Sam.

~~~

There was no surprise that the show had been incredible. Every time I watched Ray on stage, my heart raced, but it never settled the anticipation that built up in me. I loved seeing him perform, loved watching how he became completely consumed by the music, the crowd, and the energy. It was like he transformed into someone else—a person who belonged in the spotlight. But as much as I loved it, every time I saw him up there, the ache in my chest grew, too.

Later that night, the tour bus rolled quietly along the highway, the dark world outside slipping by in a blur of headlights and the distant glow of city lights. Inside, everything was calm—almost eerily so. The chaos of the show was left behind, replaced by the soft hum of the road beneath us, lulling everything into a strange sense of stillness.

Ray was beside me, his body warm and familiar, the steady rise and fall of his breathing beside me like a rhythm I should've found comfort in. But I was wide awake, my mind buzzing with thoughts that wouldn't let me rest.

I turned my head slightly, the dim light from the bus window just enough to catch the lines of Ray's profile. He was staring up at the ceiling, his brow furrowed like he was lost in his own thoughts, too. The day had been heavy for both of us—Ray, stepping back into his element with the band and the fans, and me, wrestling with this new reality where I was no longer invisible. Where I wasn't just the quiet observer anymore.

My mouth felt dry as I hesitated, chewing nervously on my bottom lip. There was something pressing against my chest, something I hadn't told him yet. I hadn't meant to keep it from him, not like this. But everything had happened so quickly—first with Rose, then with the funeral, and now the tour. My book—my finished book—had become this private thing, something I'd tucked away inside myself. I wasn't sure if it was ready to be shared, or if I was ready to share me in that way.

But the moment felt right now. The darkness. The quiet. Ray beside me. It felt like it could be safe, even with the anxiety creeping up my throat, threatening to swallow me whole.

"Ray," I whispered, my voice soft but enough to pull him from his thoughts. He turned toward me, his brown eyes catching mine in the dim light of the bus. I could see the exhaustion on his face, the way his gaze softened when it met mine.

"Yeah?" His voice was rough, thick with tiredness, but still laced with concern.

I took a deep breath, shifting slightly on the small bed so I could face him more fully. I reached for his hand, my fingers brushing over the calloused skin of his palm, feeling the warmth of him sink into me. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you," I said, my heart pounding in my chest, each word feeling heavier than the last.

Ray's brows furrowed, a slight frown pulling at his lips as he stayed quiet, waiting for me to continue.

"I finished my book," I said, the words trembling out, though I tried to steady myself. "Right before Rose died. I didn't tell anyone... not even you."

The confession. It hung between us in the space that had once been so easy and light, and now it felt heavy. I could feel my chest tighten as I waited for him to react, the silence stretching, thick with expectation.

"You finished it?" His voice was soft, laced with surprise. His thumb brushed over the back of my hand, a small but steady reassurance. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I exhaled slowly, feeling the weight on my shoulders ease just a little. He didn't look disappointed. He didn't seem hurt. All I saw in his eyes was curiosity, and something else—something that looked like pride.

"I don't know..." I trailed off, my fingers tightening around his. "I guess I was scared. I didn't want to jinx it. And then everything happened with Rose, and I just couldn't bring myself to say anything after that."

Ray's hand moved to cup my cheek, his touch gentle as his thumb brushed over my lips. "You don't have to be scared of me, love," he murmured, his voice a soft comfort. "I'm so proud of you."

His words were like a balm, and I felt the knot in my chest loosen a little more. It was as though his pride in me was a tether, pulling me out of the anxiety that had been threatening to swallow me.

"There's more," I added, my voice barely above a whisper as if saying it out loud might make it all too real.

Ray raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "More?"

"I submitted it," I said, my heart thumping again as the weight of what I'd done settled in. "To my father's publishing house. Under a pen name."

Ray blinked, his face showing his surprise, but then a grin slowly spread across his face. "Wait—are you serious? You didn't tell him?"

I nodded, biting my lip nervously. "I didn't want him to know it was me. I wanted it to stand on its own, you know? I didn't want my dad to influence anything. I needed to know if it was good enough, but also... I can't submit it anywhere else now, because if it gets out, it could cause way too much drama."

Ray's grin widened, his pride and admiration unmistakable. "That is smart. Do you have an answer yet?"

"I'm still waiting to hear back, but..." I took a deep breath, looking up at him, feeling the weight of everything I had done settling in. "I did it. I finally did it, and it feels great."

Ray pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly against his chest. I buried my face in his chest, feeling the warmth of him seep into me, his embrace a calm in the storm of thoughts that had been swirling in my mind.

He kissed the top of my head, his voice a soft murmur in my ear. "No matter what happens, I'm with you. Whether they publish it or not, it doesn't change how brilliant you are. And I'm of course reading it as soon as you let me."

I pulled back slightly, looking up at Ray, my heart racing. "I'm scared, Ray," I admitted softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm also excited. I haven't felt like this in a long time."

Ray smiled down at me, a warmth in his eyes that made my chest tighten in a way I hadn't expected. His hand brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my skin. "You're allowed to be both, love. Just know that I'm here with you."

"I know," I murmured, more to myself than to him. But even as the words left my mouth, I felt the weight of them, the sincerity in the promise he'd made, and I clung to that.

Raymond's thumb brushed over my cheek, the slightest touch, just before he leaned in, pressing his lips softly against mine. The kiss was gentle at first, but as he held me closer, my body responded instinctively. I parted my lips, deepening the kiss, feeling his warmth and his presence wash over me.

When he finally pulled away, his lips hovered just above mine. "As long as we're on this secret-revealing path," he whispered, his voice low, his breath warm against my skin, "I think I should tell you something as well."

My heart skipped a beat as I stared into his eyes, my pulse quickening. "What is it?" I whispered back, my breath catching in my throat.

"In the living room, in my guitar case," Ray continued, keeping his lips just close enough to mine that I could feel the words as much as hear them. "There's a black velvet box. Inside, there's a white gold ring—"

I put my palm against his mouth, cutting him off with a laugh. "You're not supposed to say that," I teased, unable to hide the smile that spread across my face. "You got the ring a while ago," I added, watching his eyes carefully. Ray nodded, his gaze not leaving mine. "I didn't find it," I said, "but I knew you had it."

Ray raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "How did you know?" he asked, his tone playful yet curious.

I kissed his lips lightly before pulling back. "It doesn't matter," I said, with a small shake of my head. "And I believe you're not supposed to tell."

Ray chuckled softly, his smile growing as he brushed his lips against mine again. "With everything going on, I didn't think it was the right time to ask. And I was dumb not to take the ring with me."

I pressed my forehead against his. "I'll say yes," I whispered against his lips, my voice quiet but certain.

Ray's lips brushed against mine, the soft smile still on his face. I pulled him closer, my arms wrapping around his neck, drawing him in. My breathing quickened as the intensity of the kiss built, his warmth igniting a passion inside me that I didn't know I was capable of feeling. His hands moved to my sides, sliding underneath my tank top, and I gasped when I felt his thumb brush over my nipple. I couldn't help the soft moan that escaped my lips.

"Hell no!" came the loud, unmistakable voice from above our bunk. "You do realize that no matter how much you whisper, we can hear everything," Andrew's voice rumbled through the bus, followed by the sound of him shifting in the bed.

I laughed, my face turning red as I buried it in Ray's chest, trying to hide my embarrassment. Ray let out a wild, carefree laugh. "Sorry, man," he called out, still chuckling. "We'll pick this up later," he whispered against my lips, his breath warm and promising.

"Not here!" Logan's voice called from the other side of the bus, and I could practically hear the grin in his voice.

"Remember when you mocked the closet?" I asked, earning a scoff from Logan and a laugh from Andrew, which was enough as an answer for me.

Ray and I exchanged a look, both of us laughing at the absurdity of it all. It felt so good to laugh like that, like everything was lighter, if only for a moment. For a brief second, all the recent hardships and the weight of everything seemed to fade away.

I leaned in to kiss Ray softly, my lips meeting his in a promise between us, one that felt strangely comforting in the quiet of that moment. Even though we were surrounded by the chaos of the tour bus, with the rest of the world just beyond the walls, at that moment, it was just him and me, and the world didn't feel so heavy.