Backstage, Kate was having a meltdown. The whole place was abuzz with the news that Buddy Longstreet and Taylor Jones had come to see the Rafters. What the hell do they want with us? Billy and the guys in the band were flipping out. They were due on stage in thirty minutes, and Kate was hyperventilating. She rummaged around in her bag for her cell phone and called Reid.

“You’re not going to believe it,” she said, still disappointed that he was working late and couldn’t come to the show.

“Believe what?”

“Guess who’s here? At Mabel’s?”

“Who?”

“Buddy Longstreet and Taylor Jones!” Kate shrieked.

“Get out, really?”

“I swear to God. And we heard they asked for a table where they could see us!”

“Wow.”

“I can’t.”

“What?”

“I can’t go out there with them here.”

“What do you mean? Of course you can. This could be a major break for you.”

“What if I freeze when I get on stage?”

“Has that ever happened before?”

“No.”

“So what makes you think it’ll happen tonight?”

“Reid! It’s Buddy and Taylor! How am I supposed to sing with them watching? I’m not good enough to sing for them.” Her eyes flooded with tears.

“All right, now you’re making me mad. You’re just as good as they are. So you’re going out there to do what you do best, you got me? I don’t want to hear another word about you not being good enough.”

“Okay,” she said in a small voice.

“You’re fabulous, you’re talented, and I love you. You can do this.”

“Yes. I can do this. Okay, I’m taking a deep breath. Thank you.”

“Will you do one thing for me?”

“Anything.”

“Sing my song for them?”

“I will. I wish you were here.”

“I do, too. I’ll be waiting for you at home.”

Reid’s heart raced as he ended the call. He’d stayed away from Mabel’s on purpose, even though he was dying to see Kate perform for Buddy and Taylor. He knew Buddy was suspicious of his involvement with Kate, and Reid didn’t want to confirm it for him by being there tonight.

Feeling like he was the one about to perform for royalty, he got up to pour a scotch to calm his nerves.

“Come on, Kate,” he whispered, sending her every ounce of love and support he could muster. “Do your thing, honey.”

The Rafters had never played better. They created pure magic from the first note to the last, and by the time they came off-stage just after midnight, they were sweating and euphoric.

Kate wiped a towel over her face and neck, trying to come down from the high of performing. She was higher than usual tonight as the guys jumped all around her, calling for beers and celebrating their successful night.