Page 128 of Now and Forever

“Tell me what you want, now and forever,” I whisper.

Eric kisses me, nods, and repeats, close to my mouth, “Now and forever.”

34

After a wonderful morning in the pool, like I promised my niece, my family has to return to Spain. It hurts to see them go, but I’m happy to have spent even a few hours with them.

“Come on, baby, smile,” says Eric, pinching my cheek when we stop at a traffic light.

“I miss them so much,” I murmur.

The light turns green, and Eric peels off. I look out the window, and, suddenly, the music is playing at top volume. Shocked, I look at my guy, and he’s singing “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC at the top of his lungs.

I can only blink.

It’s the first time I’ve seen him sing like that. I laugh, and he exaggerates his rock-star moves. Eric moves his head to the beat of the music, and, with his hand, he encourages me to sing and do the same. Amused, I start singing with him, my voice almost a scream. We look at each other and laugh. Suddenly, he parks the car. We keep singing, and when the song ends, we both laugh again.

“I’ve always liked that song,” Eric says.

“You like AC/DC?”

He turns down the volume.

“Of course. I haven’t always been so serious,” he says.

For a few minutes, he explains his rock-and-roll life as a youngster, and I listen, surprised. Look at the Iceman! But when he finishes his tale, my smile has disappeared. Eric looks at me. He knows I’m thinking about my family again. He sees the pain in my eyes over their departure.

“Get out of the car.”

“What?”

“Get out of the car,” he insists.

I know what he’s about to do. “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” by Stevie Wonder is playing on the radio. Eric turns the volume up as loud as it goes, gets out of the car, and walks toward me.

God, is he going to do it?

Is he going to dance with me in the middle of the street?

“Dance with me,” he says, standing before me with determination.

I throw myself into his arms. This makes me so happy.

“As the song says, you’re the sunshine of my life, and if I see you sad, I can’t be happy,” he whispers in my ear. “I promise, baby, we’ll go to Spain whenever you want, and your family will come to our house whenever they want, but, please, smile; if I don’t see you smile, I can’t be happy.”

His words touch my whole heart. I hug him and nod. I dance with him and enjoy this magical moment. People walk by and look at us, but I don’t care what they think, and I know Eric doesn’t either. When the song ends, I’m happy and full of joy.

“I love you with all my heart, Eric.”

“I’m still waiting for you to decide to marry me.”

“Darling ... that was an impulse. You didn’t take it seriously, did you?”

“Yes,” he says.

“But, Eric, I’m not about getting married and stuff like that. You know that.”

My crazy love kisses me.

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