Chapter Nine…
With tears dripping down my cheeks, I nodded with a lump in my throat before the word “yes” would finally escape my trembling lips. It was obvious that he wanted me back in his life, but marriage. That shocked and elated me at the same time. Of course, I would agree to marry him—I couldn’t imagine the rest of my life being spent without him.
“Thank you,” Nate murmured against my lips before he captured my mouth with his, and we fell back onto his crumpled sheets together and became one.
I had missed the excitement of having music booming while he took my body to different levels. To be honest, I had just plain missed his body, naked, up against mine. We didn’t have to be in a heated moment, being held was enough. But somehow the way he moved slower than ever inside of me after proclaiming his love for me, felt different—it had more meaning. Each stroke, each caress, each moan that I could hear with the music so soft in the room—they were heightened with emotion. I never thought that I would come down from the heavenly clouds that rolled over and over like a lullaby all night and into the early hours when the loft space grew lighter. It was a sleepless night filled with several words exchanged.
“Are you wondering where the ring is? Most proposals require one or have them, but I thought twice about buying you one. I’d like to tattoo a ring on my finger and I thought I’d ask you if you wanted to do the same. I noticed that you never wear rings on your fingers with all of the costume jewelry I’ve seen you wear.”
I wasn’t a fan of rings—I’m not sure why. I never got into the whole fashion craze of big cocktail rings. But several bracelets, bangles, necklaces, chokers—I loved them—even hats. My other accessory vice was for handbags, totes, and backpacks—that’s where I spent the most money. All of my fashion preferences were easy to figure out by looking in my walk-in closet. Obviously Nate had paid attention to my fashion sense in regards to my apparel and accessorizing.
Looking down at my fingers entwined with his, I moved them apart and held up our left hands together facing us. “I think I’d like that too. Can I design my ring and you create it?” Before he answered, I quickly asked how bad it would hurt to have my finger tattooed—I knew some areas were more sensitive than others where tattooing was concerned. “It might determine how intricate I want my ring to be.”
“I will not lie to you, according to pain charts, hands are in the red zone—red being the highest pain area. We can take it slow and I’ll even let you inflict pain on me—you can do mine.”
“No way! You can do mine, but I will just watch you get yours from the guy that usually does them for…” I sucked in my lip before getting up the courage to push our conversation further. “Do your tattoos have meaning to them…stories?”
“They’re all about music. Geometric patterns that flow into what people call tribal symbols. I started with them on my upper right arm and continued down to my wrist. I liked the look and did my other arm to match with a few variations. Reversing the ink, the pattern is boxed in and I continued that onto my left pec. Finally, I had my right pec done with the same right arm pattern. The path of stars from the left side of my back, round my side, and down my abs mark the accomplishments I’ve made in the music field.”
As he spoke about each one, I found that my fingertips roamed along his skin. I’d never been with a man with so much ink on him. I’d never been attracted to it either, but on Nate it is so sexy. Somehow it makes his arms and pecs appear more muscular and the stars so close to his ripples and v-cut down to his groin area—so hot!
As the sun started breaking through the windows, I saw that there were boxes everywhere—a sign that things were really moving forward in more ways than one. Next I would need to pack up my stuff. “When are you shipping things?”
“It all goes tomorrow. I was going to follow it but when things went wrong and I lost… we lost so much time together, I thought I would rent a hotel room for as long as it took to get you back if you didn’t melt into me. Thank God you did… but now…”
“Now you can stay with me until I get my things together. Do you have room for me? Do I need to keep things here?”
“Here? As in your loft?” He looked confused, squinting his icy blue eyes and wrinkling his brow at me lying next to him.
“I own my loft.” I bit my lip, sucking it in. “We both like this area… I thought maybe we should keep it for vacation purposes or to get away from the freezing weather… I remember it well.” My last words I uttered without really thinking.
“I love the idea. I thought you were leasing like I was.”
That answer brought more questions to the front and I bravely asked him why he was in San Diego in the first place. I knew he went to see several bands and solo artists several nights a week—most of the time I stayed behind waiting for him to return. I never asked why or who. I knew after our one run-in with the groupie situation that I had nothing to worry about and besides, he usually rushed back home to me, right into my bed or his where I was ready for his full attention.
“What have you been doing in this area… I mean why did you come here?” I was quick to ask my question first because it seemed like the wheels were turning in his head and I wasn’t certain what I was going to tell him about my life back in Chicago.
Come to find out, most of the people he went to see performed his songs or wanted to have him write songs for them. He had even helped a few of them get gigs in the area since he had leased a loft for the summer months. Another plus for him was being able to attend several free outdoor concerts and acts in clubs in different parts of the whole southern region. He had done the same thing last year in downtown Los Angeles.
“I take it you’ve been to Chicago. You mentioned knowing the cold weather.”
It was my turn to let him in since we were going to commit to each other. And so I told him that I had been born in his hometown, as well, and partially raised there when I wasn’t out on the road traveling with my parents who are in the music business. I left it at that, figuring we had plenty of time to discuss our childhoods and upbringings.
He didn’t push except when it came to us. “Let’s stop off in Vegas on the way to Chicago. There’s a show I want to catch and I thought we could get married in a little chapel. I already bought two tickets.”
Wow! I was blown away with his words. I had said yes, but I hadn’t thought that it would happen so soon. “So I guess you’re not asking, but telling.” I tilted my head and looked at him smiling at me.
“I’ll help you pack.” He bit his lip, something I had never seen him do, and then released it spouting a newsflash, “Our flight departs in three days.”
For some reason it didn’t freak me out and over the next two days, like he said, Nate and I packed up my things and had them shipped to his place in Chicago—I prayed he had plenty of room for my stuff. Mainly clothing since we left behind everything but my favorite guitar and laptop, regarding big items. Then with two overnight bags—mine a new Singer Summerfield thanks to the Cafélicious girls—we boarded a plane that touched down in Las Vegas sixty-five minutes later.
A bit nervous looking up at the hotel marquee as the cab pulled up to valet for us to unload and check in, I slipped out and walked with my head down. Safely checked in, up to our room we went to my relief. It quickly dissipated as Nate told me to get something fancy on so we could head out. Were we already rushing to the altar or out to the show he wanted to see? Either way, I stepped out of my jeans, pulled off my tank top and slipped a plain red mini dress over my head that had a flirty, frilly ruffled bottom and the same detail on the three-quarter length sleeves. Black platform pumps completed my outfit and the look on Nate’s face was priceless. “Wow, Evie! You’re so beautiful… and you have your green eyes.” I hadn’t put my contacts in that morning, but he hadn’t noticed until he was close enough to kiss my lips painted to match my dress.
I guess I did appear a bit different from my usual couture. Summer by the ocean calls for something a bit more casual. This was my dress-up-be-a-grown-up look. And I had to say that I, too, have my jaw dropping as he stood before me in dark slacks and a steel blue dress shirt that made his eyes stand out even more. Then with his sleeves rolled up showing a hint of his musical tats, I had to fan myself. He looked incredibly sexy and both of us made comments about maybe staying in the room, foregoing a night out. But in the end, Nate pulled me gently out the door, down the elevator, and to the first bar we found in the lobby.
Sitting on a bar stool at the crowded bar with Nate standing next to me, I sipped a B-Train-to-Georgia cocktail while Nate had his signature beer and then my other life came crashing in.
“Evangeline!? What are you doing here?” A huge man pulled me right off of my stool into strong arms that came in handy lugging heavy equipment.
“Hey Trevor!” I exclaimed and then begged him to set me down, after swinging me around, before he showed the whole world my red lacy panties.
Setting me on my feet, he asked me a question that had me tensing. “You here, Doll, to see your parents’ show? I didn’t see your name on their list.”
“We…” That was when it hit me that I had not introduced Nate nor even looked to see if he was still near me or in shock. Turning, I reached for Nate and pulled him closer to me. “We just came into town and we’re going to some show that he wants to see.” At that point, I introduced them to each other with titles.
“Nonsense! You have to see your parents’ show. I’ll get you backstage passes and prime seats. They’re going to be beyond thrilled to see you. Damn, Evangeline-doll, it’s been too long. Love the new hair color. You look good as a brunette, but I miss your blonde hair. Now! Stay right there! Grab another drink… they’re going to flip…”
Before I could say a word, he disappeared amongst the wall of people drinking, walking, and, of course, gambling. Not sure what to do, I did the only thing I could do, and faced the music—pun intended. “Do you mind if we go see Raine Winters and Lonnie Shore perform tonight… I know you wanted to see a band but…”
“You are the Evangeline? Raine Winters and Lonnie Shore’s biggest… most well-know… hit song? Your parents… they are your parents?
Sucking in my lip, I stopped remembering I was wearing lipstick, and answered quietly, “That’s me. Is that a deal breaker?”
“Hell no! I love you, Evie and I’m marrying you tonight.” Nate took me into his arms.
“Marrying my little baby girl?” My mother’s distinct voice was behind us.
Released from Nate’s warm embrace, I shouted, “Mama!” and I threw my arms around her. It had been too long and I felt a tear run down my face.
“You and you’re country twang. How did two rockers get a country girl?” Another familiar voice was close to my ear and I turned right into his arms.
“Daddy!” I was sure I was making a scene, thank goodness they had bodyguards with them to keep people from swarming them even with their semi-disguises in place. My mother was like me or I was like her, wearing a bright colored wig and beanie while my father wore a Peruvian beanie complete with a big pom-pom and dark sunglasses.
Pulling back, I looked to see Nate standing back a ways, taking in the whole scene unfolding in the casino lounge and I grabbed a hold of his hand and led him a few steps, right up to my parents. He immediately held out his hand to my father, “Nate Jensen.” And then as he put his hand toward my mother he finished his next sentence with her arms enveloping him into a big hug, “Nice to meet the both of you.”
I saw my father rubbing his goatee with his head tilted, “Nate-the-Great?” Nate nodded, hesitantly. “I knew you looked familiar. I saw your name on the list tonight. Our baby girl is your plus-one, a-fucking-mazing!”
“You know him… You know Nate,” I questioned hesitantly, wondering what I was missing. He obviously didn’t know that they were my parents. He was taking me to see them? Things were getting weirder by the minute.
My mother lunged at my question. “Of course we know him. We also know how great he is… Award-winning-great. We’d like to work with him. Now it will be easier to get a hold of him… our future son-in-law.”
“Are you kidding?!” Nate sounded tongue-tied. I had never heard him fumble his words, but then again, I had seen most people forget how to speak when in the presence of my parents. I guess he wasn’t any different I realized as he was finally able to get through a complete sentence. “It would be an honor to write for you guys.”
Then another piece in our puzzle fell into place. Another secret that was between us. “Wait! You didn’t tell me that you have won awards!”
He smirked at me in a way that always got to me. “Is it a deal breaker?”
“Definitely not.” I threw myself into his arms. Revealing our backgrounds was turning out better than I had anticipated.