Page 25 of Heartbeat Highway
I loop an arm over her shoulder and trace the line of her spine, my fingertips brushing her skin lightly. “Dan said they’d be backstage, making sure everything is ready for our song.”
Lily squeals, her eyes bright. “I cannot believe we are here. Not only to watch the Oscars, but that we’re performing.”
“I can. We worked our asses off,” Maxim says. He yawns and pulls out his phone. “Do you think anyone will care if I take pictures of Chris Mulroney hitting on Desi Shadow?”
“Which Chris is that?” Lily frowns. “I can never keep them straight.”
“The one fromPirate Knight,” I reply.
“Ugh, I can’t believe you made me watch that.” She shivers. “It was nothing at all likeThe Princess Bride.The things you do for love.”
“Please don’t start talking about love.” Maxim surreptitiously snaps another few photos of some of the other celebrities in our vicinity. “If I had to answer one more question on the red carpet about when the two of you are getting married, I was going to duck out the back and get a hot dog at Pink’s.”
Lily laughs. “Tell us about it.”
“I am invited, though, right?” Maxim says this directly to me. “You wouldn’t elope and completely forget to tell me, your best friend and band mate?”
“You’ll be the first call after Lily’s parents,” I say.
“I’d better be,” Maxim grumbles.
The rest of the night passes in a blur. We leave our seats at the designated time and go backstage to prepare for our performance, which goes better than anticipated. Lily rocks the microphone, bringing the house to its feet during the final lines of the song.
No one can take this chance but I
To tell you you’re my ride or die
We don’t win–this time–but it doesn’t matter. I’m with Lily, the woman I fell in love with the night I first heard her sing. She’s the only one I want sitting next to me on this journey.
So later, after the post-show party at Dan’s house, when we’re finally back home in our comfiest pajamas and watching cooking shows in bed, I wrap my arms around Lily and press my lips to the top of her head.
“Hey, friend.”
She snuggles into me, her body lining up perfectly with mine. “Hey, friend.”
I don’t worry about the consequences. I don’t overthink it. I let myself be happy. “Will you marry me?”
She tilts her chin up to me, her face flushed and so full of happiness, she beams. “Hell yes. What took you so long, Bo Harley?”
