Chapter Fifteen
RYAN
One Month Later
The guys and I have been in the studio all morning laying down a new track Danger’s been writing.
It’s a great new sound, but now we have a meeting with Oliver, so we’re taking a break and heading to the boardroom.
We all file in one by one, chatting away boisterously as usual.
The hairs on my arms spring to attention as I enter the room, and I smile, knowing that’s a surefire sign that Tillie’s already in here.
I turn to see her sitting at the table and look at her beautiful face. She is so ridiculously gorgeous it makes my chest hurt. But as I sit down at the table, I force myself to look away from her and toward Oliver, wondering what this meeting is all about.
“So, you’re all probably wondering why I called you guys down here.
It’s simple… I’m letting you know that with your steadily increasing success since being on Unfiltered Tonight and the release of two songs after that, the last being yesterday…
“Avalanche” has shot to number one in seven countries, including the USA. ”
My eyes open wide as I look over at Danger, whose eyes are just as wide as mine.
We’ve made it to number two.
But never number one.
Especially not in seven countries simultaneously.
“Holy fucking shit!” Nate calls out.
Danger and I cheer while Matt and Nate hug it out. I bounce in my seat as sheer jubilation runs right through me.
Number one.
Number one.
NUMBER ONE!
Fuck yeah!
I look at Tillie and grin so wide, knowing that without her, we wouldn’t be here in this spot right now. She nods and bites down on her bottom lip like she’s trying hard not to bounce out of her seat and jump around the room with us.
“So what now?” Danger asks.
“I’m thinking a small tour of the USA to keep up the hype,” Oliver announces.
“Jesus Christ, this is happening.” Nate beams.
“It sure is, guys. This, plus when Zaria can fit us in, will only shoot you higher,” Oliver informs.
“So when do we leave?” Matt asks.
“It will only be a short, three-week tour, and you will leave as soon as I can organize everything… your own jet, and book the venues and security.”
“This is fucking awesome, Oliver. Thank you. And thank you, Tillie. We couldn’t have done this without you,” I say.
She smiles and nods.
“Yeah, Tillie, you’re the best,” Danger agrees.
“Yeah, we love you, Till,” Matt says.
“You’re… okay,” Nate digs, and everyone groans while Tillie chuckles and Nate grins.
“Well, I love you guys, too. Thanks for keeping me on,” she says.
To think in the beginning, I tried everything in my power to make her leave. I’m so glad she’s stronger than I gave her credit for.
“It’s pretty much dinner time, so I think we need to stop work for the day. Let’s order in some food and celebrate tonight,” Oliver instructs, and we all clap and cheer.
Danger pulls out his cell and orders our favorite pizza from Joe’s down the road, and I stand, heading to the roof where we always eat when here.
Everyone follows suit, but when I reach the hall, I stop and find Tillie.
The others chat and laugh as they step around us and make their way to the fire escape.
“Hey,” I say, reaching out for her hand.
She links her fingers with mine and presses her side against me as we walk. “I’m so freaking proud of you guys,” she says with a beaming smile that lights up her face like fucking sunshine.
“We might have written and performed the songs, but you put them out there and publicized them. Without that, we’d be nowhere.”
She shakes her head. “Ry, I just get it to the right people, but if the music wasn’t amazing, the people wouldn’t react. You guys are the heroes in this story.”
“If this is a story, does that make you the princess?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes and giggles. “Only if you can be the handsome prince?”
“I’m more the ogre under the bridge type.”
She scoffs. “Pfft, keep telling yourself that, mister. But I don’t believe it for a second.”
We head up the stairs toward the roof, where everyone is already congregating. It’s nice when we’re all together like this. We’re our own little family, and I love them.
“I’m gonna get some drinks. I’ll be right back,” Tillie says, and I nod as she heads off toward Lunar.
Taking a look around, I spot Danger standing on his own, looking a little pale and sweating.
Seeing as it’s autumn, a gentle breeze is wafting around, and the sun is pretty much close to setting in its pinks and oranges.
I can’t see how he could be hot. Maybe he’s getting sick?
Pursing my lips, I stroll over and slap his back.
He jumps like he was a million miles away, and the sudden impact scared the shit out of him.
“Fuck, Ry, scare a man half to death, why don’t you?” Danger states as he breathes heavily.
Raising my eyebrow, he swipes his forearm over his brow to wipe away the sweat.
“You okay, dude? You look… sick? Your throat okay?” I ask, slightly concerned that his throat might be acting up again. After him having surgery on his nodes, there is always a chance they could return someday.
He scrunches his eyebrows together and shakes his head slightly. “What? My throat? Shit, no.”
Slightly tensing, I watch his jittery movements and strange behavior. I have no idea what has him on edge, but it’s starting to freak me out. “What’s up with you?” I blurt out.
He takes a deep breath and nods. “There’s just something I gotta do.
” He turns, walking away from me, and I spin, watching him march toward Tillie and Lunar, who are handing out flutes of champagne.
He grabs a glass, takes a long gulp, and then taps the glass with his pick.
This effectively gains everyone’s attention. It’s like he’s going to make a speech.
I glance around as we all quieten down, and I walk closer. He looks out of sorts. I think he might even be shaking. What the fuck?
“Babe, are you okay?” Lunar steps up to him, placing her hand on his arm, and suddenly, he drops to one knee, his head down, his body shaking, and his face pale white.
We all gasp as Lunar grabs his hand, and we all rush closer.
“Shit, Danger?” Lunar says, bending down and running her hand through his sweaty hair.
He slowly looks up as we gather around him in a circle, wondering if he’s passing out or having some medical situation we weren’t aware of, when he brings his hand up, and in it is a sparkling diamond ring.
He smiles, and I stand taller, backing away to give them some space as Lunar gasps, her hand rushing from his hair to her mouth in surprise.
No wonder he was sweaty and shaking.
Bastard didn’t even tell me!
“Lunar… Annalise. From the moment I first saw you, you brought me back to life. You sparked something inside me and made me realize I wasn’t truly a man until I met you. And that’s not just because you made my cock work again.”
We all laugh, remembering the story of how Danger’s cock stopped working after Ella broke his heart. How he finally got a boner the minute he saw Lunar dancing on stage at the biker bar back in Australia.
“I wish I’d told you I loved you from the moment I knew because you deserve to be told every second how much you’re loved, and I plan to tell you for the rest of your life if you’ll let me.
You’ve changed my life in every possible way, in the very best of ways.
It’s not that I can’t imagine my life without you.
It’s that I can’t have a life without you.
Annalise, you’re my world, and I want it to be your world… always. Marry me?”
I glance at Lunar to see glistening tears streaming down her flushed, rosy cheeks. She’s shaking, and her bottom lip trembles. When she places out her left hand with a smile, she sniffs. “You are my world,” she says.
I glance over at Tillie, who’s smiling so wide. She catches my eye, and something passes through me and into my stomach. Butterflies maybe? I’m not sure what it is, and my stomach twists a little. Tillie heads over to me, and I look back at Lunar and Danger.
“So, is that a yes?” Danger asks.
Lunar nods. “That’s a fucking hell yes,” she replies, making me chuckle.
That’s such a typical Lunar response as Danger slides the ring on her finger.
Then she jumps into Danger’s arms, and he grabs her dramatically, lifting her by her ass.
Lunar wraps her legs around his waist before they kiss frantically while we all laugh, watching them basically dry hump each other, followed by a round of whistling, hollering, and clapping in congratulations.
Tillie moves in next to me and leans against my side.
Warmth floods over me, a comfort of her being near me, but that feeling in my stomach returns and worsens.
I feel almost nauseous as I watch Danger and Lunar kissing.
Lunar’s hand is in the back of Danger’s hair, her ring shining brightly in the rays of the setting sun.
“You okay?” Tillie asks quietly while everyone else is still cheering around us.
Swallowing hard, I ponder that question for a moment.
Am I okay?
I’m happy Tillie is here.
I’m happy for my best friend’s engagement.
But it reminds me of when I proposed to Katie.
And that thought makes a lump catch in my throat.
“I’m okay.”
She gnaws on her bottom lip furiously but simply nods. I’m fairly certain she doesn’t believe me, but she doesn’t push, which is one more thing to add to the list of reasons why I like her so damn much.
“Pizza’s here!” Matt calls out as Oliver’s cell rings.
“You people eat, celebrate, and have fun. I have to take this and start scheduling. Once you finish your party, I should have a tour start date in mind. Enjoy yourselves.” He swipes to answer the call.
“Drew, just the guy I want to hear from. Talk to me. Let’s make this happen.
” He walks down the fire escape, and Matt brings up the umpteen boxes of pizza, placing them on the concrete between us all.