When spring rolled around again, we all piled back onto the buses so the band could finish the postponed tour dates.
Our final stop before heading back home was New Orleans where I had been injured. It wasn’t easy for me to get off of the bus at first, but Chase had been determined to make the best of our time there and insisted that we go out and see the city and see what the New Orleans vibe was really all about. It was easy to see why people loved it there.
It was the very last show before we were to head back to Canada, and Claire had practically yanked me off of the bus to go to the show, scooping Ivy up along with her and putting a set of headphones over her ears as we walked.
“This is ridiculous!” I exclaimed.
“Stop your complaining and come on.”
Claire pushed me closer to the edge of the wings of the stage, the spot that blocked me from the area full of fans that were watching Chase and the guys kill it on stage.
They ended the song and I watched Chase lift his guitar strap up and over his head, resting the guitar on a nearby stand.
“Before we end the show tonight, we wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for coming. We know we were scheduled to appear last fall and we’re sorry that we had to postpone our original show. We hope that it was worth the wait.”
The crowd cheered.
“It was for good reason though. The last time we were here, we had an emergency with one of our team members. Elle, can you come out here for a moment?”
I shook my head frantically, but Claire gave me a shove. Chase walked over to me before I could retreat back to the wings, pulling me further to center stage.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Elle. Elle, I’d like you to meet some of the best fans in the world.” The crowd erupted.
“Elle is one of the most important members of our team - but we’re more than that, we’re family. As everyone knows, my little girl Ivy is my world, and Elle here got hurt while keeping my little girl safe. I can’t thank her enough for that. Anyway, it shook us all up quite a bit and so we made the decision to postpone a few shows so we could care for her and regroup a little bit. We have received all of your wonderful thoughts and prayers and they have meant so much.
“I don’t often share the personal side of my life, but I thought on this one occasion that I would make the exception. It took that emergency for me to realize that Elle is irreplaceable to our family, but also to me.”
The crowd gasped and my eyes widened.
“Chase…”
He moved away from the mic and grabbed both of my hands.
“I can’t risk ever losing you again, Elle. You mean the world to me and to Ivy.”
He looked past me and gave a little nod. I turned to see Ivy running across the stage holding up a box in her hand. The rest of the arena disappeared as I stood there in shock, the scene unfolding in front of me. I watched Chase bend and give her a squeeze, thanking her for the box.
When he knelt down on one knee and tears began to well up in my eyes, my hands raised to rest over my mouth. Oh my God. Could this really be happening?
“I want to spend my life learning all the little things that make you tick, and I want to always let you beat me in video games.”
I laughed, and he took my hand in his.
“You have such a big heart, Elle, and Ivy adores you. I could not find a person who loves my baby more than you. I’m not perfect and you’ll have to put up with my shit, but I’ll spend my life trying to always put a smile on your face.
“Melody, will you marry me?”
I nodded and he beamed up at me as he slid the ring onto my finger. Standing, he wrapped his arms tightly around me and kissed me tenderly, and I knew he meant every single word. Ivy pulled on my shirt and I lifted her up into my arms.
“SHE SAID YES!!” Chase shouted happily into the mic. The crowd exploded into a frenzy. And then we were surrounded by the rest of the band and Claire in a huge bear hug.
After allowing myself to enjoy the moment, I realized there was still a show to finish. I buried my face into his neck. “I can’t believe you did that! But you still have a show to finish. You’d better get back to your fans.”
He kissed me again before turning to address the arena.
“All right, guys, thank you so much for sharing in this incredibly special moment for me and our family, but I know we still have a show to finish. So how ‘bout it. Would you like to hear one more?”
I slid Ivy onto my hip and headed off of the stage, Ivy waving at the crowd as we left.
“Oh my God!” Claire exclaimed, hugging me tightly. “I cannot believe he pulled that off! I am so excited for you!”
“You knew about all of this, didn’t you?” I asked with the biggest smile of my life
She nodded. “Of course.”
“My head a spinning; I can’t believe any of this is real.”
She handed me a bottle of water and took Ivy from me. “Why don’t you watch the last song and I’ll take Ivy away from the noise.”
I nodded and she left the wings. I couldn’t tell you what the last song was, but I remember the moment he stepped off of the stage, slamming myself against him and holding on for dear life as he took my mouth with his own in a scorching hot kiss that triumphed all that had preceded it.
“I love you, Chase,” I managed to get out before his lips were on mine once again.
“Holy hell, guys, you need to come up for air. There is a media frenzy going on outside right now,” Ewan informed us.
My heart was exploding with love for my new fiancé, but those words sent a nervous shiver through me.
Chase held open his hand to me and looked into my eyes. “I should talk to them. Will you go with me?”
Chase Brighton has come into my life and turned it upside down in the very best possible way. He’d given me family and love. The path had not been easy, but it was our path, and though it had taken me some time to come to terms with what being with Chase would mean, being without him was an impossibility.
He was asking me to stand as one with him. How could I not?
“Okay,” I replied, placing my hand in his. “Let’s go.”
The End
Acknowledgments
As I was finishing up this book, my son told me I had forgotten to put in my acknowledgements page and was hinting that maybe I should mention him in it. So:
Alex & Evelyn – You both are the sunshine in my life. You inspire me to keep trying. What I love more than anything, Alex, is that you have a passion for writing too. Evelyn, I am incredibly proud that you have found an interest in reading, even when it is difficult; I knew you would. I hope you both will always be brave enough to pursue your dreams.
Ali - This book may not have ever been completed without your support. You are my #1 writing partner and my best friend. And in case I haven’t said it enough times during the making of this book – I appreciate you and all that you do.
Also by Erin Cristofoli
Starting Over Series
Starting Over
Afraid to Fall
Making it Through
About the Author
I'm Erin Cristofoli and reside in Ontario, Canada, with my husband and two kids. I love to write and am thrilled to have fulfilled a dream to publish a book of my own. When I am not writing, I thrive on many creative ventures, including photography, painting and crocheting.
www.erincristofoli.weebly.com
[email protected]
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