Page 77 of Revive

She puts her hand over mine, while softly shaking her head. “It’s not that. I just wanted it to be you and me.”

“Fair enough.” I look around, and take in people are only sitting and there’s like piano music in the background “Where’s the singing?”

“It starts when they begin serving dinner.”

“Oh. When can we order?”

“Friday nights are set menus only,” she says quickly, hoping I won’t pull her up on it.

“Emmmmmmm,” I groan.

“Shut up. It’s only you and me, and you can eat extra if you need to.”

Surprised by how busy this hole in the wall is, I’m looking forward to everyone singing badly in public.

The waitress appears out of thin air with our entrees and the portions have me a little less miffed that I have to share with Em.

The lights dim a little bit further, when this cute pixie looking lady, bursts out onto the stage, ready to officiate the night. Her energy is contagious and I find myself feeling a little giddy at what’s to come.

“Okay, ladies and gentleman, before we get into the messy, drunk, and off key part of the evening. I have someone who has put in a special request, for a very special person.”

The crowd cheers, and my stomach unexpectedly erupts into flutters. I look over at Em, and her face says it all. She leans over the table. Kissing me on the cheek and whispering in my ear. “Be happy. Love you.”

My eyes stay fixated ahead, as the spotlight shines on the centre of the stage, and out comes my one and my only; Hendrix Michaels. Brown mussed up hair, a navy blue t-shirt, paired with dirty, dark denim jeans and Chucks, he looks as perfect as I remember. He looks out into the crowd, seeking me out. When he finds me, he tips his head to the lady, giving her the go ahead.

The familiar music starts, and I have to bury my head in my hands to control my emotions. He jumps off the stage, gunning for me, as Phil Collins’Groovy Kind of Loveplays throughout the whole place. It’s everything. Tragically cheesy, and so fucking perfect.

The wait for him to reach me becomes too much. I kick off my heels, hike my dress up, and run. Tears streaming down my face, with every step. Getting closer, he holds out his arms and I throw myself into the only place I belong.

Securing me tightly, I cry the happiest tears of my life, all over his shoulder. The song ends, when I feel his hand shoot up and circle in the air.

Setting me on my feet, I see the relief and unshed tears in his eyes, as the song starts up again. Cradling my neck he brings me to him, close enough that even air would struggle to get in between.

I feel his hot breath spread like wildfire all over my body, as he says my favourite line. “Sing for me, Crazy.”

27

Taylah

Iwake up still floating on cloud nine. I look over at Hendrix, who looks so good in my bed, I could cry. Again.

Reaching for my phone, I pull up the message I got from an unknown number, and write back.

Me: I will

Epilogue

Hendrix

Two Years Later

Picking up the keys from the real estate agent, I rush home, to give Taylah and the girls their final surprise.

After months of searching we finally found our dream home; one big enough for Aubrey, Abigail and everyone else who comes in and out of our lives.

It’s been two years since I walked back into Taylah’s life, and I have no regrets. Actually, I have one, that we didn’t meet sooner, so I would have more years with her, because this lifetime and the next will never be enough.

From then on our relationship hit the ground running and we still haven’t stopped. It took three months for me to sell my place and move in with her. She argued we should move into my place because it was bigger, but I told her I wasn’t ready to give up her drawing to strangers.

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