Almost Fate

by Kylie Gilmore

She returned backstage, where Laila now stood with Griff. The poor girl was pale, her hands visibly shaking. Her outfit looked amazing—a white, off-the-shoulder peasant blouse paired with black leggings and thigh-high black leather boots. Her black hair with purple streaks fell in soft waves over her shoulders.

  “Don’t worry,” Christina said, grabbing Laila’s icy cold hands firmly in hers. “They’re here for him. By the time you go on, you’ll be so bored backstage you’ll be ready. And, by the way, you look very rock ’n roll.”

  “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready,” Laila said, her voice shaking. “I don’t have to go on.”

  “Of course not,” Christina soothed, though she knew Griff would call Laila out on his own. He was damn proud that he had a sister who could join him in the music. He’d been bragging about her all week. Called her his legacy. Christina made him promise not to tell Laila that before the concert. The pressure was too much for a beginning performer. After was soon enough. Maybe it’d be the kick in the pants Laila needed to embrace her musical destiny.

  Laila nodded and looked considerably relieved. “You think the outfit’s okay?” She pulled the off-the-shoulder ruffle further down her shoulders. “It kind of covers me on top, but Ellie says guys go nuts wondering what’s under there. You know, instead of knowing by seeing the boobage on display.”

  “Absolutely,” Christina said. “Very classy, yet sexy. I’d do ya.”

  They laughed.

  “I like the hair too,” Christina said. “You were made for this.” She hugged her. “I’ll be far right, front row if you need a funny face.” She wrinkled her nose and pursed her lips to the side.

  Laila laughed. “Maybe I’ll sit with you.”

  “Nah,” Christina said. “Griff needs you backstage for moral support. Right, Griff?”

  “Absolutely,” Griff said, raising his fist for a fist bump. Laila fist bumped him back.

  Christina rubbed her hands together. “Break a leg,” she told Griff, as she always did.

  He gathered her in his arms and nuzzled into her neck, breathing her in, as he always did. It was part of his preshow ritual to hold her close for a few moments. He released her and nodded, which was her cue to get the show moving.

  She nodded to the theater’s manager, Alan, a large bald man waiting in the wings to announce Griff, before slipping back into the theater to take her reserved seat.

  A few moments later, Alan stepped out on stage and called for everyone’s attention by tapping the mike and making it ring out with horrible feedback. Christina cringed. She was pleased to see the turnout and knew they’d done some good here with the fundraising.

  “What a show we got tonight!” Alan proclaimed to wild applause. “I want to thank Laila Colton for setting this up with her very famous rock star brother, Griffin Huntley!” The crowd picked up with more cheers. This guy knew how to play to his audience. “And with your ticket sales and a generous contribution from Griffin, we’ve raised one hundred thousand dollars for new playground equipment in our sister town Norhaven!” More wild applause.

  When Christina had dug into where the Greenport mayor wanted the charity money to go to and the cost, Griff had insisted on keeping ticket prices at an affordable twenty dollars and said he’d contribute whatever the difference was. He’d ended up paying ninety percent of the needed funds out of his own pocket. She dearly loved this man.

  Alan pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and mopped at his shiny bald head. “I know you’re ready to get started, so without further ado, Griffin Huntley!” He made a quick exit stage right.

  Griff ambled on stage and the crowd cheered. Christina found herself smiling at his casual badass swagger. She knew he didn’t calm the jitters until he started playing. He picked up his guitar, threw the strap over his shoulder, and approached the mike. He strummed the first notes, sought her out in the audience, gazed right into her eyes and began to sing. She swayed in her seat. It was her song, “Crazy Thing,” and she never, ever tired of hearing it.

  ~ ~ ~

  There she is, my crazy thing. Seeing Christina always centered him, and Griffin lost himself in the glory of performing the music of his heart. The music he would never have dared reach for without Christina’s unshakable faith in his abilities. He’d spend the rest of his life earning her trust if he had to. All that mattered was that they were together.

  When he got to the chorus, he gestured to the audience to join in. They did, making him smile, as they knew the words and sang at the top of their lungs. He spotted Sydney Roy sitting a few rows back, smiling at him. She’d declined his invitation to join him on stage, saying she’d like to have “the full Griffin Huntley experience” from the audience. Smartass.

  It was a stellar audience, and he played nonstop for an hour before he took a break and snagged the bottled water that had been left for him on a nearby stool. He took a long drink of water and smiled at the audience. “You all are a real nice crowd.”

  The crowd went wild.

  He nodded once. “I’ve got a special surprise for you. One of your local talents is going to join me up here and it’s not Sydney.” He gestured to the side of the stage, but Laila didn’t come out. He could see her standing there, frozen in place.

  He smiled at her encouragingly and pointed to her guitar case a few feet away from her.

  She shook her head. And then the reporter, Ellie, appeared behind Laila and shoved her out.

  “My sister, Laila Colton!” Griffin announced. He went over and fetched her guitar for her and joined her center stage. Holy crap. He’d never seen such bad stage fright. She stared unblinking at the center camera, stiff and pale. He was afraid she was going to pass out. He pulled the stool over and hustled her onto it before taking his place standing by her side.

  “We’re just going to tune up,” he told the audience. “Give us a minute.”

  She held the guitar, but made no movement.

  “Did you see Christina out there?” he asked her in a quiet voice.

  She jerked her head up and locked eyes with Christina, who mimed slapping her. Laila actually smiled. The women in his life were nuts and he loved them like crazy. Laila looked down and began tuning her guitar. He brought the mike down to her level and stood supportively nearby.

  “I need Christina on stage,” Laila said into the mike.

  That was odd. What did she need Christina for?

  Christina didn’t question it. She leaped out of her seat and joined them, standing in front of Griffin, who set his guitar down and wrapped his arms around her. Laila nodded to her in silent thank you and launched into a ballad with soul. Her voice, soft at first, slowly built in confidence as she sang looking right at him and Christina.

  “My heart lives with you

  “My soul breathes with you

  “No more doubts or walking away

  “With you I’m here to stay

  “What’s a piece of paper, you say

  “What’s a bridal veil for

  “If not to show you forever

  “You’re my legacy

  “You can build me up or destroy me with a single word

  “There will never be another

  “You are my heart, you are my soul

  “Make me complete.”

  When the song ended, the audience burst into applause. Laila beamed. Griffin gestured for her to stand and take a bow. She did, hamming it up with bows right, left, and center. He gestured behind her for the audience to amp up the noise. Some catcalls and whistles rang out, and a wild stamping echoed through the theater.

  Griffin went over and hugged her. “Beautiful, Laila. Nicely done.”

  “Thank you.” She pulled the mike off the stand, looked backstage, nodded and then stopped in front of Christina, saying into the mike, “That was my song for you and Griffin.”

  “Thank you,” Christina said. “It was beautiful.”

  Laila turned to Griffin. “Do you have the ring?”

  Griffin’s brows shot
up. “What?”

  “This is the perfect timing you needed,” Laila said, “for your proposal.”

  The crowd gasped. Christina took a step back, her bright blue eyes wide.

  “Chris, wait!” He grabbed her hand, and she yanked her hand out of his grip.

  “Don’t you dare!” Christina hollered.

  “Marry him, Christina!” Laila hollered. “He loves you! You love him. It’s perfect!”

  Flashes of light went off as the press got close to get the picture that would be plastered all over the Internet within minutes. Another botched proposal. Ellie ran on stage with a small video camera to capture the horrifying event.

  “Enjoy your headlines!” Christina spat at him before doing an about-face and rushing off stage.

  He looked at his sister in shock. Her return look was equally shocked. Obviously Laila thought that would’ve worked. She didn’t know Christina.

  ~ ~ ~

  Christina left the theater and drove straight back to their rental, locking herself in their bedroom. Griff could get a ride home with Laila. She couldn’t believe the two of them plotting behind her back like that. Worse, Griff had turned their relationship into a publicity event. Again. Would she ever get the real Griff?

  Christina heard Griff return when the front door shut with a bang. “Chris! Where are you?” There was a buzz of voices. People must’ve followed him back home for the after party in honor of his birthday.

  She opened the door. “I’m right here but not for long. I’m going home.”

  Griff sprinted up the stairs. Laila and that damn reporter Ellie followed quickly behind. “Wait,” Griff said. “I need to—”

  “You seriously expect me to talk to you about us in front of her?” She looked pointedly at Ellie, who merely stared.

  “Tell her,” Griff said.

  Ellie said nothing.

  Laila filled in the silence. “That on-stage kinda proposal wasn’t Griff’s idea. In fact, he had no clue. Ellie convinced me it was a good idea and I thought so too. Griff said the first proposal was just bad timing.”

  Christina smiled sweetly at Ellie at complete odds with her uber-threatening voice. “You will never get access to Griffin again. No pictures, no interviews, no comment ever. If you publish—”

  “It’s already online,” Ellie said smugly.

  Christina did a head swivel and turned to Griff. “You’d better get her out of here fast.”

  Griff stepped between them. “I will. But not before I tell her on the record that Christina and I are together forever, whether or not there’s a piece of paper saying so, and…” His voice got choked. He took both of Christina’s hands in his and gazed into her eyes with that soulful look that she knew was from his heart. “And I don’t deserve her, but I will spend the rest of my life trying to be the man she deserves. She is my heart, my soul, my everything.”

  “Whoa,” Laila whispered, “just like my song.” Then she turned to Ellie. “You should leave now.”

  “Tell him about the money, Laila,” Ellie said, “from your daddy who loves you more.”

  Laila gasped.

  Griff turned to Laila. “Dad had money?”

  “Nuh-uh,” Christina said. “Family business. Get out of here, Ellie, right now. And I’m going to make sure your boss knows exactly why you lost access to Griff forever.”

  “Bitch,” Ellie spat.

  Christina lunged at her, but Griff caught her before she could make contact. “Ellie,” Griff said calmly, “I suggest you leave if you ever want to work in this business again.”

  Laila whipped out her cell. “I’m calling the police. She’s trespassing.”

  “Whatever!” Ellie sang before stomping off.

  The three of them stood in the hallway, watching her go until the door slammed shut behind her.

  Griff turned to Laila. “What was that about Dad?”

  Laila’s lower lip wobbled. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “Hey, don’t cry,” Griff said. “This is our night to celebrate. I’m sure it’s not that bad.”

  Laila looked to Christina and then to Griff. “Dad left me his life insurance money. A lot. Just me. I wasn’t sure if I should tell you because he left you out, but you can have your share—”

  “No,” Griff said. “I don’t need it. It’s fine.”

  Laila bit her lip. “I’m sorry. He was a jerk. I don’t know why he did that. Mom said he took out the policy ten years ago…and…I don’t know what to say. I was being selfish.”

  “Ten years ago?” Griff asked. “That was the last time I saw him when I put out my first album.”

  “Maybe he knew you were going to be big,” Christina said. “Maybe it was a compliment of sorts.”

  Laila stared at the floor. “And he knew I was just a waitress.”

  “But we know you’re a songwriter,” Griff said. “Water under the bridge, Laila. I’m fine with it. Now go party. This is your night to shine.”

  “Really?” Laila asked in a voice full of hope.

  “Really,” Griff said.

  Laila hugged him tight and ran downstairs.

  He hadn’t even asked how much money it was. His heart was always in the right place. Christina grabbed her man and pulled him inside the bedroom, shut the door, and launched herself at him.

  He caught her and they kissed passionately. Finally Griff lifted his head long enough to say, “Does this mean I’m forgiven?”

  “Yes! I shouldn’t have run off. I’m sorry.”

  He turned and pinned her against the door, kissing her again. “No, I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have to be in the spotlight like that. Our relationship is private.”

  “Did you really mean what you said about how we’re together forever even without a piece of paper saying so?”

  He searched her face. “How can you even question it? Don’t you know how much I love you?”

  “Yes, of course I do.”

  “Some part of you doesn’t.” He kissed her tenderly. “I’m okay with that. I’ll keep trying, the rest of my life if I have to, until you believe deep down that you are it for me.”

  Tears sprang to her eyes. “Oh, Griff.”

  “I’m signing over all of my money to you.”

  “No! Why would you do that?”

  “Because I want you to have everything I have to give.”

  She knew money was wrapped up with love for him. He gave money with heart. He provided for his ex’s brother when he was under no obligation to, contributed a sizeable donation to her brother’s school music program as a peace offering, and spent his first big paycheck not on himself, but on his mother, buying her a house. She had to take a leap of faith and trust him with her own heart.

  She stroked his scruffy jaw. “I don’t need that. All I need is you.”

  His soulful hazel eyes got shiny, which made her cry. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. They stayed like that for a long time.

  ~ ~ ~

  Griffin breathed a sigh of relief. He’d finally gotten through to Christina. The woman hardly ever cried, and he knew it was because she felt deep down the strength of his love.

  Someone pounded on the bedroom door. “Get your ass downstairs, birthday boy! I flew in from LA for this!” It was Jake, his former bandmate and keyboard player.

  “Go hang with my sister, Laila,” Griffin hollered back through the door, his arms still full of Christina. “We’ll be down soon.”

  “You have a sister?” Jake asked.

  “Yes. Tell her I sent you.”

  “Is she hot?”

  Griffin put down Christina and yanked open the door. “She’s my sister. Geez, Jake.”

  Jake grinned, his blue eyes dancing with mischief. “Hey, old man.” He hugged Griffin and pounded him on the back. They were the same age, so Griffin didn’t take offense.

  Christina smiled. “Look at you! Well-groomed beard, mustache, glasses. You almost look respectable.”

  Jake kissed he
r on the cheek. “I’m a high school music teacher now. Gotta look a little less badass.”

  “You ready to join the party?” Griffin asked Christina.

  “Let’s rock and roll,” she replied.

  He gave her a smacking kiss on the lips and headed downstairs, where the party was already in full swing. His sister had set up a nice spread of food and was busy welcoming each new arrival. Sydney and friends made an appearance and, damn, if Laila wasn’t glowing as Sydney praised her performance. Most of the guests were musicians, friends he’d picked up along the years, but he was happiest to see Jake again. His other bandmate, Henry, never forgave him for breaking up the band, but Jake said he’d never been happier than teaching the next generation music.

  Griffin celebrated his big-number birthday with Christina at his side like he wanted her for every birthday. Laila and Jake seemed to hit it off and chatted quite a bit off in the corner. The party went late into the night and was especially sweet for him because just as he was drifting off to sleep a new song came to him almost fully formed about soul mates. He grabbed his guitar to capture it. It was the best birthday gift he could’ve gotten from his muse and soul mate Christina.

  ~ ~ ~

  Christina stretched lazily the next morning after a long makeup sex session with Griff. He’d been slow and tender in the way that rocked her body and soul. They were leaving tomorrow. She’d kind of miss this place. They had precious little vacation time with just the two of them, and it had been especially touching to see Griff with his sister.

  Griff sat up, naked, and grabbed his guitar. “I wrote something new for you.”

  “You did? When?”

  “Last night. You slept right through it.”

  “Let’s hear it,” she said, propping a pillow against the headboard and closing her eyes.

  And then Griff blew her away with an incredibly emotional song about soul mates. They both had tears in their eyes when he finished.

  Her throat was so tight she couldn’t get a word out.

  “What do you think?” he asked softly, setting his guitar down.

  His tone just about killed her. His heart was sitting in her hands with that incredible song, and she didn’t take that lightly. She closed the space between them, climbed into his lap and wrapped her arms and legs around him. She held his scruffy cheeks in both her hands and gazed into the hazel eyes of the man she loved heart and soul. “I think I want you to marry me.”