Page 19 of False Promises

My tongue swept my lower lip as I processed his words. “Know what, you’re right. I’m sure he would approve of the solo career.”

Memories of my late brother flashed in quick succession before my eyes. He was the reason Dahlia and I met Riley when we were still teenagers. I owed him for a lot of happy moments in my life.

My lips curled into a half-smile. My voice weakened. “I miss him. Her. Them. All of them.”

“Carter, you’ve seen the numbers. They don’t lie. The new album sales are spiking. Your fans have missed you. And if that’s any indication, Carter Hills will be bigger than Carter Hills Band. It’s all you, man. You did this.”

My happiness returned. “I still can’t believe it.”

“Well, I can.” He looked at something on his phone. “C’mon, let’s get the show rolling. The opening band has only a couple of minutes left to their set.”

I turned the corner leading to the stage when my eyes took her in. Dahlia Ellis. My family. My best friend in the entire world. My soulmate. The one I had to let go of months ago. The one I should’ve held on to. Forever.

Our eyes locked.

With the new album and show rehearsals, we hadn’t seen each other in over a month. Way too long if you asked me.

“Dah, you came?” I swallowed the emotions blocking my airways and scratched my forehead with a finger, eyeing her as my heart thumped a staccato in my chest.

She smiled and inched closer, winding her arms around me. Her floral scent filled my nostrils. The jitters in me settled down. Dahlia was my home. Always had been. And forever would be.

All my doubts evaded me. Yes, she had that much power over my being. Even after all these years and the rough patches that peppered our road.

“Cart, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. You ready?” She leaned back to study my face. I lost myself in the depths of her moss-green eyes, like I’d been doing all my life. She brushed my hair back, her fingertips leaving shivers in their wake as they massaged my scalp. The little gesture was everything to me. Reminding me of what we had been a long time ago. When things were simpler. And our feelings hadn’t entered the mix yet.

I closed my eyes and relished the sensations washing through me, my tension dissolving.

With a sharp intake of breath, I nodded.

“You’ll do great. I believe in you, Cart. Amongst all of us, you’re the true star and always have been. Even if you try to deny it, you should be aware it has always been your destiny. Now it’s time for you to show everyone what you’re made of. To prove to yourself there’s nothing to be afraid of because you’ve got this.”

My eyes burned with unshed tears, and I blinked them away. I couldn’t lose it minutes before walking on that stage.

With her presence, memories of our pasts weighed heavy on my chest.

“Dah, it’s supposed to be us up there,” I whispered, pointing in the direction of the stage with my chin.

My best friend shook her head. “No. It’s not. I’m glad we did it together, but now it is your turn to shine. You gotta do this on your own. That’s where you belong, Carter Hills. Up there, on the stage, with thousands of fans screaming your name. Including me. I am your biggest fan.”

The sound of clicking heels, which I recognized to be June’s, neared us.

My eyes sprang open when Jack babbled something, chewing on his fist, from his stroller as my assistant pushed him in our direction. My focus returned to his mother. “You brought him?”

Dahlia stepped back and smiled. “Tonight, you need all the support you can get. And your family will always have your back. Forever.” That word. Again.

I moved to the side, picked up the chubby baby, and ran a hand through his dark mass of soft baby hair, the same shade as mine.

“Hey you,” I said, dropping a kiss on the crown of his head. “Oh Jack, I’ve missed you so much.” I pulled the baby boy closer to my heart and turned my head until I faced his mama. “Thank you for being here. It means the world to me. You’re both my rock. I love you guys. Without you, I’d be a mess.”

Jack giggled, and I kissed his digits when they rested on my mouth.

Pulling Dahlia under my arm, I hugged the two most important people in my life, unable to tame my grin. “I gotta go. Will I see you later?”

Dahlia picked Jack up from my arms, her smile never faltering. “We’ll be here, waiting for you. In fact, we’re not going away. We’re spending a few days with you on the road.”

My eyes flared.

Tonight was day one of a two-month US tour to launch my new solo career, which would be followed by an on-and-off world tour over the next six months.