“Get your pink ass here, Jills,” Perry recited as she typed out the text.
“Just leave her be, Perry,” Stephen said, leaning back in his chair. “She’ll get here when she gets here.”
Perry sighed and looked at me. “Maybe you should text her. She might listen to you better. I think she’s pissed off at me for making her wear a certain dress tonight.”
I took a long draw from my bottle, giving the room another look. I hadn’t been there in years, but not much had changed. The place had a perpetual purple haze vibe that never dissipated.
“I’d give it a little more time,” I said, setting my beer on top of my knee. “She might still be getting ready, or maybe she’s with Daniel. And you know Jillian—you’re not making her do anything. If she does something, it’s because she chooses to.”
“Yeah, she’s a stubborn ass, all right. Good thing she loves me so much.” Perry smiled wide, then batted around the straw sticking out of whatever drink was in front of her. The shape of the glass reminded me of a cello, and the color matched Jillian’s eyes.
Stu gave me a quick wave from the stage as he was setting up. Jillian still had time; they hadn’t even started the first set yet. My hand went to my pocket, as it tended to do many times a day now that I carried the ring along with me. I didn’t keep it in the box but a small cloth bag. I was nervous as hell always keeping it on me, but I wanted to be ready when that right moment struck. Planning out the proposal beforehand wasn’t foolproof, as evidenced by our night on the rock. Our rock. Fucking ex-husband.
Perry slapped my arm, gaining my attention. “I heard you had a little run-in with Mike the other night. Any bloodshed?”
Jillian swore that Perry could read minds sometimes, and I tended to believe her. “Nah, it was cool.”
I’d almost wanted him to start something on the drive home, but he’d been exceptionally quiet. I hadn’t known the full story about Candace at the time, so I’d let it be. Yeah, I was royally pissed; if it weren’t for the interruption, I’d be officially calling my girlfriend my fiancée by now, but he hadn’t known what I’d planned. I tried to keep that in the back of my mind while my fist was begging for a workout.
“Knowing her ex, that surprises me.”
Stephen pushed away from the table. “Going up to the bar. Need anything?”
“I’m good, thanks.” I’d get the next one when Jillian arrived.
“Ooh… surprise me,” Perry said, and Stephen leaned over and kissed her before taking off. “So, what were you thinking offering him a ride home? I can’t imagine you’d want to be stuck in the car alone with that douchebag.”
“Better me than Jillian.”
“Yeah, I get it.” She winked. “Jealousy can make us do some crazy shit.”
“Not so much jealousy as protectiveness.”
She leaned forward, her arms splaying over the table. Her glass was sucked dry, and she was entering tipsy mode. “Jills told me all about your night before the dickwad got involved. You make her happy, Chase.”
“Just returning the favor.” I laughed then. “You really do tell each other everything, don’t you?” I was still coming to terms with that, but I knew if something was truly private I could trust Jillian to keep it between us if I asked her to.
“Yep, pretty much. Although….” She raised an eyebrow. “She never told me why you asked to meet her there.”
“For dinner.”
“Uh-huh. And then?”
“And then we were going to enjoy each other’s company under the stars.”
“Uh-huh.”
I was finishing off my beer when she pounded the table so hard it banged against my legs, almost making me choke.
“Holy fuck! Does Jillian know?”
“Don’t you dare mess with me, Chase.” She pointed a finger at me. “Under the stars? Holy fuck!”
“What’re you yelling about?” Stephen returned, placing something oblong and orange in front of her. “Oh hey, I think Jillian might be here.”
“What do you mean might?” Perry asked, never taking her eyes off me.
He shrugged. “I caught a glimpse of someone going down the hall towards the bathrooms. It could’ve been her, but her back was to me. But she was blonde and wearing pink.”
“Ooh, yay. Hopefully, she wore the right dress and not the one reserved for the party. Was it a fitted pencil dress with a V-back?”
He just stared at her. “How the fuck should I know, Perry? It was fucking pink.”
She rolled her eyes. “Men. No offense, Chase.”
“I’ll be back,” I said, rapping the table. “Just going to say hi to the guys while they’re setting up. I’ll keep watch for Jillian.”
“Wait.” Perry tried grabbing my wrist as I moved past her. “Don’t think we’re finished here.”
“No idea what you’re talking about.” She narrowed her eyes before releasing her grip. I chuckled and walked off.
I came around to the side of the stage. Last time I was with the group, I was up there playing with them. Except for Drew.
He saw me and walked over, Breedlove strapped over his shoulder. “Hey, man. Good to see you.” He reached out his hand, and I shook it.
“Yeah, you too. Nice,” I said, referring to the acoustic. “Buddy of mine had one of those, said it played like a dream. How’s the family?”
“Couldn’t be better. Can’t believe Elle’s almost one already. Shit, it’s crazy.” He shook his head, then pulled the guitar off and lowered it to me. “Go ahead. Bend a few. I owe you one.”
“Just glad it all worked out.” I’d filled in for him the previous summer when his wife went into labor. Had the fucking time of my life and… “Actually, I’m the one who owes you big. And your wife.” I sat at the edge and strummed; it pulled sharp.
“Not following.”
“I met my woman that night. I’ll introduce you later.” I handed the guitar back over. “I think it’s sticking a bit.”
“Yeah, I need to get the lube. All right, man. I’ll talk to you after the show. Looking forward to meeting her.”
I nodded and he was off, sidling up next to Cleo. I glanced around for Jillian and came face-to-face with Perry. “Looking forward to meeting who, Chase? Hmm?” She wore a dopey smile like she was up to something. “Your fiancée?”
Fuck. I took my eyes off hers and made sure Jillian was nowhere in sight. Yeah, I liked Perry, but she had a big fucking mouth sometimes.
“That wasn’t her before, so don’t worry. She finally stopped ignoring me and responded to my text. Said she’d be here in about twenty minutes. We have time.”
Fuck it. I waved her off to the corner. “You already admitted that you confide in each other about everything, so—”
Her lids popped wide. “Oh my God, Chase. No, I’d never,” she said, knowing what I was about to say. “I would never ever ever tell her. Jills knew Stephen was going to propose and kept that a secret. She didn’t want to ruin it for me, and I’ve been wanting to get back at her for that ever since. This is perfect.”
“I’m not sure I even understand that, Perry.”
“It just means I won’t tell her. I swear.” She crossed her fingers over her heart. Her eyes lifted up to the ceiling. “Holy shit, I’m so sorry. I’m the dickwad here. I can’t believe I interrupted your night over her stupid fucking ex. I should’ve known it was nothing important.”
“You couldn’t have known that. Don’t worry about it. There’ll be another opportunity.”
Perry grabbed both my arms and hopped up and down, then gave me a crushing hug. “I know! You could do it tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“There’s a bunch of sand still on the floor.”
“So?”
“So, you can pretend you’re on a romantic beach somewhere.”
I laughed. “No, I’ll figure something else out.”
“Are you going to let me see the ring?”
“When it’s on her finger.”
“Come on, Chase. Pleeeeease.”
“No.”
She didn’t know that I had it on me, but then again, she probably did somehow.
“I’m her best friend.”
“And Jillian’s my future wife. I want her to be the first one to see it.”
“Hmph.” She was wearing down, but I knew she wasn’t giving up yet. “You didn’t even buy it from my store. I would’ve helped you picked something out.”
“I think I did pretty well on my own, and it’s not a new purchase. I’ve had it for a while now.”
“What’s a while?”
“A while.”
She scrunched up her face when the mic screeched through the room. Then she sighed and tilted her head back against the wall. “I knew it, Chase. Ever since New Year’s, I had a feeling. Fuck, it’s been four months. Why’d you wait so long? You know she’s gonna say yes.”
“Daniel.”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “Can I ask you something a little personal?”
“If I say no, aren’t you going to anyway?”
Perry smacked me on the arm and laughed. “You’re going to make a perfect best friend’s husband.” She drummed her lips. “Actually, you’ll be my brother-in-law too. But getting back to it…. Speaking of Daniel, are you going to want kids of your own someday?”
I flinched, a bit taken aback. I wasn’t expecting that question at all. I would’ve thought something more along the lines of wedding night lingerie or honeymoon sex positions.
“Sorry if my question bothered you.”
I let out a long breath and stuck my hands in my pockets, fingering the curve of the metal, the hardness of the stone. “Yeah, I’d love to have kids.” It wasn’t even a topic I’d covered with Jillian yet, but not from lack of trying, and I wasn’t convinced it was one I should be having with Perry.
“If Jills doesn’t feel the same, would you still want to marry her?”
It was a question I’d asked myself before. It didn’t take a whole lot of deep soul searching to come up with the answer. As much as I wanted children, it wouldn’t hold the same meaning without Jillian in my life. She was everything to me, and I couldn’t give up an absolute for a possibility.
I looked her dead-on. “Yes. I would.”
She stared back, squaring me off before I noticed the smile, her face softening. “I know, Chase. I just wanted to hear you say it to be sure.” She rested her hand on my shoulder. “If there was ever a couple meant to spend their life together…”
“What’re you guys doing over here?” Stephen had come up beside us, and I wondered what had taken him so long.
“… besides us, of course,” Perry finished, wrapping her arms around him.
“What?”
Perry flicked me a look, and I nodded. Shit, if she already knew, then Stephen was nothing. I didn’t have to worry about him slipping up and saying anything to Jillian. But that was it. I didn’t want anyone else knowing until that rock was securely on her finger.
She squealed, bouncing up and down, her serious side slipping away as she jostled Stephen around.
“Hey, watch it now.” He held up his beer so she didn’t spill it. “What’s going on?”
“Ours isn’t going to be the only upcoming wedding in the family.” Perry grinned up at him.
Stephen tilted his head, looking at me. “What’s that now?”
I opened my mouth, but Perry beat me to it. “Chase is going to ask your sister to marry him. He has the ring and everything, but he won’t show it to me. And it’s also a secret, so you can’t say anything yet. You can’t even pretend like you don’t know anything because she’ll pick up on that. So, no acting strange. Even though it’s exciting. You have to act like you really don’t know, so pretend like I never told you, except don’t pretend too hard or else—”
“Perry, stop. You’re too hyped up to make sense. Let me hear Chase talk.”
“What Perry said.” She stuck her tongue out at Stephen. “Minus the crazy.” She stuck her tongue out at me. “I’m going to ask Jillian to marry me. You’re the only two who know, and until she has the ring, I’d prefer to keep it that way.”
His eyes bored into me, and I tried to get a feel for what was going through his head. He and I had become close over these past months and I considered him a good friend, but something like this could change the game completely.
After what felt like far too long, he stuck out his hand. “Congratulations, man.”
I smiled, shaking his hand. “Thank you.”
Perry pushed him forward, and I stumbled back as he crashed into me. “What the fuck, Perry?” he said.
“What’s with the handshaking crap? Give your new brother-in-law a hug. He’s family now.”
“He hasn’t even proposed yet.”
“So what? You know how your sister feels. It’s basically a done deal and—oh, shit. That’s her. Just act natural, everyone.”
I glanced towards the door to a bolt of pink. Holy fuck, she basically glowed. She stood out like a beacon for every fucker in the place. Yeah, I already wasn’t liking the dress so much.
I quickly moved towards her while Stephen and Perry went back to the table. As soon as she saw me, her face lit up just as much. Damn, I’d never get used to that.
“Hi, baby.” I snaked my arm around her waist. The material was tight against her curves. It was almost as if she wore nothing. I had the feeling I’d be kicking someone’s ass before the night ended.
“Hi, Chase. I’m sorry I’m so late.”
Her lips tasted like strawberries. “Just glad you’re here now. They haven’t started yet, having issues with the sound system.”
I guided her over to our table. “What the hell’s all this sand on the ground?”
“They had a Reggae party last night and didn’t sweep up so well.”
Perry jumped up as we approached. “Oh my God, Jills. You look smokin’ hot.”
“No, I look like a giant Skittle.”
“Then you should feel right at home here as part of the rainbow.”
I thought for a second that she was going to flip her off.
“Geez, kidding. You look anything but round in that dress.”
“How about a Starburst, then? Is that better?”
“Um, you’re not square either, Jills.”
Jillian made a frustrated noise and plopped down on the chair. I dragged it closer to me. “Who cares about the shape, Perry? Or how many other psychedelic colors are around this place. I look like a frickin’ piece of candy.”
“Hmm… somebody’s undies are bundled tight. If it was going to upset you that much, you didn’t have to wear the dress. I just wanted to get pictures, you know, as part of my prenuptial memory shit. Besides, it’s fun to dress you up and make you pop sometimes. It’s not like you don’t have the body for it.”
Jillian crossed her legs, the hem riding up to midthigh. It may have been tight as fuck, but at least when standing it went to her knees.
“I’m sorry, Perry.” She leaned her head back on my chest, and I either wanted to tug her dress down or take her home and rip it off. “It shouldn’t be that big of a deal, but I’m making it into one. I’m just not myself right now. So let me apologize in advance for all the times I’ll probably get bitchy tonight.” She slid her hand into mine and squeezed it. “That goes for all of you.”
“Like I can’t handle a little bitchiness, Jills. Please. Don’t even worry about it. So, is that what took you so long to get here—you felt self-conscious leaving the house?” Perry asked.
“No, I had to get Daniel. I sent you a text telling you.”
“Hmm.” She ran her finger down her phone. “I didn’t get it.”
“Well, he called and asked me to pick him up. Get this—from Cassie’s. Because he didn’t have his car and didn’t know when she’d be home.” She tilted her head to look at me. “From that work meeting you were at earlier. Doesn’t that sound strange?”
“Hmm,” Perry said, and I really hoped they weren’t planning to play another round of ‘Faces of Death: Cassie Edition.’
“She stayed there afterwards to work on the play that’s coming up in a couple weeks. There’s a lot to get done for that,” I said, pulling the hair away from Jillian’s neck, loving the way she shivered at my touch. “Let’s not do this tonight, okay?”
“Yeah, Chase is probably right,” Perry said. “Um, we need to keep things positive here.” As if that weren’t suspicious enough, she added, “There are much happier things to focus on right now, like that great guy next to you.”
If Jillian thought Perry’s lack of trash-talking and scheming over anything Cassie-related was unusual, she didn’t acknowledge it. Which just proved how out of it she really was.
“Yeah, I know,” Jillian said. “I’m trying, but Daniel was acting all different today too. And not a good different. I really think Cassie’s starting to have a bigger influence on him, and it’s so frustrating. I have no idea what I can even do about it.”
Perry reached across the table and took Jillian’s hand. “You’re already feeling crappy, and continuing to think about it will only make you worse. I’ll tell you what. I’ll do all the worrying for you tonight. I’ll be killing her off all kinds of ways in my head, so you won’t have to waste the brainpower. Deal?”
“Deal,” Jillian said softly, as if even that took effort. Man, she looked wiped out.
“Can I get you anything?” I asked.
“No, thanks. I’m good for now.”
Perry went back to cradling her glass, and Jillian relaxed further against me. I embraced her the best I could without bringing her onto my lap. Fuck it.
“Come here.” I pulled her up, and she laid those fucking gorgeous legs sideways across mine, resting her head in the crook of my neck.
“Oh, hey,” Perry said, a slight slur to her voice. “I found out Stu and Kenny got back together. I’m such a sucker for love.” She grabbed hold of Stephen’s arm. “They were meant to be. Just like us. And Jills and Chase.”
“Who’s that again?” he asked.
“God, Stephen. The singer, remember? Stu’s been my friend forever, and Kenny’s his boyfriend. There’re playing at our wedding, so you should know this stuff.”
“I’m supposed to know who his boyfriend is?”
“Yeah, because if he’s happy and getting laid regularly, he’ll play better.” Perry snapped her finger. “Jills, you awake?”
“Mmhmm. That’s wonderful news. I’m happy for them.”
I lowered my head and whispered, “Doing okay there?” She nodded slowly. Damn. I just wanted to carry her out and take her home. She was not up for this, even if she’d been looking forward to it. She loved their music, she loved going out, she loved the company. Crazy dress aside, this should’ve been a dream night for her. If she was just tired, fine, but my gut was telling me there was more to what happened with Daniel than she was letting on.
“Maybe Chase will play a song with them too,” Perry said.
“He looks a little occupied with Jillian crashed out on top of him.”
“I’m awake,” Jillian mumbled.
“No, silly. I meant at our wedding. And Jills is going to sing.”
“Only thinking about it, Perry.” Her mumbles were even softer.
“Do you miss being up on stage, Chase?” Perry asked. “You’re pretty damn good.”
“Yeah, sometimes.” I kissed the top of Jillian’s head. She was so warm against me. I hoped she wasn’t getting sick. “It’s a great time, but not something I’d want on a regular basis. I can always strum one out. I don’t need an audience for that. It means more to have a woman who loves listening to me as much as I love playing for her. That’s all I need.”
“Aww, hear that, Jills?” Perry waved her hand around. “Jills?” Perry looked at me. “Wow, she really is out cold now. And she didn’t even hear what you said.”
“She already knows.”
Perry nodded. “Please say you’ll do it soon, Chase.”
I fucking loved that she was comfortable enough to fall asleep on me. It didn’t matter that we were in a noisy, crowded bar. She knew I’d look out for her, take care of her. I’d always fucking take care of her.
I ran my thumb over the ring finger of her left hand. I wanted nothing more than to see purple shining back at me for the rest of my life.
“Soon,” I said.