Page 75 of Melody

“The tour.”

“Has anything changed?” He’d already shared the details—the time they’d be gone, what venues they’d be playing, the hotels they’d booked, how much they expected to earn, how much merchandise they had ready to sell… Intent to Murder had been invited by Impending Cataclysm, a hard rock band that had been playing at Tequilaville long before Melody had come along, and now they wanted to share their sound along Colorado’s Front Range with a huge focus on the Denver area. She knew all of that, so what else could he possibly need to tell her?

“I know you said you couldn’t come on tour with us because you need to work…but I can’t stand the thought of being away from you all that time.”

“I know, baby,” she said, brushing his bangs off his eyebrows. “But we’ll talk every night—and you’ll be having so much fun—”

“Yeah, but that led me to thinking about a bunch of other stuff. Like…I can’t live my life without you anymore. And I don’t want to. You’re like water to me…like sunshine and air and…” He let out a long breath, shaking his head. “There’s a reason why Hayley writes our lyrics. This shit’s hard for me.”

“Are you—”

Setting her down on her feet, he placed a finger over her lips. “I’m trying to say I want you to be with me forever. Maybe if you moved in with me, you wouldn’t have to worry as much about bills. But I want more. Moving in with me isn’t good enough.”

She felt a shiver dart down her spine as the tiny hairs inside her ears perked up. “Wait.”

“I want to marry you, Melody. I know it might seem sudden, but it didn’t take me long to know that you are the right woman for me and I love you more than life itself. And when you know, why wait?”

More tears began falling from her eyes, but she was speechless—maybe because she’d been feeling the same way about him.

“We don’t have to get married right now—or even this year or next year. I just want you to know my intentions.”

Finally, the words came to her tongue. “Yes, Kyle. Of course, I’ll marry you. I finally realized that you are a good man and the best man I could ever wish for. I love you too.”

They kissed, their lips saying through motion what their words hadn’t quite been able to capture. When they stopped, Kyle said, “I don’t have a ring for you yet.”

Melody glanced over her shoulder at the painting on the table, still partially covered in torn wrapping paper. “I think I know why. And after my last experience with an engagement ring, I’m okay waiting.”

The grin on his face reminded her how much she loved every inch of him. “Maybe we could pick out a ring after the tour.”

“Yeah.”

“But on that subject—”

“Yes. I’ll move in with you—and I would love to come on tour with you. I’ll ask Al for those two weeks off. And if he can’t give it to me…then I’ll find something else later.”

“I’m so glad we see eye to eye on everything.”

Melody moved her hands to the front of his jeans, unbuckling them. “Not for long.”

Kyle’s blue eyes grew wide. “Goddamn. I love it when you’re naughty. Actually, I love you no matter what.”

Melody kissed him hard again, lost in the emotion. But then she slid down to her knees, ready to give him yet another present.

That year flew by.Melody moved in and, because she hardly had any possessions, she didn’t seem to take up too much morespace in the bedroom—and, because she was organized, even her things in the shared bathroom didn’t make a huge difference.

The belongings she’d had in storage in Pueblo she’d decided to leave for now—but they were going to be bringing all of that stuff to Charlotte before spring.

Every morning, she put on her makeup in their bedroom and, when Kyle was awake, he’d lie there watching her, marveling at how much everything had changed. Her presence in the house he shared with his friends had made it more of a home. Instead of three single guys not giving a shit, the addition of her as a roommate kicked them into gear: no more dishes piled in the sink, no more layers of dust on shelves.

And she’d been right—this wasn’t some crappy apartment. They had a decent landlord who took good care of the property, and caring for the house showed their appreciation.

She’d left Tequilaville after a busy summer making good money—and working legitimately, using her real name and getting paid a wage in addition to tips. But because Maria visited the house frequently, she and Melody had talked a lot about college, and Melody had been inspired to take a few classes. When she’d talked to an enrollment counselor, she discovered she had to declare a major if she wanted to receive financial aid.

So she’d chosen to pursue radiologic technology, because they’d told her she could earn six figures a year when she finished. And Marv, the owner of The Apothecary, hired her as a fill-in at the bar when he needed someone to cover a shift here and there. It wasn’t too surprising when it turned outheas a worker was the one who needed a shift covered here and there and not his hired help.

The spring tour had been more than they could have anticipated—not only had they made a little money, but they’d sold all their merchandise. They were also selling digital copies of their music even now. The coming spring ImpendingCataclysm had invited them again, this time for a month-long tour in Colorado and a few places in Texas. Something told Kyle they were on the verge of breaking big. He’d even found the confidence to finally write a little music himself.

But the best part…in early November, Kyle had convinced Melody to get married without a huge ceremony. He was still paying for the engagement ring but it was time. So they’d bought the marriage license and spent a day in Castle Rock celebrating after getting married in the Douglas County Courthouse by a judge. She’d worn a simple ivory dress and had never looked more beautiful. Kyle had gone to the thrift store and bought a plain dark gray suit for the occasion.

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