Nobody Falls for the Opening Act (Break the Rules Book 2)

Chapter 26

The basket wobbles in the air, temporarily shifting the contents of my stomach. I focus on Harvey’s firm hand and the sensation passes as we rise higher and higher into the night sky, leaving behind a strange, growing sense that’s hard to pin down. I shudder as the desert breeze drifts all around us; the basket creaking beneath our feet.

I glance at Lacey, but she doesn’t seem concerned at all. She’s smiling widely. A true professional in her element with her eyes on the ground… a ground that’s steadily getting farther and farther away.

“Addison,” Harvey says.

“What?” I say.

He grins. “Don’t look down. Look up.”

I look up, and my jaw falls.

Stars. So many bright, twinkling stars.

And I’m standing among them.

I feel like I could reach out and cradle one in my palm. Of course, I know better than to even try, but the image in my head curls around me like an imaginary cocoon of warmth and comfort. Harvey’s hand keeps me grounded; a steady anchor while we drift between the clouds.

“Harvey,” I whisper. “This is beautiful.”

He squeezes my hand once in agreement.

Nearby, Lacey turns to face the other side with a knowing smile dug into the edge of her mouth. There aren’t very many options for privacy up here, but she keeps her eyes on the view instead.

I look at Harvey and smile. “Why did you bring me out here?” I ask. “Up here, I mean.”

He smiles. “I saw these balloons while we were coming into town,” he answers with a shrug, our voices obscured by the wind. “And I thought… maybe Addison would like to take a ride on one? Maybe she’d like to stand with the stars rather than look at them from the ground? And since I’ll never afford a few seats on a space shuttle launch, I figured this was the next best option.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“No. I thought it’d be fun, too.” He looks at me. “It’s fun, right? Are you having fun?”

“I’m having fun.”

“Good. Cool.”

He turns away, looking up and down with wide eyes full of wonder.

I smile. He really is quite cute. “Harvey.”

“Hm?”

“Why did you really bring me up here?”

He chuckles softly and nods. “Because I wanted to show you a side of the world you’d never seen before,” he answers.

“Why?” I ask, curious. “And don’t tell me this is just what friends do.”

Harvey presses his lips together, his eyes reflecting stars. “You already know how I feel about you, Addison. I won’t lie to you now and say my hopes regarding those feelings didn’t go into this. But I also really just want you to be a happy person and watching you smile at the stars is happiest I’ve ever seen you.”

“Do I not seem happy?”

He takes a moment, his brows furrowing slightly as he thinks. “No,” he says. “Honestly, you seem… kinda sad a lot of the time.”

“Resting bitch face, mostly.”

“You’re a rock goddess, playing in a sold out tour for the hottest band in the nation. How are you not ecstatic all the time?”

“I work hard. I’m proud of that, but it also doesn’t leave much time for anything else.”

“What else is there?”

Somehow, I smile. “You really love being a rockstar.”

“Why don’t you?”

“I do.”

“Then…” Harvey looks hard, his eyes asking the question.

“I don’t know,” I answer. “Guess I’m just wondering what comes next. No one stays on top forever, not even us. And with the Battle of the Bands coming up, our days might be more numbered than we thought. When Criminal Records ends, what will I do? Where will I go?”

Harvey scans the stars. “Well, you’ve always got a seat on my tour bus,” he says. “If you want it, I mean.”

“I’m sure I’ll slot in nicely between groupies three and five,” I joke.

“Addison. If you were on my bus, there wouldn’t be any groupies.”

I study his eyes, searching for lies. “Is that true?” I ask, needing to be sure.

“Yes.”

My heart skips, but my stomach clenches. Part of me can’t be sure, can’t possibly believe him, not with everything I’ve seen in my life.

But right now, I see only stars.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “For tonight.”

“You’re welcome.” He bows his head. “What are friends for?”

What for, indeed?

I admire him for a moment, just long enough to make up my mind — but not long enough for me to second guess myself and change it.

“Harvey.”

“Hm?”

“Ask me again.”

Harvey smiles. “Are you going to make me ask every time?”

“Maybe.”

“Because I will,” he says, his eyes still so sure. “If that’s what it takes to be with you, I will.”

“So,” I say. “Ask me, Harvey Moon.”

He takes a breath. “Can I kiss you right now?” he asks.

I don’t answer.

Three thousand feet above the earth, I kiss Harvey Moon among the stars.