Chapter 41
CHAPTER
FORTY-ONE
Rory
“Where are we going?” I ask for the millionth time, wiggling in the passenger seat of Mascen’s car.
He told me to dress up, which meant I had to go shopping. Mascen offered to buy me whatever dress I wanted for tonight, but I refused. Just because he has more money than me doesn’t mean I want him to constantly use it on me.
The fitted deep purple and red sequined dress cost more than I would normally spend on any kind of garment, but I figured for New Year’s Eve I’d make an exception. I paired it with heels—God I hope I don’t take a tumble and die—as well as a long black coat I borrowed from Kenna when I texted her about my dilemma. It felt weird being back in the dorm to get it after all this time at Mascen’s place. Knowing classes will start back up next week is bittersweet.
“A place,” he answers, reaching to adjust the volume on the radio.
“A place,” I repeat. “That really gives me a lot of information.”
We’ve been in the car nearly thirty minutes heading in the direction of Nashville but that's all I know.
"It’ll be worth it.” After a pause he adds, “Hopefully.”
“And if it’s not?” I’m sure whatever he has planned will be fine, but I’m still curious about what he’ll say.
“Then we’ll leave.”
“Just like that?”
“Yep.” He looks over at me briefly. “I don’t want to stay somewhere you’re unhappy.”
I swear my heart does a somersault.
Twenty minutes later he exits off the highway, driving through downtown Nashville.
He parks in one of the various parking garages and once we’re on the street he takes my hand leading me to one of the older more beautiful buildings. There’s a clock inlaid into the top of it surrounded by copper tiling.
“What is this?” I ask him, slightly embarrassed by the giddy quality in my voice.
“I’m not sure if you like country music all that much, but I thought you’d enjoy a concert.”
I stare at him in shock as we enter the building and he passes over two tickets to a guy. He nods and reaches for a set of doors waving us through.
I can hear the music already as we run down a hall, my laughter echoing off the concrete walls.
“We’re a little late,” he says, pulling me along. I struggle to keep up in my heels. “But our seats are excellent.”
“Have you been here before?” I ask, since he seems to know exactly where he’s going.
He looks at me like I’m insane. “My dad’s in a band, I’ve been to a lot of different venues.”
“Right, I always forget that.”
He chuckles as we reach a curtain and he pulls it aside. “That’s one of the things I like most about you.”
We head down a set of stairs, the music growing to a deafening level.
The dark tunnel we’re in starts to brighten and suddenly things open up and we’re right beside the stage to the right.
“Mascen!” I gasp, my hand flying up to my mouth. “Holy crap.”
“You like this surprise?” He wraps his arms around me from behind and I grab onto them, swaying with him.
“I love it.” My eyes are wide, taking everything in. “I’ve never been to a concert before.”
“Another first,” he murmurs in my ear, kissing my cheek.
“What do you mean?”
“Bed sex, now the concert. Two firsts of yours that I get to experience with you.”
I tilt my head back smiling up at him. “How about that?”
I take in the artist on stage, humming along to the music as Mascen and I sway back and forth.
I was skeptical but this might be the best surprise ever.
After the concert Mascen had plans to take me to a fancy dinner to countdown the new year, but I told him I’d rather go to a diner for fries and a milkshake.
“You really wanted this over a five-star meal?”
I dunk a fry into ketchup. “This is a five star meal to me.”
“You’re a strange breed, Princess.” I shrug, sipping my chocolate shake. He narrows his eyes on the cup in my hand. “You better not throw ice cream at me today.” He picks up his shake and winks, tipping the Styrofoam cup in my direction.
“Me? Never.”
Across the room the countdown to midnight plays on the TV.
Mascen bites into his cheeseburger, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “You know, I have to agree with you, this is better than what I had planned.”
“Nothing beats hometown diner food.” Picking up a fry, I twirl it between my fingers. “Do you ever make New Year’s resolutions?”
He shakes his head. “Fuck no. There’s nothing I purposely want to change about myself, we all grow and change anyway, and anything I want to accomplish I don’t need a new year to help me do it.”
“Hmm,” I hum. “I never thought about it that way.”
“Do you make resolutions then?”
“I never have, but I just never gave it much thought. If you were going to make one what would it be?”
He thinks for a moment, truly pondering his answer. “I guess to be more conscious of the things I say and how they can affect people. Your turn.”
This time I have to take a minute to think through my answer. “To forgive my mom,” I whisper so softly I’m surprised he can hear me, but I know he does from the widening of his eyes. “For me, not her. I guess that’s not what a resolution is supposed to be, but…” I trail off, not sure what else to say.
Mascen stares across the table at me, his normally sharp eyes suddenly soft. “I don’t think there are any rules when it comes to a resolution, Princess.”
On the TV the countdown begins, the chants of the seconds being echoed by other patrons in the diner.
Lifting my shake, I say, “To moving on.”
“To moving on,” he echoes, smacking our cups together.
In the same moment we lean across the table just as the clock strikes midnight, sealing the vow, and starting the year with a kiss.