AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Valentine’s Day
The concert venue is much smaller than the one where I first met Griffin Grimm last year at Grimnoire’s last concert as a band. Griff prefers smaller venues. Especially since he’s been touring as an acoustic show.
I’m backstage as he sings the last few lines of “Neon Love,” the song he always ends his show on. The applause is magical, as always, and I’m filled with so much love and admiration for my man.
“You’ve been a great crowd tonight,” he tells them. “I wonder if you’ll indulge me for a few more minutes.”
This isn’t how he usually ends his shows.
“As many of you know, I wrote that song for my girl. She’s my muse. I’d like to ask her an important question tonight.”
My face turns red. Oh my God.
“Her folks are in the audience. Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett, do you want to stand up?”
What is going on? I peek out to see a spotlight on my parents as the crowd, catching on, starts whistling and yelling. My parents are beaming and wave a little to the people around them.
“Let me tell you how I met my muse.”
I’m hyperventilating, but I feel a friendly pat on my shoulder. I turn to see Trish. “What are you doing here?”
“Big night,” she answers. “Wild whores couldn’t have kept me away.”
On stage, Griff waits for the crowd to quiet. “You see, I was in a pretty low spot. The band knew we were going to be taking a break after that show. We all agreed, but it was bittersweet. I’d been clean for almost a year, but you know...that demon likes to hang out a lot anyway. Taunting me. And I go backstage after the show, and there’s this girl. She looked like she wanted to be anywhere but backstage at a rock-n-roll show. To me, she looked like a breath of fresh air. I knew I wanted to get to know her.”
He takes a deep breath and turns to me standing in the wing. “Mallory Bartlett, I love you. Your parents, your best friend, all these fine people, and I want to know...will you marry me?”
I’m in shock, my mind starts racing and my heart feels like it’s going to burst. Trish squeezes my shoulder. “Get out there and claim your man.”
I take a few tentative steps and the crowd goes wild. Griffin gets on one knee, presenting a ring. I make it to the center of the stage and lower to my knees as well. He turns the mic off. His eyes search mine.
“Yes,” I whisper.
Griffin’s face lights up, and he wraps me in a tight hug as the crowd erupts.
We stand and the crowd keeps cheering. Griffin takes my hand and puts the ring on my finger. It’s a pretty big fucking ring.
Later, in our hotel room, I remember our first Valentine’s Day last year, when Griffin took my virginity, as we drink sparkling cider naked in bed. Naked except for the humongous ring on my finger.
The suite is luxurious, of course. I wonder if I will ever get used to this kind of extravagance. Probably not. I’m going to have fun trying to get used to it though.
I’ve been on tour with Griffin for a few months. We’re taking our time, visiting all the different cities and towns where we might like to build a home. By next year, I’d like to get back to teaching, and Griffin and I will travel on weekends and breaks when he has tours or business in Los Angeles.
“Do you want a big wedding?” he asks. “Have you even thought about it?”
“Babe,” I laugh. “I’ve been planning my wedding to you since I was thirteen and you stared down at me from the poster on my ceiling.”
He laughs. “Whatever happened to that poster?”
“It’s still on the ceiling, I think. My parents haven’t touched my room. Thank you for bringing them here. And Trish. It was nice to have them be part of tonight.”
Griffin leans over to me, his hand sliding down my naked back. “They’re important to you, so they’re important to me.”
I smile at him, feeling a warmth spread through my body as his hand reaches my butt. “So, Mr. Rockstar, what do you want our wedding to be like?”
“Naked. I want to be deep inside you. Maybe in the ocean.”
“We’ll have to find a very progressive pastor then.”
