Breaking South (Turner Artist Rocker #3) - Alyson Santos Page 0,91

guessing she’s experienced more hugs in the last twenty-four hours than the last twenty-four months. Welcome to the Levesque family. Here’s to hoping she survives tonight’s Christmas dinner and festivities. Last year the snacks, gifts, and general revelry lasted until four in the morning.

CHAPTER 20

“Hero”

By Genevieve Fox

Another night of tears, years of fear leave me cold

Another day of searching, always learning I’m alone

Through the shadows of the sun

I stayed hidden as the one

Who couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see

Trapped in broken destiny

I never saw you coming

I’d been too busy running

Take me in your arms and show the fear a

Hero

I don’t need prince charming,

Just the calming strength of your smile

Cuz we don’t have to fly

To survive the tides of life

It only takes a hand to hold

To know

A true hero

GENEVIEVE

I’m sad to see Oliver’s family go. The truth is, I loved having my cavernous house feel full. I loved the laughter, the teasing, and even the hugs that I started to get used to by the end. Christmas for me was always a chore. One more performance I had to endure, while pretending it meant anything. But it was different with Oliver’s family. The gifts, the food, the conversation, it was so relaxed and organic. We stayed up late into the night on Christmas Eve, laughing and exchanging simple presents that meant the world. I teared up when they presented me with a box of tokens from Quebec. I went through it with reverence, pulling out each item and wishing I could capture the excitement in the room as they shared the significance with me. “You’re one of us now,” Oliver had whispered. I’d never been so honored in my life, felt so included. I also totally embarrassed myself when the twins gave Oliver their gift: a framed drawing of him pictured as a superhero. It took my breath away, the simplicity and significance of that heartfelt image. He’s a hero to so many and it has nothing to do with sports.

As life resumes after the holidays, so do the rehearsals, interviews, and stress of disparate schedules. Oliver and I are stuck with scraps of what’s left, sneaking short visits, quick dinners, and heated but rushed rendezvouses whenever we can. And after Genevieve Fox’s album launches in mid-January, the little time we had disintegrates into nothing. I miss him so much and cling to the knowledge that once we get through this final tour, I’ll have endless hours with him to make up for lost time. Okay, not endless, but it will feel that way after the pitiful seconds we have now.

Holy shit, Gen! Number one?? Congratulaations! It’s a text from Oliver. I ignore the typo and grin at my phone as I take a swig from my water bottle backstage. The crew is still setting up, and normally I’d be hiding out for this part, but today is different. Our tour officially opens tonight in L.A., and despite Oliver’s own milestone day, he’s promised to finally see me perform. I’m so excited I could burst.

Thanks. Wish you were here to celebrate with me. I’d take you over a number one album any day.

It’s true too. None of it matters to me anymore. I’d trade it all for something real with Oliver and Viv. Still, it’s nice to go out with a bang. White Flame is over the moon happy with the performance of Last Resort. Two days to platinum, and debuting at number one. All three singles are now in the top ten as well, with “Fool for You” hitting number one on two separate charts. The video has been streamed over seven million times in two weeks. The tour is sold out. They’ve added six dates and are already talking about adding more. That news would have broken me a few months ago. This time I smiled when Sam asked if I thought I had a few more stops in me.

“The Girl in the Mirror” has exploded as well. The world may not know Viv Hastings, but they know Mason West, Xander Silva, and Joel Harrison, and it doesn’t take long for those connections to send it viral. I’m enjoying the speculation, the mystery. Reading the reviews and chatter is so different now that I know it has nothing to do with me and everything to do with the art I created. Sure, the negative stuff still hurts, but the positive gleams so much brighter. Besides, for the first time in my life I don’t even care what they’re saying. I know