Chapter Ten

 

A couple weeks later

“This is what has you looking so sad and down in the dumps?” Tammy asked.

Wynter stared across the table at her best friend. They were in the coffee shop in town, and she was struggling with what Zane had asked her.

No, she wasn’t struggling at all.

She wanted to go with him, more than anything.

“I’ve not been down in the dumps.”

“You’ve not been your usual chirpy self.”

She’d not seen Zane in a couple of days as he and the guys were finalizing the deal of signing with a company for their music. They’d been in some studio in the city organizing a demo, and a rush had been put on it. The title of the track was called “Princess.” Zane had played it to her, and she knew it would be a hit for the guys.

“I’m fine.”

Tammy sighed. “Don’t you want him to be successful?”

“I do.”

“Look, honey, I don’t know what the problem is here. I’ve said this before. You’ve never been so happy before in your life, and I know it’s because of Zane. He doesn’t want to leave you behind but he wants you to be part of his life, and I don’t know which part of that you’re struggling with.”

“He’s not said that he loves me,” she said, biting her lip and feeling the guilt.

“Have you told him you love him?” Tammy asked.

She shook her head. “I don’t know what to say. I want to just blurt it out, but then I start to panic. What if he doesn’t feel the same way, and this was only supposed to be some fun?” She rubbed her eyes, and groaned. “Ugh! I can’t handle this.”

Tammy giggled. “You think you’re the only woman on the planet that has been in this position?”

“No, of course I don’t. I just don’t know what to do, and everything is moving so fast. He’ll have tour dates and other dates, and I’m worried. What if he doesn’t love me, and he just wants me to come along for a bit of convenience?”

“I’ve seen the way he looks at you. You’re not that, Wynter.”

She ran fingers through her hair.

She’d not even put it up for her coffee date with Tammy. They’d only been able to say a few words in passing over the phone, and she didn’t have anyone else to talk to.

“Have your parents been to see you?” Tammy asked.

“No. Why?”

“They stopped by the house last night. They asked some questions about you and Zane.”

Wynter sighed. “What did you tell them?”

“Marshall told them if they wanted any information on their daughter, they were to go and ask. He doesn’t play with gossip, Wynter.”

She leaned her head back, looking up at the ceiling.

“If they came around, you know they wouldn’t like Zane.”

“I don’t care what they like, Tammy. I’ve spent way too long caring about what they like.” She rubbed the side that had her ink, and she smiled. This was her life now, not theirs. She hadn’t once missed her parents, and it probably made her sound like a bitch, but she didn’t care.

Zane was part of her life, and there was no way that she’d give him up. She loved him more than anything else in the world.

Her nerves were getting to her. The feelings she had for Zane were not little or insignificant. They were everything.

Tammy chuckled. “You know you could just tell him. Just go up to him and say, ‘Zane, I love you.’”

“Can we just do that? I thought it was supposed to be something special. A dinner? A declaration?”

Tammy took hold of her hand. “Just relax. Be yourself, and let the words flow from you. Tell Zane how you really feel. What it means to you. If you don’t, you could lose him.”

They finished off their coffee, and on the way out of the shop she picked up a chocolate chip muffin for Zane. She knew they were his favorite. She’d walked all the way to the coffee shop, so she began the walk back to her home.

Zane was due back later today, and she wanted to tell him how she felt.

It was important to her for him to know that she’d fallen in love with him. She’d tried to put her finger on when exactly she’d fallen for him, and each time, she came back to that first night when he was at her front door.

He’d looked cocky, and so confident and sure of himself. She’d been at her limit, and still he didn’t lose his temper but he got his house under control, bringing the party to a close.

Glancing around the neighborhood, she felt happier. Regardless of what Zane said to her, or how he felt, she knew this was what she wanted.

She wanted Zane.

She loved him.

Making her way toward the end of her street, she came to a stop when she saw her parents, along with Carey, standing in her driveway. She spotted Zane in her doorway and from the noise along with the neighbors being nosy, she knew she’d missed something. Rushing across the street, she walked straight past Carey and moved in front of her parents to stand by Zane’s side.

She was surprised to see them on her doorstep trying to cause a scene.

“Who is this man?” her father asked.

“What is he doing inside your house?” her mother asked, staring down at him.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Wynter asked.

“Watch your language, Wynter. We taught you better than that.”

Just like that, Wynter felt the sting of her mother’s words, and she realized after seeing them right now, why she hadn’t missed them at all. She didn’t want the constant insults about her language, or the way she looked, or how she should perfect herself.

Not once since she moved had she thought about them, or cared what they were doing, what they were getting up to.

Her life had been perfect.

With Zane.

“Now, I knew my parents leaving you some money would be ridiculous, and look what you’re doing. Allowing strangers into your home,” her mother said.

“He’s my boyfriend,” she said, making both of her parents pause.

“Don’t be so stupid, Wynter. You’ve been dating Carey.”

The man in question stood at the back, looking bored.

“No, I can’t stand Carey, no offense. I don’t want him.” She moved toward Zane, who wrapped his arms around her. The moment he touched her, everything in her world felt … complete. “I love him.”

She stared into his eyes, and she saw that she’d surprised him.

“I’ve been wanting to tell you.”

He pushed some hair that had fallen off her face, and she realized how much she loved it when he did that to her.

“I love you, too.”

“This is just plain stupidity. I will not have a daughter of mine dating this … this ruffian.”

She smiled. “There’s nothing you can do, and he’s not a ruffian. He’s a rock star. I’d be careful, Mother. You wouldn’t want all my neighbors to know what a fucking bitch you are.”

With that, she took Zane’s hand, walked back into her house, and shut the door.

He pulled her into his arms, kissing her head, and she held him tightly, never wanting to let him go.

“I can’t believe I just swore at my mother.”

“I can’t believe you love me.”

Just like that, her focus went back onto Zane. “I’ve been wanting to tell you for some time now. I was so worried.” Then she realized he’d said the same thing back to her, but insecurities hit her hard. “I understand if you don’t—”

He silenced her with his lips, pressing her up against the wall, holding her hands above her head as he ravished her mouth.

She opened her lips, and he plundered inside her.

Zane released her hands and sank his fingers into her hair, tilting her head back, and she lowered her arms to grip his hair.

“I love you,” Zane said. “You’re my reason for everything.” He pulled away, and she stared into his eyes once again. “You’re my muse. My inspiration. I’ve never known a woman like you, and I don’t want to ever find anyone else.”

Tears filled her eyes, and she stared at the man she loved, and for some strange reason she thought about their homes. “Do you think it’s real?”

“What?”

“The crazy idea that our homes bring people together.”

“That all depends,” he said.

“On what?”

He went down on one knee and held up a velvet box. “Only if you say yes to my next question.”

Her heart pounded, and she didn’t have a clue what to do. He opened up the box, and inside rested a small diamond ring.

“Wynter Princess Griffin, would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“You know my name,” she said.

“Of course I know your name. I just prefer Princess a lot more.” He held the box up and chuckled. “You’re really making a man wait here.”

“Yes. A gazillion times yes.”

He took the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. Kissing him back, she cupped his face, and knew this was where she was meant to be in the world.

“I want to come with you. When you’re on tour. I don’t want to miss a moment.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything else in my life. I know what I want, and I know it’s you,” she said. “I’ll be happy listening to you, and watching you guys. I know your friends don’t really approve of me.”

“Fuck ’em.”

“What?”

“My friends will come to adore you, but it’ll be me that will love you until the end of time.” He pressed his lips against hers, and she moaned.

This was exactly what she wanted, and she knew without a doubt she’d never look back.