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Authors: Alyson Santos

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Her look of surprise stops my heart.

“Of course not, son. This is a family shot. Go stand next to
Holland.”

∞∞∞

I’m
pretty sure I’m still smiling from my encounter with the Drake family by the
time we reach the hotel, our rooms, and our favorite cooking show while
reclining on Holland’s bed. And that’s without ever gaining access to the Casey
shrine in Sylvie’s room.

“Oh, hey. Look what my mom just sent,” Holland says, shifting
so I can see her phone. I mute the TV and glance down at the display.
A sudden
warmth explodes in my chest at the image.

“Can I see that?” I ask quietly. Her expression softens as
she hands me the phone and I study the seven smiling faces in awe.

“I’ll forward it to you,” she offers gently. “She also said
they loved having you over and hope we’ll come by again before we leave. Dad
wants to take you for burgers.”

“I’d love that. Maybe Saturday?”

“Sounds good. I’ll let them know.” She rests against me and
takes my hand. “Thanks, Luke. It meant so much to me to have you there.”

“Your family is incredible Holland. I…” I look away. “I
guess I didn’t know. I didn’t get it.” I’m not sure how to explain, how to
describe the impact of my first family photo.

“There are going to be a lot more of those, Luke. A lot more
of this.” She holds up our locked hands.

“Yeah? What about this?” I ask, moving toward her lips
instead. I can feel her smile against mine, which only draws me closer.

“Um, yeah. Way, way more of that.”

Suddenly, she pulls back with a start, her gaze shooting to
my left hand. Tears gather in her eyes, and I swallow the lump developing in my
throat.

“Luke…” she whispers, her eyes meeting mine. They’re so
beautiful in that moment, endless, timeless. I have to blink back my own tears.

She traces the small tan line on my left hand, and I
instinctively glance at the ring on my right.

“It felt like it was time tonight,” I explain quietly. I
have no more words for this, but maybe that’s enough when she weaves her
fingers with mine and kisses my hand.
That vacant spot so
full of meaning.

I seem to have stripped her of words as well until finally
she settles against me again, gripping my hand, treasuring it. It’s her hand
now.

“I’m going to be in love with you, Luke Craven,” she
breathes into the peace.

I smile. “I’m going to be in love with you, too, Holland
Drake.”

Breakfast Club

October 5

“Callie.

“Luke.”

We exchange a smile, before I turn to the others.

“Casey. Holland.”

“So this is breakfast club,” Holland observes, glancing
around the small diner.

“Well, I mean, it’s not
Jemma’s
,
but it’ll do for now,” Callie explains.

“So what does one do at Breakfast Club?” Holland asks.

“From what I can gather, you awkwardly pick at your food,
make even more awkward conversation, and pretend to read menus,” Casey quips,
and Callie glares at him.

“No, we eat breakfast and make rash judgments about people
based on what they order,” she corrects, and I laugh.

“All of that is true. We also hang out and spend time with
the people most important us,” I add.

“Oh, shit, he’s feeling sentimental. He’s going to recite poetry,”
Casey mutters.

“Chill out, man. No poems. I’ll leave that for Callie.”

She gives me a mock glare, before turning to Casey. “Oh my
gosh. We should totally have our reception at
Jemma’s
!”
she cries. “I’m sure they cater!”

“Uh, that would only make sense if you were marrying Luke,
babe,” Casey returns, and Callie scrunches her nose.

“Ok, fine. Maybe you’re right.”

I grin, and glance at Holland.

“Not a chance,” she snaps before returning my smile. “Does
that mean you’re engaged?” Holland continues, focusing back on the couple
across from us.

“We will be once he asks,” Callie answers, and Casey rolls
his eyes.

“You act like it’s a mystery.”

“You haven’t asked.”

“We looked at rings!”

“Yeah. We also looked at gig bags, athletic shoes, and
clearance swim trunks.”

“Ugh. Fine. Callie Roland, will you marry me? One day.”

Callie leans back and crosses her arms. “That’s your speech?
You’re a freaking songwriter!”

“I didn’t plan a speech! You didn’t give me time!”

“Ugh! Fine! Yes, Casey Barrett. I will marry you. One day.”
She turns back to Holland. “Great news. We’re engaged. One day.”

I can’t stop laughing and shake my head. “Oh my god, that’s
the best proposal I’ve ever seen. Congratulations, guys. I think.”

Their grins are priceless as they exchange a quick kiss,
their first as a somewhat engaged couple. One day. Holland finds my hand under
the table and laces her fingers with mine. I squeeze, still enjoying the glow
of the most unromantic semi-proposal of all time.

“What about you two?” Callie asks, eyeing us next.

Holland and I straighten in unison.

“Engaged? Heck, no,” she laughs.

I grin and shove her with my shoulder. “Well, you don’t have
to be quite so passionate about it.”

“Ok, duh,” Callie says, rolling her eyes. “But some day?”

“Callie, please,” I scoff. “I just figured out yesterday and
am still trying to work out today. It wasn’t so long ago I didn’t even have a
future to think about.”

I glance over at Holland and something moves inside me.
Something deep, something strong.
Something
freaking epic.

I smile. “But for today? Yeah. …Today.”

Holland squeezes my hand and gives me that smile that links
my soul with hers. That makes me believe my life might actually be more than a
maybe. That turns my future into a conversation instead of a
punch-line
.
The smile that refused to believe my lies.

I steal a solid kiss from that perfect, inspiring, hypnotic
smile. Return one of my own.

But I’m Luke Craven.

Dandelion.

Train-Wreck.

Liar.

Gravedigger.

Believer.

Beautiful Moment Destroyer.

“Besides, Holland warned me right from the beginning that
she doesn’t hook up with other musicians,” I tease, ducking away from my
girlfriend’s indignant swipe.

“Oh really? Hey, Luke.”

“Yeah?”

“I said, ‘I don’t hook up with other musicians.’ I never
said I wouldn’t fall in love with one.”

The Encore: Part II

It’s deafening. I pull out my in-ears so I can
truly listen, absorb. I know I should be leading into what’s next, but my heart
is pounding too fast, the blood searing through my body and blocking all
coherent thoughts in my head. I let the screams course through me, spark life
in every cell of my being. Stare out over the massive crowd wild with the same
excitement bursting in my heart. This moment. I’m living this moment.

I’m living.

So this is it. The
comeback I never saw coming. The comeback no one believed.
No
one except Callie Roland.
Casey Barrett. Holland Drake. The comeback I
still can’t accept I deserved, but have determined to grasp until my last
breath anyway. It’s a gift, a miracle, and right now it’s put me in this place,
in this moment. Stolen history for a man who’d given up.

“Let me hear you
scream, Toronto!”

I hold my hand to my
ear. “I can’t hear you!”

“One more time!”

I grin. “Now, that’s
what I’m talking about!”

I shove my in-ears
back in and point to Casey.

It’s history time,
baby.

1-2-3-4.

Explosion.

Note from the Author

Depression
is a serious illness that can go unrecognized by the victim and surrounding
loved ones.

If
you, or anyone you know, have plans to harm yourself, or you just need someone
to talk to, help is available. Please know you are not alone, and help is just
a phone call away.

The
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK is the United States based
suicide prevention network of 161 crisis centers. It provides a 24-hour,
toll-free hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Seek
help, and know that you are important and you are loved.

Sincerely,

Alyson
Santos

Acknowledgements

Since
the beginning of my journey, I’ve been blown away by the amount of support from
new friends, readers, bloggers, and fellow authors. I can’t possibly see this
as my accomplishment, but
as an
incredible blessing
thanks, in large part, to all of you. There are so many people in my heart, and
I wish I could list every one of you, even though I know it’s impossible.
Please know that I treasure you all and take nothing for granted.

To my amazing
husband who is always there to support me, without you I would not be writing
these words. I love you and look forward to many years ahead of continuing Life
together.

To Jon
Meckes
, the genius behind “Greetings from the Inside” and my
music bro for industry inspiration, information,
and

brainstorming
. Oh, and let’s not
forget his suggestion of the name “Tracing Holland” for Holland’s band. Even
after all these years your talent continues to amaze me.

To
Evie
Woods, Eli Peters,
Tesrin
Afzal
, and Darlene Avery, your friendship and support mean
more than I can ever say. I can never thank you enough for the incredible
impact you’ve had on my life.

To Beth
Flynn, Tracy Justice, Julie Solano,
Sunniva
Dee, and
Kate
Sterritt
, I’m overwhelmed by your support and
friendship. You’ve often given me the courage to take the next step.

To Era
Media Co. (Jenny
Castner
, Pablo
Farnan
,
and Paul Ney) who
have
done it again and perfectly
captured my vision for the cover. With a special, enormous thank you to Jenny
Castner
, our perfect “Holland.” Thank you for bringing
Holland to life both behind the camera and in front of it. Unbelievable.

To Gabe
Gennace
, forever Luke, and once again showing us a
new dimension of our tragic hero.

To
Denise Milano Sprung, I’m not sure what words can express my gratitude for your
support of
me and
Night
Shifts Black
. Your tireless effort to raise awareness for mental
illness is inspirational and does not go unnoticed.

To Tyler
Van Horn, the muse for our talented (and underappreciated) guitar store Forgotten
Man, Nowhere Man.

To
Hannah Whalen, thank you for your friendship, keen eye, and honesty.

To Tinsley and Mike
Fehnel
, for
your support and “insider knowledge” on the Charlotte venue.

To the “epic”
members of ABC (
Aly’s
Breakfast Club), I can never
thank you enough for your encouragement and support. You always bring a smile
to my face and remind me why I do this. I love you hard!

A
special thank you to the following who have each contributed so much in their
own unique way: Roxie
Madar
, Jennifer
Mirabelli
, Jamie Lynn, Heather
Peiffer
,
Leagh
Christensen, Edi’s Reading,
Lexy
Storries
, Judith M.
Torok
,
Michel Prosser,
Jenn
Hewitt, Brenda Travers,
Christine
Baham
Pappas, Adriana
Leiker
,
Alice
Rizzi
, Louise Husted, Lorena Keep-Barron,
Nisha
Reading, Nicola Jane
Treme
,
TL Smith,
Yessi
Smith, Barbara Fogarty, Kris
Johnston, Sheila
Kehinde
, Danielle Long, Gill
Melling
, Gloria
Gaisser-Stramiello
,
Brandi Harvey, Kristy
Jakeway
, Anna Richardson
Henson, Nicole Sands, Elaina Lucia,
Jeryl
Witek
, Heather
Witek
, Jackie
Wright, Lauren Kimberly, Pinky Ann, Nancy Young, Denise Bailey,
Zulma
Garcia, Maritza Torres, Ashley Brinkman, Kayla
Meckes
, Pam Brooks, Marina Skinner, Kali
McQuillen
, and so many others.