The ass knew this was going to happen.
Ryan steps up to Tillie’s feet and places his guitar around his back as he squats on one knee. “Tillie Anne Marks… you are so beautiful, and my life wouldn’t be complete without you and our pets. But it would be better if you could be called my wife. Please do me the honor of marrying me so you can boss me around officially?”
She laughs and bobs her head, the tears of joy falling down her flushed cheeks. “Of course. A million times… yes,” she says as tears continue to fall. Ryan smiles, patting his chest as if to look for the ring. His eyes open wide as he pats his chest frantically. Matt stands, pulls a box out of his jeans, and hands it to Ryan as Tillie gasps and everyone laughs.
“You sickos… you planned that, didn’t you?” Tillie asks.
Matt smirks, sitting back down with a shrug as Ryan pulls out a giant ring and places it on her finger. She smiles, bouncing up on her toes, and Ryan gets up, pulling her into a hug and kissing her passionately while everyone claps.
Oliver steps up to the microphone as the lights come back on, and he smiles. “Now, this really is a celebration. Let’s party, everyone. Drinks are on me!” Everyone cheers and throws their hands in the air. Surprisingly, I manage a chuckle for the first time in weeks. I figure I’ve had enough of all the lovey-doveyshit, though, so I’m going to stand by the edge of the building and get some air.
Cool, calm, collected!
I manage to do that for about ten minutes before a waitress comes up to me. “Excuse me, Mr. Levine?” she asks.
“Yes?”
“This is for you,” she says, handing me a black card, and then walking away. Furrowing my brows, I figure it must be her number. I’m flattered but not the least bit interested. I go to wad it up when something catches my eye.Zaria Shafir.The gold-embossed name sticks out like a sore thumb as I stare at it. Swallowing hard, I turn the card over to see some symbols, which take me a bit, but I soon decipher them. It’s my symbol for Matt. There’s writing underneath the symbol for Matt, so I think she’s telling me to get Matt to read it for me.
Exhaling, I figure, why not? I’ll play her game.
I take the card over to Matt, and he looks at me. “You look weird. What’s wrong?”
“I need you to read something for me.”
He nods. “Okay.”
I bring up the card, and he laughs. “Why is there a rhino on it?”
“You’re a rhino,” I say.
He jerks his head back with a smirk. “Me? Why am I a rhino?”
“’Cause you’re the older brother, and you’re protective and boisterous… Fuck! That doesn’t matter, Matt. What’s it say underneath?”
He looks at me and furrows his brows. “It says…Go to your gallery, I have a present for you there.Wait? What gallery? You don’t have a gallery…”
Exhaling, I slump my shoulders. “I do, it’s just no one knows about it. Except for the cleaner and Ria.”
“What! Do you sell stuff? You should be selling stuff. Can I see it? Dude, how did I not know about this?”
“It’s not an open gallery, more like my own private exhibit. But Ria said I should open it and sell my stuff. I just kinda forgot about it, and since—”
Matt slaps my shoulder and shakes his head. “Dude, you should open it. You’re a great artist, Nate. Your paintings are amazing. You know I’d support you in this.”
“I know, we’ll see.”
“Well, are you gonna go? The present might be her.”
“Yeah, we’ll see about that, too. Hopefully, it is, then I’ll know we’re okay. If not, then I know we’re over for sure. But either way, I have to go.”
“Yes… go! Tell me what happens.”
“I will,” I reply as I rush off down the stairs and out of the building.
The entire car ride, I can’t help but think that the present is her and she’s changed her mind. She wants me back, and we’re going to be okay. I pull up at the gallery and race inside, but it’s dark with no sign of Ria anywhere.
“Ria,” I call out, and then I hear footsteps. She steps into the light, and I smile, reaching out to embrace her, but jerk back in surprise when a petite blonde meets me with aqua highlights, a nose ring, two lip piercings, and very dark but big doe eyes. Despite her grunge arty look, she’s quite stunning, and I’m taken aback. “Ah… not Ria.”
