Page 149 of Wait For Me
âHello, Nashville! How the hell are you?â
Hoots, hollers, and deafening applause erupt around me.
âTonight is special to me for a few different reasons,â I say, sitting on a stool in front of the mic. âNot only am I about to perform some brand-new songs for youââ
Once again, the crowd goes wild, and I smile.
ââbut Iâve also got some very special people here with me tonight. Recently, I met a man. Heâs not only an amazing person, but heâs a wonderful single father of three beautiful children, and Iâd like to dedicate my first song to him.â
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.
âThis song is called âUnbreak My Heartâ.â
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, Iâm met with a thunderous applause. I absorb the crowdâs 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.
Iâm sweating profusely, and my face hurts from smiling so much.
I canât 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.
âDatâs a wot of people,â she says.
I laugh and reach for Henryâs hand as he waddles his way across the stage.
âThis is so cool,â Jack says, joining us.
Grayson steps out last.
âProud of you.â He wraps his arm around me and kisses me smack dab on the lips for everyone to see. He pulls back and whispers, âLetâs get out of here.â
âI thought youâd never ask.â
36
Grayson
Itâs well after midnight by the time we get back to the hotel. Marnie upgraded Noraâs 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 wonât be going to the loft; sheâll be in my bed where she belongs.
âWhy are you smiling?â I whisper so I donât wake the kids up as I walk into the room.
Nora is sitting on the giant king bed with my kids piled around her. Theyâre all arms and legs and soft baby snores, and Nora looks like sheâs on cloud nine.