Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
I wasn’t giving that up for any amount of money. And the next time Kasper emailed me a job offer, I might not be quite so polite about refusing.
I quickly typed several messages to Violet, letting her know what Boomer had said about Bodhi and also informing her that Noelle had been here. When I’d checked the VIP guest list, she hadn’t been on it. I’d sent Dennis—one of our local guys—to interrogate the security personnel at the entrance to the event to find out how the hell she’d gotten admittance.
As I approached the backstage area, where Lou was waiting and watching Zane, I nudged her. “I’m here. Thanks for holding down the fort. How the fuck did Noelle get into that reception?”
“She said she’s here with the Ventdestinian delegation. She’s consulting with them on something.” Lou shrugged. “I pulled Zane away as soon as I saw him with her, but Ryan… you should know Noelle was actually the one who brought him back to me when Gisella pulled him away to take a picture with her kids. We were separated by the crowd, and Noelle was the one who noticed. She could have taken that time to make her pitch to him about hiring her back or whatever the fuck she’s been trying to contact him about, and she could have stamped him if she’d wanted to… but she didn’t.”
That seemed strange, but I didn’t have time to figure it out right now. My eyes were riveted on my principal, and my goal was to make sure no one else touched him tonight but me.
“This next one’s a new one,” Zane began, reaching over to switch out guitars. The crowd went wild, and he laughed. “I thought you might appreciate that. It’s… I dunno. Maybe you could say it’s a coming-of-age song. I hope you like it. It’s called ‘Mending Fairytales.’”
As he began to move his fingers gracefully over the strings, I felt the familiar wash of awe and pleasure stream over me as his music filled the air. I’d never heard this one before—it wasn’t the light, catchy tune he’d been humming—but I remembered him mentioning a second song, one that was more serious. And as the words unfurled, I realized this was about his mother.
It wasn’t a tower, and you didn’t save me.
The animals were feral, but you let them raise me.
I needed more, but you didn’t guide me.
I reached for the stars, but you tried to
Hold
Me
Down.
And now you’re gone,
Left in a
Blissed
Out
Haze.
Left me alone and
Afraid
For
Days.
Some days, it seems kinder
But then I remember
The way
You
Sang.
Oh, how
I wish
You’d
Stayed.
It wasn’t a tower, and you didn’t save me.
The animals were feral, but you let them raise me.
I needed more, but you didn’t guide me.
You went away, and you fucking
Left
Me
Here.
I stared at him as he belted his anger and hurt into a crowd of fifty thousand people. Lou grabbed my sleeve while we stood there, transfixed.
The crowd was stupefied. The drummer hammered each short line with a bass kick drum as Zane wailed the words into the night air. His hair flowed out behind him as he tilted his head back and closed his eyes, singing to a woman who would never hear his words.
Tears sprang to my eyes, and I wondered how many people in that crowd of thousands saw themselves in his story.
And then the music shifted into the bridge, and his voice lightened.
Today, I see clearly
You only whispered your warnings
Out
Of
Fear.
It wasn’t a tower, and you didn’t save me.
The animals were feral, but you let them raise me.
I needed much more, but you didn’t guide me.
A child with a child, you just
Did
Not
Know.
He smiled and opened his eyes, turning for just the briefest moment to find me in the wings before looking back at the crowd with a big smile still on his face.
And now, the sun glances
Off gingerbread houses
And I get to taste all the
Red candy apples
And confess all my dreams to
The welcoming grizzly
And laugh in the wind
While the fairytale happens
And spin in the wild
Broken dreams become mended
And breathe in the air
While my
Heart
Runs
Free.
I couldn’t breathe. I watched as he patted his chest as he sang the final three words, and then he flung his arm out, thanking the crowd and turning to thank the band.
The crowd went wild. The noise was deafening, causing Zane to huff out a laugh and turn back to me with a giant grin.
He was so fucking happy. So proud of bringing joy to all of his fans. Of not fucking up. Of being his authentic self. Of living his dream.
I love you.
The words hammered in my throat, begging to come out.
I love you.
I’m so fucking proud of you.
I couldn’t say them. Instead, I put my hand on my heart and mouthed, You’re amazing.
“Holy shit,” Lou said. “He’s going to make a million dollars off that song.”
I laughed. “More than a million.”