Chapter 20
An hour later, we took a break and headed over to the house. When we stepped outside, I said, “They did a great job with the heating.” The temperature outside still felt below freezing and I could see my breath as it escaped my mouth.
“I’m really happy with the job they did.”
“It’s even better than I imagined,” Braden said.
“Thanks. It’s good to go. We need to start thinking about when we want to have Jeff visit so we can start using it to its full potential.”
Once inside the house, we hung up our coats on the hooks by the door—and when we entered the living room, I could see a woman’s touch.
Zack and Cy had never been slobs, but there had been visible clutter.
I’d noticed more recently that there had been some changes, and now I knew why.
Today, it was even more evident. The room looked very tidy—and there were coasters on the coffee table, doilies on the end tables, and pillows on the sofa with inspirational sayings.
Gabi sat on the floor cross-legged as she watched a YouTube video makeup tutorial, a notebook and pencil in her lap.
When she heard us enter, she hopped up, grabbing the television remote and switching it off. “Are you taking a break now?”
“Yep.”
“Okay. Give me a sec.” She darted over to Zack, got on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek, and started to leave, but he wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a soul-melting kiss.
I looked away, turning my eyes to Braden and forcing a smile that almost felt genuine.
He smiled back, obviously very pleased that his friend had found a woman he was serious about.
I needed to get into that space too.
“Get crackin’,” Zack said, and I turned to see him swat Gabi on the ass playfully. She yelped and, still carrying the notebook and pencil, hustled out of the room and headed upstairs. “You guys need to use the restroom?” Braden and I declined. “Be right back.”
Braden asked Cy, “You like livin’ here?”
“It beats the price I’d be paying somewhere else—but if our royalty checks get bigger with this next album, I’ll probably move out.”
“Yeah. Me too. I think I’ll buy us a house,” Braden said, looking at me.
The blood drained from my face as his words hit me.
If we moved in together…that meant we were serious.
But we already were, weren’t we? We’d been dating for almost two years now.
Did anyone date another person casually for that amount of time?
So I smiled again, hoping it hid the turmoil inside.
Fortunately, the rational part of my brain took over. “We could buy it together, you know.”
Braden’s eyes softened, giving his face that smitten look that appeared often. “Yeah, of course. I didn’t mean to make you feel like you’re not an equal partner here.”
So fucking sweet. “You didn’t.” And, with that, I gave him a quick peck on the lips, not wanting to make Cy feel awkward with something more.
We heard Gabi before we saw her bounding down the steps, her hands free. “Come to the kitchen, guys. I made snacks!”
She really did seem like a sweetheart, and I admitted to myself that I’d always had an over-the-top hatred of cheerleaders, and that was probably partly due to Ava.
Another part I knew had to do with how I disliked women putting themselves in positions to be ogled and objectified.
But how could I hold that against someone who’d been a teenage girl at the time, trying to figure out who she was and what she liked?
We followed her into the kitchen, Zack joining us seconds later.
On the table there were several platters full of food—mini taquitos, potato and tortilla chips in bowls, salsa, queso, and French onion dip in smaller dishes, and crackers topped with slices of pepperoni, small squares of mozzarella, and what looked like tiny fresh basil leaves.
Although I knew the taquitos were microwaved and much of what she’d prepared had come from bags and jars, she’d gone all out like a regular Martha Stewart.
She was taking care of Zack…how could I not feel some gratitude to her for that?
And then it hit me like an out-of-control semi—Gabi was probably perfect for him.
I was nothing like this girl and Zack and I had clearly been incompatible.
We’d fought all the time and…had that caused some of his drinking?
Gabi wanted nothing more than to make him happy—and, judging by the look on his face, he was.
I’d instead spent our relationship fighting for equal ground, for my needs to be met, but Gabi seemed to want exactly what Zack wanted.
She and I were exact opposites. No wonder Zack and I hadn’t worked.
That was probably the wake-up call I’d needed…and it made me completely re-evaluate my relationship with Braden. Just like Gabi was perfect for Zack, Braden was perfect for me.
Why couldn’t I just fucking accept that?
I vowed from that moment on to give it my all—because we all deserved the best.
For Braden’s birthday in March, I baked him a cake with German chocolate frosting, his favorite. Before then, though, I asked if he wanted to have a party with everyone or just an intimate dinner with me, and he chose the latter.
So I took him to Angelo’s, the place where we’d had our first official date.
Even though he drove, I insisted upon paying for the meal.
I had already wrapped a present for him, and it was sitting at my house beside the cake on the table.
My mom had at first planned to be there, but her newest boyfriend had invited her to go to Taos for the weekend, so we’d have the house all to ourselves.
The gift was big but I hoped he’d like it.
I’d bought a high-end case for his favorite bass.
We had huge “guitar vaults” that carried multiple guitars, both regular and bass, so they’d travel safely, but this particular one would be for toting back and forth to practice.
I couldn’t wait to see his face when he unwrapped it.
When we got to the restaurant, Braden excused himself to go to the bathroom almost right away—or at least that was what I’d thought he’d done. It wasn’t until we’d finished our meals when I found out what he’d actually been doing.
Our plates cleared away, the waiter asked, “Would you like any dessert?”
I told Braden, “I baked you a cake, so we better not.”
His grin was hiding something mischievous and secret—and I should have figured it out right then and there, but I was clueless. “Let’s just share a piece of tiramisu—like on our first date.”
I flashed him a smile. “Okay. It’s your birthday.” While he gave a quick nod to the waiter, I finished off the red wine in my glass. I was slightly light-headed, but Braden had only had one glass and could handle his liquor better, so I was glad he was the one who’d be at the wheel afterward.
He was still grinning widely so I asked, “What are you up to?”
His eyes practically bulged out of his face as he feigned innocence. “Nothing.”
When the waiter returned, he held one plate. Setting a small fork beside me and then one in front of Braden, he then placed the dessert on the table between us. “Enjoy,” he said—and I didn’t miss that he winked at Braden.
What the hell was going on?
I got my answer as soon as I shifted my eyes to the plate.
On top of the tiramisu was a white paper doily—and, on it, was a beautiful diamond ring, cut so that there were so many facets—and there were four tinier diamonds that followed along the band until the spot where it would touch the sides of the fingers.
It was an engagement ring.
When I looked up into Braden’s eyes, he was grinning like a little boy—and then he pushed out his chair and got down on his knee…just like I’d seen in the movies dozens of times.
I stopped breathing.
“Dani, will you marry me?”
Although my eyes were glued to him, I could sense other pairs of eyes on me. Jesus Christ…talk about pressure.
And then all those mantras I’d been chanting to myself over the past two years began cycling through my brain: he treats you right; you deserve Braden; Braden’s a good guy and you’re the luckiest girl; you do love him; he’s so good to you.
All of those things were true.
And in the back of my mind was the smallest voice: You and Zack are over. You were never really a thing anyway. Braden—he’s the real deal.
So the word flew out of my mouth without further thought. “Yes.”
As he grabbed the ring and slid it on my left hand, the entire restaurant began clapping enthusiastically.
When Braden stood, he leaned over and took my face in his hands.
“You’ve made me the happiest man on the planet.
” With that, he kissed me and I willed myself to revel in what was every girl’s fantasy—at least every girl I knew who’d read and loved Cinderella as a child.
It should have also been mine.
Two months later, the album was in the can and we were filming a video for the first single—“Sweet Love,” just as I’d predicted—and Mick was making lodging and transportation arrangements for the first leg of our new tour.
We’d never toured during the summer, so we were excited, because we wouldn’t have to take coats or bulky clothing.
But the label was talking about having us tour the world this time, because our star was burning bright—and they thought, in addition to Europe, we could get dates in Australia and South America too.
By the time we hit the road, our bandmates knew about our engagement—as did my mother.
And she was thrilled. Because she’d had what she called a “shotgun wedding” the only time she’d gotten married, she was eager to plan mine—and I was more than willing to let her.
I told myself that it was only because I had a tour to prepare for.
The single was getting a ridiculous amount of airplay as we finally got on the bus—upgraded to one with bunks and a fridge.
We were living large.