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Wow It paid to be with one of the Grareat in ot a whispered compliment froain with songs sung by faories and iven out

Then it was time for Ray and Sienna’s duet The auditoriurand piano Ray sat there in a tux and white shirt, open at the throat My heart skipped a beat, he looked so gorgeous and so lonely He started to play the haunting melody I’d heard hundreds of tiether in Austin before we’d ever arrived in LA

Then Sienna strolled up to the piano in a hot pink mini-dress that matched a stripe in her short spiky hair and she started to sing She sang ofwith her, a counterpoint How he’d wanted to try again But she said no They harmonized, then went off on their own riffs It was beautiful and sad and when it ended, you could have heard a sigh or a sniffle, it was that quiet

The applause rolled up frorinned and pulled Ray up froed hie No time for more The shoas on a schedule

I sat back, relieved that it was over and that it had been so glorious Wow I felt a hand touch mine and looked over to take whispered compliments from artists nearby who I’d admired for years DoubleA few ed back into the black silk suit and black shirt he’d worn in to the awards show, slid into his seat I leaned over and kissed his cheek

"You were aweso like that before With your whole heart"

"Thanks, babe" He s to lose" He looked around, answered sonals from sorin He was beginning to believe he had done well and could relax I could see it

We sat back then and enjoyed the show until it was tiroup or duo Ray’s category Sienna and her date, a new guy I’d met just a few times, sat just behind us She put her hand on Ray’s shoulder when they read the noot a lot of loud applause and whistles, so they were a popular choice

"And the winner is, Israel Caine and Sienna Star for--" The rest was drowned out by a roar of applause

Ray grabbed ed Sienna They jue to the whoops and hollers of their friends and fellow norins, I felt myself tear up Ray held his Grammy for a moment, then handed it to Sienna

"I want to thankhere today if it wasn’t for her I love you, babe" He blew me a kiss and I wiped my eyes and blew one back "Also, thanks to Chip Rollins and OBG Sounds for keeping the faith" He winked atlist of people until music drowned her out

A few minutes later, Ray was back in his seat with a Grammy in his lap "Check it out," he whispered, then handed it over

I fondled it, though it was just a piece of metal and wood to me What ht

"It’s a, Ray" I handed it back "I already knew you were a star This is just concrete proof"

It seemed to take forever, but finally the last aas handed out and the shoas over Ray and Sienna were surrounded and congratulated Several of the ishers wanted to talk future deals Nate worked his way forward fro and passed out business cards Seeht have soain