“Hello, Nashville! How the hell are you?”
Hoots, hollers, and deafening applause erupt around me.
“Tonight is special to me for a few different reasons,” I say, sitting on a stool in front of the mic. “Not only am I about to perform some brand-new songs for you—”
Once again, the crowd goes wild, and I smile.
“—but I’ve also got some very special people here with me tonight. Recently, I met a man. He’s not only an amazing person, but he’s a wonderful single father of three beautiful children, and I’d like to dedicate my first song to him.”
I reach for my guitar, which is propped up beside me, and drape the strap over my shoulder. I prop my foot up on the rung of the barstool and strum the opening chords.
“This song is called ‘Unbreak My Heart’.”
The lights in the room fade, except for the one shining on me. I close my eyes and sing about finding love, losing love, and begging for it back.
I feel the words, let the pain of the last few days wash away, and revel in the happiness that Grayson and his kids have brought into my life.
When the song ends, I’m met with a thunderous applause. I absorb the crowd’s enthusiasm, using it to push me into the next few songs.
Eventually my band joins in, and we pick up the tempo.
For two hours I sing my heart out, and when I near the end of my final song, I fling my guitar behind my back, grab ahold of the mic, and look to the left. Grayson and the kids are off stage jumping up and down, cheering me on.
; I wink at Emma before turning back to the crowd.
The final chords play, the band fades, and the crowd goes crazy.
I’m sweating profusely, and my face hurts from smiling so much.
I can’t ever remember being as happy as I am right now.
I wave the kids to come out. Emma shoves her brothers out of the way and skids to a stop in front of the full room.
“Dat’s a wot of people,” she says.
I laugh and reach for Henry’s hand as he waddles his way across the stage.
“This is so cool,” Jack says, joining us.
Grayson steps out last.
“Proud of you.” He wraps his arm around me and kisses me smack dab on the lips for everyone to see. He pulls back and whispers, “Let’s get out of here.”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
36
Grayson
It’s well after midnight by the time we get back to the hotel. Marnie upgraded Nora’s executive suite to a presidential suite to accommodate all of us. She also has a plane scheduled to take us home tomorrow afternoon.
This time Nora won’t be going to the loft; she’ll be in my bed where she belongs.
“Why are you smiling?” I whisper so I don’t wake the kids up as I walk into the room.
Nora is sitting on the giant king bed with my kids piled around her. They’re all arms and legs and soft baby snores, and Nora looks like she’s on cloud nine.