Page 64 of In the Shadows

“Our wedding,” I said.

He stared blankly back at me.

“Stoli?”

“Yeah, baby,” I tried to play it off, but knew that the fact that I’d in a round-about sort of way pseudo just proposed to him.

“Did you just propose to me?” He set his glass down, still staring at me.

“If I did?” I questioned, not sure I wanted the entire table to hear his response, so I was beyond thankful the room was still filled with voices.

“Yes.”

“What the fuck!” I yelled, bolting upright so fast that my chair went flying behind me, calling all eyes in my direction. “Wha, what?” I stuttered.

“Yes,” Joey said again.

I whipped him out of the chair and into my arms so fast he had no chance of protesting.

“Oh my fucking God, baby, did you just say yes?”

“Ha, like three times. Everyone’s staring.” He pointed out.

“Let them fucking stare,” I covered his face in kisses, “I want to enjoy this moment with my fiancé.”

“Dude, did you just say fiancé?” Diamond bolted out of his seat, wrapping his arms around us. “Fuck yeah!”

“Stellar fucking night!” Mickey said, joining us.

“What did I miss?” Easton asked.

“I just became Stoli’s fiancé,” Joey announced to the crowd surrounding us.

The patio erupted in cheers, but my focus was on the man in my arms. The man who I’d be spending the rest of my life with.Oh fuck, I forgot the ring.

Another bottle of champagne was ordered and consumed before dinner was over. The room was full of laughter, pleasantries exchanged across the board with so much to celebrate.

When dinner was over, we said our goodbyes, but the Maiden crew weren’t down for the count by any means.

“Seattle is full of hot chicks,” Jaxson said to Diamond.

“Hell yeah, pasty white chicks,” Diamond teased him.

“Hey man,” Jaxson told him, “pasty white chicks need love too.”

Fucking A man, we lost it.That had to be the funniest fucking line I’d heard in forever.

“Boys, I want to let you know that I booked the recording studio for both groups for this weekend,” Sal told us before he and Easton called it a night.

“Dude,” I turned to Ryder, “we should totally record nothing but the guitars onHer Embrace.” I was nervous asking that of him, of their song. But it was a major bucket list item for me so it was now or never.

“Seriously?” he asked, letting the wind out of my sails.

“Um, maybe?” I questioned like someone who’d just asked the head cheerleader to the prom.

“Fuck, dude,” he grabbed my shoulder, “I totally meant that in a good way. I think it’s a kick ass idea. Let’s do it!”

“Hell yeah!” This was by far the best fucking night of my life. I had my fiancé by my side, my band brothers nearby and a guitar player I idolized agreeing to record one of their hottest fucking tunes with me.

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