Chapter 39
brODIE
If I had to smile one more time and pose for another picture, I was gonna scream.
Thirty minutes in, I was good.
An hour in, my social mask began to falter.
Not to mention, my boyfriend had all but disappeared to the outskirts of the gallery, and his vanishing act made me crankier by the second.
Maybe coming here tonight was a bad idea.
Maybe I was a bad idea.
Would Van really want to put up with this shit for the rest of his life? Me, I was used to the attention.
Mostly.
I thought that Jojo’s event would be small and quiet, and a way for Van to ease into the public mayhem. But so far, it had been anything but.
I appreciated the fans, I did, but sometimes I wanted a night off.
Like tonight.
Or at least, I wanted Van beside me. I wanted to talk to him and feel him next to me—my little bit of normal.
Something that belonged only to me.
And then the evening took another nosedive.
A man I once fucked was suddenly standing right in front of me.
This cannot be happening right now…
“Remember me? The concert two years ago? It’s Shawn.”
The handsome brunet man yelled out to me and held open his arms like we were long-lost lovers reuniting in a rom-com.
Did I remember him? Oh yeah, I did.
Not because he or the sex was memorable but because the guy had full-on begged for a return visit, and loudly. Screaming, in fact. All while I tried to get him out of my trailer, with security finally dragging him away.
It was the guy Van had overheard, the one who’d pleaded for another dicking down.
So now my current boyfriend and one of my former fucks were in the same room. Well, I guess it was bound to happen at some point, given I’d been a randy fuckboy.
I looked over and saw Van scowling at me. He downed his glass of champagne and then turned and got lost in the crowd.
Did Van recognize the guy? It was a long time ago, so I doubted it. And who cared anyway? It was in the past.
Van was my present and my future.
Was he leaving? He wouldn’t leave, would he?
Then again, if one of Van’s former fuck buddies showed up and I was in the room, I’d be less than thrilled.
Okay, I’d make a fucking scene, no doubt. But that’s me.
Van was levelheaded. And he wouldn’t just run off. Not over something that had nothing to do with us.
“Hey! I’m talking to you!”
I blinked and stared at Shawn, and shook my head. I palmed my phone and texted Regan: SOS.
I was done being polite for the evening.
“I have to go,” I stated and then I walked off while Shawn kept screaming my name.
A hush fell over the room, and everyone turned to stare. Christ.
Then I spotted Dawson and Regan moving toward him.
Suddenly, Jojo appeared in front of me. I grabbed his arm and pulled him aside.
“Can you do me a favor? Help Regan get rid of that guy, the psycho one yelling my name,” I motioned over my shoulder.
“Shawn?”
“You know him?”
“I invited him. He’s one of my lesser-known artists. Talented but squirrely as fuck.”
I shook my head. “Well, he and I fucked years ago. He was annoyingly clingy afterward.”
“Go back to my office, around the bar, and to your left. I’ll text you when he’s gone.”
“Thanks, Jo. Sorry about this.”
“No worries. I can’t tell you how many fights I’ve had to break up in this place. Artists’ lives are as dramatic as their creations.”
“Have you seen Van?”
“He went to use the washroom,” Jojo gave me a knowing smirk. “He’s so far gone over you, Dee.”
That thought warmed my belly and made me giddy. “Did he tell you that?”
“He did. And even if he’d said nothing, I would know. He has that same lovesick look on his face that you do.”
“I love him, Jo. Like crazy kind of love—"
“Brodie! Come back!” Shawn yelled out behind me. I turned to find Regan and Dawson dragging him to the exit.
“Not that kind of crazy.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m outta here.”
I slid around Jojo and walked to the back of the room, around the bar, and down the hallway to the left.
A moment to myself was desperately needed.
I opened the door to Jojo’s office and slid inside the room, the dark silence welcoming.
But I wasn’t alone.
A familiar scent teased my nose.
And then I was pulled into Van’s embrace, the door slamming shut, my back hitting it soon after.
Van’s kiss was demanding, relentless. His tongue was aggressive, sucking on mine, leaving me breathless and boneless.
He was staking his claim and I fucking loved it.
“Let’s get out of here,” Van suggested, teasing my neck with playful bites.
“Let me text Regan. We may have to wait a bit; she’s busy dealing with a security situation.”
“Your obsessed fuck buddy?”
“You recognized him?”
“His begging and screaming for seconds was pretty memorable,” Van growled.
I reached for his face, rolling my thumbs over the roughness of his scruff and the softness of his lips.
“It probably won’t be the last time. And I’m not going to apologize for my past. None of them meant anything more than release.”
“I know that. It’s just… I feel so damn possessive when it comes to you. Like, ridiculous kind of possessive. And at the same time, I worry you’ll wake up one day and change your mind about me. About us.”
“Are you fucking serious?”
“Mon coeur, you’re young and gorgeous and talented and smart and so fucking amazing. You enter a room, and everyone gravitates toward you. You could have—”
I placed my hand over his mouth. “You’re my everything, Van.
And I’m going to keep telling you that until you believe it.
You’re the only one I want. The person I love more than anything.
My partner in love, in music, in every way that counts.
Honey, you need to see what’s right in front of you.
Cause I sure as fuck see nothing but you.
Even when I’m surrounded by other people, I look for you.
I feel strange when you’re not by my side. Like a piece of me is missing.”
Van pulled me in tight, and I notched my head under his chin.
“I love you too, so much it scares me sometimes,” Van confessed. “I guess the media nonsense got in my head. There’s already rumours about our breakup.”
“The only voices that count belong to you and me.”
“I know.” He kissed the top of my head. “Let’s get back to the party.”
“I thought you wanted to leave?”
“We should stay. You need time to catch up with Jojo.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
I reluctantly stepped back and checked my phone. “Regan got rid of that guy. We’re all set.”
I took Van’s hand, and we headed back to the party, cautiously.
Everything seemed normal.
Jojo was standing by the bar and waved when he saw us. “It’s safe now.”
“Sorry about all this.”
Jojo shook his head. “They got rid of Shawn quickly, and everything’s fine.”
“I hope this doesn’t cause issues for you.”
Jojo waved me off. “He’s one of many temperamental artists I work with. I’ll deal with him another day. You’re my friend, so you come first.”
I leaned over and hugged him.
The bartender poured glasses of champagne, and I grabbed two, passing one to Van. I took a sip and glanced around the room. Thankfully, people were giving us some space.
“So, when’s the wedding?” Jojo asked.
Champagne spewed out of Van’s mouth like a geyser, and Jojo leaped back before he got sprayed. I choked and snorted bubbles up my nose.
“What are you talking about?” I asked when I finally managed to clear my throat.
“You mean you aren’t getting married?” Jojo asked with wide eyes. “It’s the talk of the party. Apparently, there’s some article that says you two are engaged.”
“Jo, that’s tabloid talk.” I rolled my eyes. “One day they say we’re breaking up and the next, we’re getting married. Please tell me you don’t believe everything you read.”
Van was noticeably silent beside me.
“I’m not that na?ve. And I swear, one of my guests said the article was legit.”
“Well, it’s not true,” I responded, even though the thought of calling Van my husband had my blood racing hot and fast.
“Not yet,” Van stated.
I nearly dropped my glass.
“Will I get an invite to the real thing?” Jojo asked with a smile.
I couldn’t breathe.
“Depends on what Brodie wants. What do you think, mon coeur? Personally, I like the idea of eloping and then, maybe a week later, having a big party for family and friends.”
Was Van asking me to marry him for real? Or was I high? Was there something in this champagne?
Jojo chuckled. “I think you broke Brodie’s ability to speak.”
“Not an easy task,” Van replied and squeezed my waist. I could only stare at him, still in shock.
“Jo!” someone called out.
It was Bianca, Jojo’s assistant. “Sorry to interrupt, but Charles Signer has a question about the Lander piece, and I need your help.”
“Of course, I’ll be right back.” Jojo nodded and headed off into the crowd.
I turned to Van.
“Were you joking just now or—”
“About marrying you? No.”
“You… want to marry me?”
“Yes.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
“Is it crazy to say I want to marry you too?”
Van shook his head and chuckled. Then he drew me in even closer, and I could smell the fruity champagne on his breath.
“Surreal, but not crazy. Leaving this party right now to fly off to Vegas and get married? That would be crazy.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, my heart began to pound furiously.
We stared at each other, locked in place.
The people, the chatter, the noise around us, it all faded away.
There was just me and Van and the unmistakable proof of our love.
Hand in hand, we bolted for the door.