting you go. Never again.”

“I never meant to hurt your feelings. I just knew what this tour meant and didn’t want to interfere with it. I was wrong because I hurt you in the process. And hurt myself. I love you so much. And I missed you. Being away from you has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”

“I was a fucking mess without you.”

I kissed him back, desperate for his love.

He detached his mouth from mine, faced the microphone, and hollered to his screaming fans, “My woman is back.”

A nervous laugh escaped me, and I placed my hand over my mouth.

“Ohmygod, you didn’t just do that,” I said. Laughter, shyness, and elation blended all together inside me.