by Paige, Tylor
“But what I really came here today for was to apologize to someone else. So Cleo, I have waited way too long to say this. Please don’t leave me hanging. I hate this. I’m crazy about you.”
Suddenly the group behind them started moving, as if getting into position. He gulped, pursed his lips and took a deep breath. Then, someone pushed through the group of queens and grabbed the mic from him. My eyes almost fell out of my head. It was Chelsea Sometimes.
“Cleopatra, darling. What Ethan here is not telling you, is that he paid for all of us to fly here. He made deals with his bandmates to get them to dance for you. It’s always been you. All those songs. I’ve listened to his albums. They were all about you. Good or bad. I swear if you break his heart one more time, we are all coming for you!” She waved her finger and the song grew louder. The crowd laughed and cheered for Chelsea. Ethan was beet red. He laughed too, shaking his head as she gave the mic back.
The moment he started singing I couldn’t hold back a laugh. It was Sin with Sebastian’s ‘Shut up’. The song he sang at the drag show. I cupped my hands over my face and peeked at him through my fingers. He was putting everything into this performance. He walked around the stage just like that night. Everyone was his backup. I saw that he was looking for me. He hadn’t spotted me yet. My heart was racing.
He picked the perfect song. Ethan and I were special. Regular words and phrases weren’t right. This was our secret, special song. The lyrics were so inappropriate for this setting, but it was the perfect choice. It wouldn’t make sense to anyone but us. I watched him from my spot, stunned. Dita and Renee nudged and pushed me towards the aisles. The crowd was going crazy.
I started towards the stage slowly, almost in a daze. I was confused yet so excited. What was happening? I caught my best friends before I was helped onto the stage. Each one gave me a quick kiss before I climbed up. Mark, Derek, and finally Adrian. I paused when I reached him. He smiled at me, eyes wet with happiness. I could only imagine how bad I looked. He wiped my cheeks before leaning in to whisper in my ear.
“Go get your picket fence.” I kissed him one more time and thanked him for everything. I climbed up on stage quickly before I broke down again.
The twins wanted back up, so I helped them too. We went over to Ethan who had stopped singing. The dancers slowed to watch us. Music continued to play as Ethan reached out for Dallas.
“Dallas my boy, can you help me out?” He asked. I smiled at Ethan in confusion. He just winked and wiped sweat from his face. Dallas looked at him blankly, but Jimmy nudged her brother.
“He wants his box back Dallas!” She yelled. I frowned but my little boy’s face lit up. He produced a little black box out of his tiny coat pocket. “Open it Dallas!” She demanded, and he struggled but finally got it. Opening it he revealed a beautiful diamond ring. He tried to give it to Ethan but he laughed and shook his head.
“No son, that’s for Mommy. What do you say babe? Marry me, babe?” He asked me, leaning down on one knee. He wasn’t even looking at the crowd or his friends anymore. It was just me, him, and our beautiful children. I cupped my hands to my mouth, covering my surprise. Was this really happening? I nodded and immediately began crying again. He was amazing.
Ethan leapt up to embrace me. He had his head in my neck. He pulled away and placed a huge kiss on my lips. The room erupted in cheers. I had almost forgotten about them. I waved to the crowd. Ethan laughed at me as he kissed me again.
“I love you Cleo. I’m sorry for being cold. But somewhere along the way I realized if I didn’t do it right I’d miss you again,” he said into my ear. We kissed again.
I moved to glance back at my friends who were beaming and clapping with the rest of the crowd. Turning back to Ethan I saw he was talking to the twins. He stood back up and I moved to whisper something of my own in his ear. He stood up straighter and his eyes grew big. He turned to look at me face to face.
“Really?” He mouthed, and I nodded. He started to laugh and snatched the mic again.
“Well good thing I finally asked because we’ve got baby number three on its way!” He shouted into the microphone.
I looked at my friends who were shocked but still smiling. Adrian was the only one not surprised. He knew before I did. Our eyes met and I couldn’t stop smiling as he rolled his eyes slowly. He was trying so hard not to smile, but soon enough it broke free. I loved him so much. I couldn’t do it without him, without any of my guys.
Ethan rubbed my stomach, bringing me back to him. I laughed as he kissed my neck one more time. Turning to face away from the crowd I took his head in my hands so for just a moment it was just me and him.
“You are crazy.”
He grinned sheepishly. “I know.” He pressed his forehead to mine.
“Can we not fuck it up this time?” He grinned, giving me one final, long, swooping kiss. I looked into those baby blues and nodded.
“I am not missing you again.”
* * *
Turn the page for a sneak peek of book two,
Promising You, Promising Me
Promising You, Promising Me
Prologue
She was beautiful. I stood up at the altar and watched as she walked slowly down the aisle.
Dressed in white, her lacy gown flowed out around her. It trailed behind her slowly, swaying back and forth as she walked. Her lace veil covered her face, but that didn’t stop my heart from racing. She was stunning.
Her father held her close as they took small steps to reach the stairs. He was in his 70’s now, but he still flew to California to be here. As they finally reached the altar they paused, turning to each other. With tears overflowing his old eyes, he lifted her veil, planting a light kiss on her cheek.
He whispered in her ear, “Te amo, Cleo,” before moving to sit down next to her mother. I was almost sure that was the first time he had used her new name. Her real name. She turned to face the stairs and my breathing stopped. She was stunning. Absolutely gorgeous. I had never seen anyone as beautiful as she was right now.
With one hand holding a bouquet of red roses, she lifted her dress with the other to step up. Our eyes met once she got to the top. I smiled at her and she pressed her lips together tightly. I could tell she was moments away from a complete breakdown. So was I. I lifted my hand to take hers, briefly squeezing it. I winked at her, to let her know that she could do this. I knew she understood.
With one last look she turned around and I watched with a forced smile as she married Ethan Andrews.
* * *
For a further sneak peak turn the page for chapter one of Promising You, Promising Me.
Promising You, Promising Me
Sneak Peek of book 2
Chapter One
The Fourth Drink Instinct
* * *
I’m sound asleep in my bunk and all of a sudden I'm jolted awake by someone slapping me across the face with a pillow!” I started my story for the hundredth time. Everyone loved hearing it. It was the most interesting thing to happen to me recently. It was all over the internet.
“I jump up and look around, but its dark and I’m still half drunk from the night before. I get hit again and she starts screaming. She’s all like “you’re a bastard, you cheated on me. How could you?” And I'm beyond confused. I look around and there is this chick I had been dating for maybe a month if that.” I waved my arms around emphatically. All eyes were glued to me.
“I leap out of the bunk and book it out of there. I'm in my boxers trying to cover my balls while she’s following behind me throwing anything she can reach. I jump out of the bus, and just run. I don’t know where we’re at or who I cheated on her with, but I was too tipsy to think straight.” Everyone around erupted in laughter. I paused to take a drink of my champagne.
“That’s the picture everyone's been seeing then?” Sam, a guy working with Ethan at his Charity house asked me. I nodded, chuckling.
“Yep, that’s the one. Me in my skivvies being hit in the b
ack of the head with a giant book. Girl was a fast runner and had good aim.” I shook my head, remembering that night. She was a great rebound after Dita and I broke up, but there was nothing there but sex. Apparently, she thought otherwise.
“When she finally stopped hitting me I was able to ask her who exactly I cheated on her with and she tells me it’s Derek.” I finish my story, letting everyone laugh at my expense. It was all good. I found it hilarious. I’m just glad I was wearing clean underwear.
Derek happened to pass right at the climax of my story. He stopped and rolled his eyes at my cluster of friends. “We kissed a few times on stage. Just kissing. It’s not like we were blowing each other on the bus or anything. Chick was nuts,” he said, making them laugh harder. I finished my drink, and before I could add more to the story I was being pulled away.
Turning, I saw Mark, one of my best friends and our bands drummer. He was dressed in a black suit with a red rose boutonniere, just like Derek and I. Cleo had made us her bride’s men. She didn’t really have many options. Renee was there sure, but she had the kids. I’m sure she would have asked Dita if that hadn’t ended with as big a blow up as it did. Somehow I didn’t find it as funny being cheated on as I did cheating. It was months ago, but I still never found out who the guy was. He was one lucky guy, she was a catch.
I looked at Mark expectantly, waiting for him to speak. “What’s up?” I asked him.
He brushed his inky hair back, “Cleo wants to take a few more pictures before the sitter takes the kids home. They’re getting antsy,” he said. We grabbed Derek, our bassist, and went towards the cake where the happy couple stood.
We were a crazy line up. Ethan’s bandmates made up his wedding party, so it was seven men and Cleo. Cleo originally tried to make us all walk down the aisle together but that was where we drew the line. We all loved our girl, but sometimes it was good to say no.
Once the wedding party was all together Renee, Mark’s wife, ran up with the twins, Dallas and Jimmy. She put them in front of their parents. Behind Renee came a taller, more demure woman. She was dressed in a classy blue cocktail dress, and her black hair was styled up. Coming forward, everyone made room as she walked, carrying a tiny little blue bundle in her arms.
My eyes jetted back to Ethan and Cleo. Cleo was watching Charlotte, her new mother in law, waiting for her to bring their new baby boy to her. Ethan, I noticed, clutched his wife closer. He was looking down at her with such love in his eyes. Jealousy flashed over me, but it passed an instant later.
I guess I always kind of thought it would be me marrying Cleo. In some absurd scenario where I didn’t break her heart and she wasn’t head over heels with Ethan. I couldn’t be too upset over it though. They were way more in love than Cleo and I ever were. They were meant for each other.
Charlotte placed the baby in his mother’s arms and the photographer started moving quickly, trying to get those perfect shots. Once they had all that they needed of me and the guys, we stepped aside and let him get pictures of just the family. They looked so perfect.
Despite Cleo being Latino like myself, all three of her children looked just like Ethan. Instead of her dark hair, chocolate eyes, and slightly tanned skin, all three of their children were pale, with the darkest black hair, and the bluest eyes you ever saw. I still never understood how Chris never figured it out. Seeing Ethan standing with them, it was obvious he was their father.
The photographer finally announced they were done and Cleo looked towards Renee to take the twins. She hurried forward and took each kid by the hand, while Mark himself took the sleeping infant out of Cleo’s hands. Renee turned and promised they’d be back as soon as the kids were settled in with the sitter.
Renee adored them. I remembered when we first were considering touring again. She had surprised us all by stepping up and offering to be the twin’s nanny. It was perfect, we had someone we could trust and still travel. She loved it. Mark had told me that she was considering doing it full time.
It was great because now Cleo could focus on both the band and the kids. Those years with her in Michigan sucked. Mark, Derek, and I didn’t do shit. We had to take on side gigs while we waited. Well, hoped and prayed it was only waiting. There were times when we didn’t think she was coming back to the band.
After the photos came cake and then the first dance. I was asked to dance with a girl I didn’t know. Her name was Lexi, and she was a cousin of one of the groomsmen. I was polite, and accepted, but my mind was elsewhere. When I spun her around I caught sight of the newlyweds. Ethan glanced up and we caught eyes for a split second. He smiled gratefully, and I just nodded. This was getting annoying.
As soon as he could get away, Ethan stepped over to me to thank me one last time. “Adrian, I just wanted to tell you…” I put up my hand to stop him. This was nothing I hadn’t heard before.
“Look, Ethan, it’s cool. You two were meant for each other. Stop thanking me,” I sighed. He frowned, furrowing his brow. He had been thanking me for the last year for helping him reconnect with her. I got the message after the first month or so, he was very grateful,
“Well, I owe you one. I’m serious. You name it, whenever, whatever.” He turned his head to look back at his new wife, his eyes were filled with adoration. “It’s still hard to believe. Look at me, I’m a family man now!” We laughed and I patted his shoulder.
“I’ll hold on to that favor for now, but go have fun. Enjoy it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find someone to spend your wedding night with,” I winked, and turned towards the open bar.
I ordered an old-fashioned, and scanned the room. There were lots of familiar faces. Most of them were music artists like us The ones I didn’t recognize were usually their spouses. Other than Cleo and Ethan’s kids staying for pictures, it was an adult only reception. The bartender handed me my drink and I sipped to that. I loved her kids, don’t get me wrong, but if I never went to another Murphy’s party ever again it would be too soon. Speaking of Murphy, I spotted Paul in the crowd. The man behind the sweater.
I tipped the bartender and sauntered over to him. He was carrying on a conversation with a group of musicians. I recognized them but couldn’t remember their band name. Something with lizards, I thought. They welcomed me in and we discussed some of the newest trends in the music industry.
“Have you guys started working on new music?” Jeff, their drummer asked me directly. I shook my head.
“No, we just got off our extended tour right before Cleo had the baby. We all need a break.” Everyone nodded in understanding.
“Yeah, I was shocked you guys kept touring for as long as you did. She was huge!” He exclaimed. I agreed with him fully. She was a trooper, I’d give her that.
“We went back and forth with it forever. We all wanted to cut it short, but she insisted she could still perform. We had chairs and plenty of water for her. She pulled it off. Her last trimester was some of our biggest shows we’ve ever performed. Of course, having Ol’ Blue Eyes at every one probably helped,” I smirked.
Ethan threw a fit when he found out Cleo wanted to keep touring until the baby came. He had stayed behind to help Renee and work on his charity. When she told him, they had a screaming match over the phone and Cleo actually hung up on him. I thought it was funny at the time until he showed up at the show the next night.
His arms were crossed over his chest and he glared at her from across the room. For a split moment I thought it was going to be a Chris situation again. He says jump and she jumps, but he surprised us all.
“If you insist on doing this, we’re coming along. I’m not missing you having this baby,” he told her. Then he revealed he had rented a small bus and driver for him and the kids. We finished the tour as one giant family.
“It was impressive regardless. She’s a bad-ass. Ethan landed a good one.” Looking around, I found her wrapped in his arms on the dance floor.
“Yeah, yeah he did,” I said, just as Mark and Derek showed up to pull me
away.
“You ready?” Mark asked, his breathing heavy. I gave him a questioning look, but he waved his hand. “I just got back, I know I’m a little late. My bad.” I followed them towards the band they had hired for the reception. The singer looked down at us and smiled. We had given him a fat tip to help us out tonight.
“Ladies and Gentlemen. If you would turn your attention to the stage for a moment,” he said as the three of us climbed onto the stage. The band stepped aside to let us take their places. “The bride’s men have a gift for the happy couple.” He finished his introduction just as I put the guitar over my shoulder. He placed the microphone on its stand and stepped off the stage, letting me take the center.
I searched the crowd for them. They had stopped dancing. Ethan looked curious, and Cleo was trying to look angry, but her smile was showing. She hated when we kept secrets from her. Her first husband had really done some lasting damage.
I gulped and leaned into the microphone. “Hello everyone. Are we having a good night? I won’t bore you all with some sappy speech about how much we love our girl. One of them can later,” I pointed back towards Derek and Mark. The crowd chuckled. “Anyways, a few weeks ago we realized that we needed to give them a gift. Since none of us really have any sort of skills other than music, we decided to take the easy way out on this one,” I paused for light laughter. Cleo’s face softened. “No, but we actually had to rehearse quite a bit for this. Ol’ Blue Eyes ain’t the only one who can serenade,” I said, looking at Ethan and then Cleo, winking. I tilted my head towards the guys and they began playing the song we picked. I started playing my guitar and leaned into the microphone to croon ‘I wish you love’.