AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The gist of it is that she was asked about your relationship and she alluded to something happening.
Avideo clip comes through a few seconds later and I watch as my fiancée, the love of my life, smiles and answers the question on if she is single or taken in a flirty voice. “It's complicated.” She doesn’t allude to anything and I zone in on the fact that she isn’t wearing her ring. The one I gave her just two nights ago.
I throw my phone on the desk and lean back, rubbing my hands down my face. As always, my two sides war withhow to move forward. I want to respect the pace she is setting, but I’m hurt and pissed off that she is choosing to hide things completely. There is nothing complicated about our relationship. Since the night of the awards show, everyone has been able to see how obsessed I am with Ocean Heart and how in love with me she is. The media knows it, the tabloids are printing it. I want the world to know. Why she keeps denying it isn’t something I understand.
Ocean is heading to her show in New York City after the interview today before heading back to our home. I already refer to her space as ours. It's a little small for me, but she loves it. It's the dream house she always wanted, so I’m willing to accept that.
I can’t wait for her to get back to talk about this. I’m willing to listen to her, but I refuse to be labeled a relationship that's complicated. After shooting an email to cancel my afternoon interview and letting Caleb know to contain our problem because I’ll be in New York, I hop in my car and drive to the venue of the show. I’m granted access backstage where I meet Kyle. He eyes me warily, probably because he saw the interview today as well. I find her dressing room myself before getting comfortable. It will be a while until she takes an intermission.
I listen to her songs one by one, thinking about the lyrics. Thinking about how her sound has matured and changed over the past few days. Ocean having the ability to use her own voice and create her own songs was one of the best things she ever asked for. BNE had been oppressing her talent. They were hiding her magic and never let her live to her full potential. She has that now, and I love how secure she is in herself, thanks to working with Rosen Records.
I listen to the stomping of feet and cheers before a quiet lull fills the area. I glance at my phone before getting to my feet and leaning against her makeup table. A few seconds later, she walksin. Her silver bodysuit catches the lights, her hands reach for the zipper right before she notices I’m here. I see her eyes widen, and her pupils expand. A smile tugs at her lips.
“What are you doing here?”
My head cocks to the side. “I came to see you.”
She walks over to me and loops her arms around my neck. “Why? Not that I mind. It’s a great surprise. I just thought you were planning on being home all night.”
I kiss her forehead and cup her cheeks in my hands. “I missed you. Why? Does that make things complicated?”
The smile slides from her lips and she pulls back. “You’re here because of the interview.”
I let my arms fall and I shrug. “Should I not be concerned that myfiancéejust denied being with me and the seriousness of our relationship on national television? Or the fact that she refuses to wear the ring I gave her.”
Ocean steps back from me shaking her head. “Unbelievable.” I watch as she unzips her outfit and steps out, throwing it by her bags. “Didn’t we agree to keep things out of the spotlight?”
I shake my head. “I never would have agreed to that. I agreed we can go at your pace for our relationship and you seemed pretty thrilled when I slipped that diamond on your finger. We agreed that I could handle the media and nothing would touch you.”
Her mouth slams shut into a firm line. “Agreeing to go at my pace means waiting. I was fine with putting feelers out there, with the picture you leaked and going to the award ceremony together. That doesn’t mean announcing to everyone that we are getting married. Some of them think we’ve only been dating for a few weeks.”
“If you love me and I love you, why does it matter what anyone thinks or says?”
“I do love you. I said I’d marry you, you asshole.”
My brow rises at her sass and tone. “Then what is the problem?”
Her eyes narrow and she stomps over to me. “You’re the problem. This, this here is the problem. We keep moving at lightning speed. In private, in our home, I will let you control things. I even like it that most of the time I don’t have to plan or think about anything because you take care of it for us, for me. Out here, though, it is different. You’ve always taught me to be conscious of my brand. Of what people see and what they believe. I just built my new image. I do think my audience is ready to see me falling in love and being happy, getting married, down the road. You need to let me keep the control of my business that you instilled in me, Ezra. I can’t give it up.”
I push off the desk and we’re standing toe-to-toe. My hands push her hair from her shoulders and run down her arms to her hands. I take her hands in mine, gazing down at her, at how beautiful she is even when she’s mad. “I’m not asking you to give it up. I don’t want you to give up anything and you shouldn’t have to. I’m just saying I refuse to be a complication, a situationship or whatever they’re saying these days. Boyfriend seems so immature for what we are, or the depth of the feelings I have for you.”
“So what do you want me to call you? My lover? Life partner? Old man? Future spouse?” She smirks and leans in so her lips are almost touching mine.
“I’m your fiancé, Ocean. I’m yours. And you’re fucking mine.” I kiss her gently and she sways.
“I know, Ezra. I love you.” She kisses me back, and it’s hard for me to keep fighting.
“I’ll have my people contact the television station and issue the new information.”
“Ezra!”
I run my hands through my hair and grab my jacket from the chair. “Are you worried because I’m older than you, or about how the media might slander my name and ruin my business?”
Her eyes widen and her cheeks turn pink. I knew there was more that she was hiding. By making it all about her, I couldn't discover that she’s really just worried about me. Part of me likes it, while the other part just grows more frustrated. I would give up all I have if it helped her. I stopped caring about myself and my business when I met her. Sure, having money and notoriety is nice. I do well and I have an eye and ear for talent, but none of it matters without her.
I clutch her jaw in my hand. “You don’t worry about me. I don’t want any decision you make or don’t make to have anything to do with how it might affect me. My business is a front at most, so that I can stay close to you. Am I good at what I do? Abso-fucking-lutely. Would I give it all up for you? In a heartbeat. I don’t care what anyone says. If they push me out, fine. I’ll just be a stay-at-home husband or a roadie. I’ll be in charge of just your show and security. Ocean Heart’s handler for life.”
Her eyes shine with tears, but the good kind. Her chest rises and falls deeply. I lean down and press my lips to hers in one last searing kiss. “Believe me, Ocean. It's if I don’t have you...that's when people really need to worry.”
