Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Chapter Thirty-One
SKYLA
The applause is deafening.
In the heart of my career, I never would have said that I danced for the applause, but standing here, holding Mik’s hand, trying to catch my breath as we smile at the audience, and then bow especially for the new king and queen, I can honestly say that I have missed the ovations since leaving my career.
We bow once more, and then the curtain falls, and Mik scoops me up in one of his amazing hugs, lifting my feet off the ground and burying his face in my neck.
I can feel the emotion rolling through him, just as it’s rolling through me.
This was it.
Our last performance together.
“I love you,” I tell him as he carries me off stage and into my dressing room, where he shuts the door.
He hasn’t let me go.
“I don’t want it to be over,” he admits, not pulling away.
“I know.” I rub my hands up and down his back. “But it’s not over, a stór. We aren’t over.”
“The magic is.” His voice is so rough, so full of tears, and it fills me with sadness. I hate disappointing him. “What will I do without you?”
“Well, you won’t be able to yell at me anymore.” I smile against his shoulder, and he slowly lowers me to my feet, but we don’t pull away from each other.
“He’s gone now. You don’t have to be afraid to be in the city. You could come back, malishka.”
I’m already shaking my head. “I have loved this time with you, and I’ll always cherish it. But, Mik, it’s just not who I am anymore. It’s not what I want.”
“You want to live on a farm, feed chickens, and have babies?”
Babies.
“I do.” I can’t help but laugh when he scowls. “I really do want that, and it’s okay that you don’t. You have years left in your career, and you need to take them. I’ll come to every new performance. Beckett and I will fly out for each opening night, and I’ll be in the front row. You and Benji will come to Montana for the holidays and vacation in the summer.”
“Benji does love it.” He tips his forehead to mine. “I know we’ve been through this, but I had to try since the bastard is gone, and you’re in such good shape. You’re so talented.”
“You always yell at me.”
“Of course, because you are lazy, and you keep dropping your left shoulder.”
I laugh as I cup his face. “Exactly. What do you want a lazybones like me around for, anyway?”
“Because you are my soulmate,” he says, serious now. “You and Benji, you are my heart.”
“I know.” I brush his hair off his forehead. “But we’re not saying goodbye. You will never be rid of me. I’ll call and harass you every day.”
He swallows hard and nods once. “Fine then. It is decided. I will retire and move to Montana.”
I laugh and jump into his arms again, hugging him close. “You’re so co-dependent, Mik. You’re not retiring yet. I forbid it.”
“You have no say. I will buy your house, and Benji and I will move there, but I will not have babies.”
“I don’t think that’s physically possible anyway. You can’t retire yet. You’re not ready. Besides, I won’t let you buy my house.”
Mik scowls. “Why not? If it goes up for sale, I will buy it. You cannot stop me.”
“I can, too. Because I’ll gift it to you.” I smile when his jaw drops. “I never did get you a wedding gift.”
“You got us an espresso machine.”
“That you regifted, so it doesn’t count. I don’t want your money, Mik. I don’t need it. But I do need you, so if you want the house, it’s yours.”
He sighs before stepping away from me. “I am proud of you, malishka.”
“I’m proud of both of us, a stór.”
There’s a light knock on the door, and Beckett pokes his head in. I feel the smile spread over my face as I rush over, and he crushes me against him.
“You were incredible,” he says against my lips.
“It felt incredible.”
Benji walks past me to greet Mik the same way, and I love how happy my dear friend is. And that he wants to move to Montana. How did I get this lucky?
“Do you want to stay for the rest of the show?” I ask him.
“It’s over. The last act just finished, and the auditorium is emptying. I wanted to give you and Mik a minute.”
I rub my nose against his, then turn to see Benji kissing Mik’s forehead as my best friend wipes away a tear.
He’s so emotional. It’s one of the things that I love the most about him.
“Let’s go back to the hotel,” Benji says. “Everyone can get comfortable. You were both amazing out there, and I’m so proud of you.”
“We didn’t do too bad.” I smile and link my fingers with Beck’s. “I’m going to change my shoes, then we can get out of here.”