Beautiful Mistake

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Beautiful Mistake Page 18

by Sarah J. Brooks


  Lying by her side, holding this incredible person I knew, without a shadow of a doubt. I didn’t need to test out my theory and try other women to make sure Melody fit. I was ready to offer myself to her heart and soul.

  “You don’t have to say I’m the one.” Melody offered me a way out of my lust-crazed confession, but I didn’t want it.

  “I don’t.” I kissed her shoulder. “And I wouldn’t if it wasn’t true.”

  “This is sort of a lot for me to process right now.”

  There was fear behind her eyes, fear that she’d let her walls down only to be destroyed as soon as she ventured out. She didn’t understand that she held all the cards here. My heart was at her mercy.

  “I understand, but it doesn’t make it less true. I knew the moment I saw you that you were the one. I was just afraid of what that meant. Now, I just want to move forward and venture into this unknown with you.” I kissed her temple and wished I could flood her with everything in my brain, so she would really know what I meant.

  “It’s exactly how I felt when I saw you.” Her voice was small, and her eyes drifted away from me for a moment.

  “Then let’s not over-analyze this. We have a soundcheck in a few hours. I suggest we get cleaned up, dressed up, and go somewhere with a nice view for lunch and then enter the human race and see where we end up.”

  “Sounds like a brilliant plan.” She giggled.

  We took a quick shower; I drove her home to get dressed and sat there awkwardly as Charlynn gave me the evil eye from her kitchen.

  “How have you been, Charlynn?” I made small talk because I like playing with sharp spiky things.

  “Worried about my roommate getting in too deep with you. And what about you? What have you been doin’?” Her eyes slid into two vicious slits.

  “Um … well, I don’t think it’s too polite to say exactly, but let’s just leave it at you don’t have to worry about how deep things are between me and your roommate. She’s in good hands.” I shouldn’t have made innuendos, but Charlynn was fun to fire up.

  “Oh, I bet she is. I’ll just tell you this. You hurt her again, Sage, and I’ll hurt you. I don’t care how rich you are or who you know.” I swore she was going to come at me with a cleaver, but it was just an oily spatula she wielded from the pan she was cooking in. “I’ll come after you until I’ve squashed you like a bug.”

  “Trust me, I believe you. I’m sure someday my kids will get a kick out of hearing how you almost flattened their father with a … what is that? A spatula?”

  Charlynn’s eyes widened, and I could have sworn the color drained out of her face as Melody entered looking incredible in a mini dress and boots.

  “Are you pregnant?” Charlynn asked Melody in a disbelieving, shocked, almost accusatory gasp.

  “What? No … no. I am not pregnant. Trust me. I want babies, but today is not that day.” Melody flashed a goofy ‘what the hell?’ look at me. “What made you think I was?”

  Charlynn looked over to me. “Him!” she accused.

  Melody laughed. “What are you talking about kids for? You goof.”

  “I said, someday.” I shrugged my shoulders and cocked my head.

  “You two are playful. I take it you patched things up with him?” Charlynn asked Melody calming down a little, perhaps realizing she’d have to eventually call a truce if Melody was back on board with me.

  “He’s working on it.” Melody grinned.

  “Yep … all better.” I threw her a prince of a smile, and she rolled her eyes.

  “You’re never gonna like me are you, Charlynn?” I put it to her plainly.

  “I might.” I finally saw a trace of a smile on her face.

  She was a beautiful woman, just a little too strong-willed and opinionated for me. She actually scared me. All three of the girls were feisty ladies. Reyna was no wilting flower … she ran her own show, always. Melody was fire, finesse, and fun, and Charlynn ... she was a warrior. If any of the men in their lives ever misstepped, death would be preferable to their punishment.

  “Great. Well, we’re off to lunch. You want to come?” I thought why not tempt the Devil.

  “No thanks. I’ve got something on the grill. Nice of you to offer, though. Keep kissing my ass like that, and I might start to like you more.” Finally, she gave me a full smile and weight flittered off my shoulders.

  “You bet.” I winked at Charlynn and looked to Melody. “Do you have everything you need for the soundcheck? I figured we are going to have to go right after lunch, or …” I looked at my watch. “I guess it’s closer to dinner. And bring an overnight bag.”

  This made Melody laugh. “An overnight bag. Aren’t we feeling lucky?”

  “Or you can wear that to the show tomorrow; it’s fine with me.” I threw a little cocky playboy in there for fun.

  “I have a whole thing planned for before the show. Hair salon, makeup … so I’m not staying over at your house tonight. I need my beauty rest. I like your strategy, though. Even though you’re cute and I’m considering spending the rest of my life with you.” It made me feel good to have her say that out loud. “It’s still a competition, and I intend to beat your ass tomorrow.” She jutted her hip out and made a sassy face.

  My shoulders fell. “Fine, dinner and sound check then.”

  We said goodbye to Charlynn, had a great meal in the Hollywood Hills, and made it in time for soundcheck. I drove Melody home and reluctantly bid her goodnight until the next day. It was good she was being responsible for the competition because the guys had been calling me all day. After Tony cornered me at the soundcheck he pretty much told me the band was coming over and we’d be rehearsing until late.

  We had one last rehearsal to attend at the church with the choir, so I bid Melody farewell, watched her beautiful little behind strut up the front steps of her apartment building and anticipated seeing her the next day. I hated the idea of competing against her, but it did add a little spice to things. I didn’t want to win against her, though, I wanted to win with her.

  The band and I rehearsed most of the night, then everyone crashed in the guest rooms and on the couch. I couldn’t sleep. The idea of competing against Melody was eating away at me. I couldn’t pull out of the competition because the guys had put their heart and soul into it. I thought about what the competition was actually for and the benefits it would bring to us as a band. The winners took home twenty thousand dollars. Split four ways it wasn’t that much money. I wouldn’t need it, so the guys would likely split it between them. Then your song gets played on iFm … well, the song was already being played on small radio stations around the country.

  The competition itself would give us national exposure and usually, most of the top bands had their songs played no matter what. So our options were to take Melody on or do something totally different.

  I floated my idea by the guys, and at first, they were totally against it, but as I explained myself further, they began to see my reasoning. I promised money to them, regardless … I had it, and in essence, what I was asking them to do was huge. I was suggesting they throw the competition for me. I owed them something. The payoff, I promised, would be worth the risk.

  When we walked into the theater that night, I was totally nervous. I didn’t worry about the other competitors; there was only one thing I was competing for that night, and it was the most terrifying challenge of my existence. I went in determined and proud with my sights set on winning. I knew Melody was backstage; I had to get to her even though it was completely against the rules.

  I was electrified by all the risks I was taking. I could have been disqualified and disgraced and yet this was going to be one hundred percent worth it.

  I wasn’t sure Melody would agree with me though when I waltzed into her dressing room.

  “Sage? You can’t be in here, you freak.” She couldn’t contain the smile on her face as soon as she saw me sneak into her room.

  She looked so incredible it hurt. The makeup was thic
k for the stage and the lighting but painted so perfectly her flawless skin and glittering eyes didn’t look real. Her purple hair was coiffed into a bun and the outfit she wore was sexy and casual. I warmed all over, recognizing it was one of the outfits I had purchased for her in New York.

  “I know. I’m going to try and say this before I get kicked out or disqualified.”

  Her face fell into a concerned tangle. “What’s going on?”

  I sat down beside her, my heart on my sleeve and told her my plan. I explained I couldn’t compete against her, but I didn’t want to walk off the show.

  “I don’t want to compete against you either, Sage. It feels really wrong. I mean, I don’t even care if I win. It’s just this thing Mizironic’s manager set up. I said yes because I didn’t want to be ungrateful for all Stephanie had done for me. I hate competitions; I think there’s a lot of talent here. It shouldn’t come down to just one.” Her voice became more impassioned the more she talked about how unfair competitions like the Battle of the Bands really were.

  I’d seen Mizironic in the audience, surrounded by her people, so she was there. We couldn’t let her down either. Sinclair, Reyna, Charlynn, the whole crowd had come to support us, so we couldn’t just walk away. I told her my idea, and she was immediately on board. We were both a little worried about how much we would be breaking the rules, but it would be a night none of us would forget. I also had a very special surprise up my sleeve.

  As soon as I knew Melody was okay with not competing and breaking the rules, I was ready for the next terrifying thing I planned to do that night. The guys and I sat in our dressing room and waited for our names to be called. We didn’t talk to each other, just sort of prepared for our big song. In the room next to us gospel hymns filtered through the walls, as the choir squeezed in one last rehearsal. Before long, the stage manager came in to tell us we were up next.

  “This is it, guys. We are going to bring the house down,” I said feeling both terror and adrenalin.

  “I sure hope so,” Tony looked at me with doubt and skepticism.

  I didn’t let his worry bring me down. I gathered up my guitar, and we did a group huddle and joined the choir backstage waiting for our turn. As soon as the act before ours was done, we walked out into the darkness. The rustling and sounds of thousands of people could be heard beyond the curtain of blackness. They were all out there, unaware of what was to come. I thought of Melody and how much this moment would mean to her.

  Out in that throng of shifting bodies and erratic noises was my brother Shelton. Sinclair texted me that he had come alone and was in the audience. I wasn’t sure what to think about that. Sinclair and Reyna, Charlynn, and a smattering of my closest friends were out there. I wondered what they would think about what we were about to do. No matter their reaction, my life was going to change forever.

  Too soon the lights came up, and it was our time to take the stage. I walked into the wash of light, guitar in hand.

  “Grind Revolution!” the contestant host yelled to the crowd, and there was a remarkably loud, thundering response.

  My heart was beating faster; was I doing the right thing? It was too late to change my mind. I had to go forward with our plan.

  “Grind Revolution will be playing their rousing internet hit, “Ever After!” Again the crowd went wild and the gospel choir filed in behind us, making everyone go even more crazy.

  The audience was really excited. There was an audience poll projected onto the three large screens around the theater and it had Grind Revolution and Melody Chambers as being in spots two and three respectively. Above us, there was one other band. We would have had a shot at winning this, but I knew what I was doing was going to be worth losing the title.

  I walked up to the mic gripping my guitar tightly as my palms slick with perspiration. “Good evening, Los Angeles.” Another roar from the crowd. “I’m glad you like our song.” The crowd responded with clapping, yelling, and screaming. “We’re gonna change this up a bit tonight. I hope you don’t mind.” Silence fell over the crowd, and for a moment, I could only hear the beating of my own heart.

  Here we go! I started singing “Ever After” acapella without my guitar or the other guys in the band. I had a pretty good voice, but it wasn’t one that could carry a whole tune without any accompaniment. The raw emotional quality of my voice sounded like honey gliding over rocks. It drew you in, even if the listener was reluctant to actually like my voice.

  The spotlight was trained right on me and beads of sweat dripped down my face. I didn’t care, I sang with everything I had. After finishing the first stanza, and taking a beat there were some confused reactions from the crowd. Some were clapping, some whistling, but most were not saying anything until Melody walked out onto the stage with her guitar in hand.

  Whispers, hollers, and noise built around the room as Melody joined me, taking the microphone next to mine. She then sang the first stanza of “Never More,” acapella and unlike me, she had a heavenly voice. The crowd went nuts. Perplexed looks crossed the judges’ faces, and I didn’t care. Melody and I were up on stage making this happen. From that point forward the band joined in. They played “Ever After,” and Melody added the stanza of “Never More” after each of mine, the band then improvised some beats off of her guitar riffs. It was a beautiful mix of voices and music.

  The two songs were Melody’s expression of doubt and reassurance. She was looking for her “Ever After” and promising herself that should “Never More” rely on someone else to give her the love she needed, she’d never more allow herself to be duped or hurt by love. They were sad songs yet had hope in their longing for something better. Having them strung together, they were painful and yet also peaceful in the resolve to love oneself above all.

  I sang my lyrics with haunting passion, and she sang hers with wailing grace. The room was absolutely silent … until the gospel choir hit the chorus and then the room exploded. The energy, passion, and music filling the theater reverberated against the walls, launching my soul into heaven. This was it; this was a moment you rarely ever found. This moment when everything was right and the performance could not have been more uplifting, more inspiring or more perfect.

  When we stopped singing. I took the mic in my hand before the host could find some way to gloss over how we’d just f’d up the entire show by combining our songs without their prior knowledge or permission.

  I turned to Melody to say, “I’m sorry. I hope you’ll forgive me for sowing my wild oats and not being the kind of man I should’ve been for you. I promise the man standing before you today will work hard for the rest of his life to be worthy of your love.”

  Gasps and ‘ahs’ peppered the air.

  Melody’s eyes were two bright orbs. So, with an entire audience and Melody, staring at me wondering what my next move might be, I bent down on one knee.

  The crowd went nuts, and the host finally chimed in, “Is this happening? Is this …? This is happening.”

  “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?” I pulled a ring box out of my pocket and opened it to her. I had gone to the jewelry market that morning and bought a stunning ring. She’d probably say it was too big and too much, but I didn’t care; no piece of jewelry would ever truly reflect her beauty or my love for her.

  She didn’t move. Nothing, she stood there with tears pooling at the corners of her eyes and barely breathed.

  Chapter 26

  Melody

  It was too soon, too dramatic, and too right. Sage was on stage in front of thousands of people proposing marriage. I couldn’t move. I wanted to say “yes” and throw my arms around him, but I didn’t say anything. I just stood there staring for an eternity.

  “Melody?” Sage was finally able to get me to wake up. “It’s okay if you don’t want to.” His voice was confident and strong, but the crowd yelled, “Just do it!”

  Why wouldn’t I say, yes? We were very much the same; passionate, creative, alive. Why not? I had never loved a ma
n more than I loved Sage.

  It was crazy, downright crazy … but I took his hand and helped him up off his knee and said, “Yes, I will marry you.”

  “She said yes! Oh my God, I thought for a minute … well, we all weren’t sure what she was going to say. Congratulations to Melody and Sage!” the host announced.

  The room seemed to spin with noise and confusion. The lightness in my head made it hard to concentrate. Sage picked up his guitar and approached the mic again.

  “Whew, so glad she said yes,” he joked. “Melody actually wrote both of the songs we just sang. We realized we couldn’t compete against each other, so we hope you enjoyed our mash-up of her two beautiful songs. I would say, though, there is a winner today even though Melody and I are no longer competing. I’m the happiest man alive right now … that’s a win for me. I’m going to get to spend the rest of my life with this woman.” The crowd went insane for that sentiment. “I have one more song to play for you. This is a song I wrote while Mel was sleeping, and it’s one last gift I want to give her today. I hope you don’t mind.” He looked over to me, and all I could do was smile some big ol’ goofy grin.

  He wrote me a song! He played a few chords then sang the most beautiful ballad about being wild and needing to be tamed, professing his love. Emotions filled me; I felt unbalanced and just wanted his arms around me. I’d never felt so adored. The audience loved the song, holding lit lighters and cell phones aloft and swaying with his simple heartfelt guitar and voice. My cheeks were glistening with tears … no other moment in my life would equal this one. He’d done all this for me.

  When he finished the song, I got the hug I needed so badly and that was it, the rest of the night was pretty much a whirl of motion. All I wanted to do was go home, but we had to wait for the other contestants to play and stay for the judging as there was a farewell where we all had to come out on stage and bow. Already Twitter, Facebook, Instagram were blowing up with the news of Sage’s proposal with positive words for the songs we sang.

 

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