Once I’m finished with the goodbyes, I slide into the backseat of the SUV with Lyric. She holds my hand as Nolan backs out onto the road.

“It’s kind of funny,” Lyric says, resting her head on my shoulder. “But you were doing this exact same thing a couple of years ago, only you were going to the house instead of away from it. It’s crazy to think about.”

She’s right. The day I arrived at the Gregorys’ I was sitting in the backseat of their SUV, feeling nervous and alone in the world. But that lonely, scared guy who feared life and hated himself isn’t the person sitting in this seat right now. I’m so much different. I have dreams now. Want things. Have people who care about me. Who love me. Who are there for me.

I’m not alone anymore.

I’m not a ghost.

Who floats through life.

I’m a person

Who breathes the possibilities.

Who has hope.

“Not everything’s the same.” I sit back and hold Lyric’s hand, knowing this is the start of an amazing journey.

ONE MONTH LATER . . .

“ARE YOU READY FOR THIS!” I shout at the seemingly endless crowd.

They echo my enthusiasm, shouting and getting all riled up. There’s even a mosh pit in front and some crowd-surfing going on.

Gripping the microphone stand, I turn around and look at Ayden. “I’m going to have my freaking awesome lead guitarist join me for this one.” I grin at him as I motion him forward.

The crowd hollers again. After a month on tour, I’m learning that with the right amount of energy, I can get everyone pumped up over anything, even when it’s almost a hundred degrees outside.

Ayden inches up to me, his gaze skimming my plaid skirt, black tank top, and knee high combat boots. Lust flashes in his eyes and he looks like he wants nothing more than to take me back to the motel room and have his way with me. I don’t know how he can look at me like that when I have sweat dripping all over me, but I’m glad he can. Glad he’s here with me.

“I can’t believe I agreed to do this,” he whispers when he reaches my side.

“Don’t be nervous. You’ll do great. And just think, after we’re done, we get to hit the road and head home for a few days.”

His mood instantly lightens. While we’ve had a lot of fun on the road, Ayden enjoys going back home and visiting his family. So do I, and I spend a lot of time talking and texting my parents. But I’m still happy to be here. To be living this experience.

Ayden suddenly frowns. “What if I mess up big time? There’s so many people here.”

“You won’t mess up.” I wink at him. “But if you do, just distract everyone by taking off your shirt and dazzling them with your sexiness.”

He shakes his head, fighting back a smile. Then he wipes the sweat from his forehead and lines his fingers to the guitar strings.

I collect my own guitar, then stand beside him. “You ready?” I ask, bursting with excitement.

He nods, strumming a few chords. “But I’m only doing this because I love you.”

I smile at him, then face the microphone and take a deep breath before I open my mouth and start to sing.

It’s always amazing being on the stage, living my lifelong dream. It was definitely a crazy journey getting here, one full of bumps and unexpected turns. But I wouldn’t trade any of it for anything because every single thing that happened got me right here to this moment. And it got me here with Ayden.