“He does have it in his head that he loves me, and I’ve told him I would never see him as anything other than a friend. Even if we don’t make it, Killer, I wouldn’t go to him. I’ve made it perfectly clear he needs to find someone else to make him happy, like you make me happy."
He removed my hand from his lips, kissing my tattoo gently. “What the hell do you mean 'if we don’t make it?’” he asked, looking at me like I’d grown another head.
I shook mine, not wanting to fight with him, but he stared at me, his expression hard.
“I just know there will be a lot of...temptation on the road. I don’t want you to have to lie to me if it gets to be too much for you. I understand if you give in to it. I won’t be mad at you, and I'll never regret my time with you.”
The stupid tears I’d been repressing all day started to run down my face. I didn’t bother wiping them away. My heart hurt with every word, and I couldn’t stop the pain as it physically manifested itself through my tears.
“I love you and the boys so much. You guys deserve to have the world at your feet, and it's going to happen soon. I don’t want to hold you back when you become famous. You deserve to live your dream.”
He studied me as if I were speaking a foreign language. His head cocked to one side, with his eyes clouded with confusion. Taking my hand, he led me up to my room.
"Sit down," he mumbled.
I plopped down on the bed, and he knelt in front of me, taking my hands in his.
“First of all, Slick, there's no one who could tempt me when I have you at home. As for living my dream, you are my dream. I love you. I never thought I deserved someone like you, but now that I have you, I'm not letting you go. Nor will I be doing something stupid like getting my dick wet to mess this up. I meant it when I said I want you on the bus with us after you graduate, and if you don’t want to go on tour, then I'll quit the band and follow you while you run after your dream.”
I stared at him in horror, my mouth hanging open in disbelief.
“Don't say that, please. Don’t even think I would let you give up your dreams for me. I'm not worth it, and if you want me on the bus, I'll be there for you. As long as you want me there, I’ll stay, but you worked too hard to give this up. Besides, those boys look to you. You are the leader of their band and to let them down after they worked so hard would be...”
A wave of nausea broke over me. I placed my hand on my stomach, trying to quell the rolling motion. His eyes went to my hand, and panic took over his face.
“Do we need to go to the hospital? I'm sorry; don’t get upset. I can’t have you sick again. We’ll work this out.” His arms snaked around my waist, his head resting on the hand over my stomach.
“I’m fine. I just got upset. I can't believe you would willingly throw your dream away for me.”
“I already told you; you are my dream.” He reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a square jewelry box.
My heart stuttered to a stop, missing a beat before restarting.
“I got this for you so you’d understand just how committed I am to you. I know you probably aren’t ready for an engagement ring right now, so this is...whatever you want to call it. Well, until you decide to call it an engagement ring.”
He opened the box silently. Nestled inside the black silk lining was the most stunning ring I’d ever seen–a princess-cut diamond surrounded by tiny rubies, all of it encased in a platinum setting. It reminded me of a firework and was exactly the ring I would have picked for myself.
“Say something, Slick.” His hand trembled, making the box shake as he held it in front of me.
“I love it, Killer. I'll wear it as long as you want me.” My voice was thickened by the tears lodging in my throat.
“Then, get used to it, because you'll be wearing it for a long time,” he replied, sliding the ring onto my finger.
“You're right, though. I'm not ready to call it an engagement ring.”
I saw the disappointment on his face before he quickly erased it with a grin. “I have another surprise,” he said, pulling out another box.
When he revealed the man’s ring my throat closed with emotions fighting to get out. It was thick and made of platinum, just like mine, with a single ruby set in the middle.
“I figured you would feel better with me wearing one too. To help keep the skanks at bay.” He shot me his half smile.
“This is going to draw them to you, not repel them,” I explained staring at the ring now adorning his finger.
“Well, I won’t let them get close. It's you I want, Slick.”
Our hands linked together, our new rings flashing at us. My heart swelled inside my chest, and I couldn’t remember ever being as happy as I was in that moment.
“We should get back to the party,” I said hauling him off the bed.
