Page 91 of Because of Liam

“We’re skating—or rather, he’s skating. I’m wobbling around like a drunk duck—and then all the lights go off. It’s pitch-black dark. He tells me to stay where I am. Not to move. He’s going to check out what happened with the lights. I stand there for a few seconds. I’m afraid to move and then ‘Marry Me’ by Train starts playing. And I think it’s weird that the music is playing when the place is completely dark because I thought it was a power outage. When the song gets to that part that says marry me, a single spotlight comes on, right where I am, and he’s kneeling before me, holding the ring in his hand.”

My mouth drops open. That’s just about the most romantic thing I ever heard. I squeal. Skye squeals and then we’re hugging again and I’m crying.

Fuck this shit! I do not cry. Not for this girly stuff. I’m not a crybaby, except that right now I am. I’m so happy for Skye. She is such a pure-hearted person. She deserves this. She deserves her little piece of heaven. And Logan is just the guy to give it to her.

“Oh my God, Skye. That is so sweet. And then what?”

“I said yes, of course.” She giggles some more, happy tears still streaming down her face. She’s glowing with happiness. “I was so surprised. I had no idea he was planning on asking me. No clue at all.”

I huff at that. “Please. He’s crazy about you. Anyone with eyes can see it.”

“I know he loves me. He tells me he does often enough, but after the fiasco with his ex, and his own parents’ messed-up marriage, I thought that maybe he would be like one of those guys who never makes the jump.”

“Okay, so what happened next?”

“He put the ring on my finger, kissed me and said he loved me, and said the most beautiful things. We went back to his place, and he made love to me with such adoration, River. It was magical. I mean, it’s always good, but last night it was special. It had more meaning somehow. He had to go to work this morning and just dropped me off. Saying goodbye, even if for just a few hours, is so hard. I don’t think my feet have touched the ground yet.”

“I’m so happy for you, Skye.”

We hug again.

“Thank you, River. Gah! I think I’m gonna cry again.”

I laugh. She hasn’t stopped crying since she showed me the ring. Which reminds me of my original question.

“Okay, I get you two are getting married, but it is not happening right away, right? What is this talk about moving?”

“Logan wants me to move in with him. And I said yes. I practically spend more time there than here anyway.” She squeezes my hand in hers.

“I want this, River. I want to be with him. I want to live with him and wake up next to him every morning and have breakfast together, fall asleep with him. I want it so bad.”

I nod at my sister. I understand. What they have is rare and special. They don’t want to waste any time apart.

“I hope you’re not mad at me for just leaving without talking to you first.”

“I’m not,” I’m quick to assure her. “But what about Liam? Won’t it be weird living with the two of them? You won’t have a lot of privacy.”

“Well . . .” She hedges, her eyes shifting.

“What? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Logan asked Liam to move out. He asked him to move into the dorms.”

I snort at that. Liam, living in the dorms? Sharing the small space with some freshman guy? Then I remember that the undergrad buildings are all coed and it does not sit well with me. Not at all. Jealous much, River?

“There’s no way Liam will agree to moving to the dorms. No way.”

“Well . . .” Skye repeats herself.

“Spit it out, Skye.”

“You’re right. Logan said he talked to Liam, and he refused to move into the dorms. Liam said he will find a place to rent, but in the meantime, he is staying put.”

“Okay, that’s not so bad. Liam will find—”

“Then I suggested that since I’m moving there, he could have my room and now he’s moving here tomorrow.” The last seven words were said in a rush, without any spaces in between them. Andnowheismovingheretomorrow

“What? You kind of mumbled something there at the end that sounded a lot like ‘and now he is moving here tomorrow,’ but I know that can’t be, because my sister would not invite a man to move in with me without first talking to me, would she? Please tell me I didn’t hear you right.”

---