Page 100 of Ravaged By Lust

Maybe this has all turned out alright.

There’s sudden feedback on the microphone. I cusp my ears and turn back towards the stage.

Axel is up there.

“Hi, everyone,” he says. “Can I have your attention, please?”

What the hell’s happening now?

46

CHLOE

“Maddie, can you come up here?” Axel says into the microphone, silencing the entire party. Everyone turns to him, except for his girlfriend.

She’s looking at me.

“What’s he doing?” she asks me, whispering.

I shake my head. I don’t have a clue what my brother is trying to do.

Embarrass her? I think so, knowing him.

But Axel is gesturing for her to join him on the stage, not giving up. And Maddie reluctantly agrees to join him.

My brother smiles when his pregnant girlfriend comes up in front of everyone. He runs his hands through his wavy black hair.

“Can I just say, Maddie, that you look so incredibly beautiful right now,” he says in his low voice.

Everyone’s enraptured by what’s occurring.

Maddie shakes her head at him nervously, but that doesn’t deter Axel in the slightest. She’s a withdrawn girl, not used to being the center of attention, unlike her flamboyant rockstar boyfriend.

“I want to stop the party for just one moment, if you all will let me,” he continues into the microphone as if he hasn’t stopped the entire place. “I have to tell Maddie a couple of things, things I can only tell her in front of her family and friends. First, everything in my life has changed since you entered it, Maddie Leaver. And I mean everything. I was like a lost little puppy before I met you. In these last few months, everything has gone right for me. Every fucking thing, excuse my French. And I can trace it all back to you. Maddie, you are the light in my life. I want you to know that. I want everyone here to know that. And that’s why I want to do this on stage in view of everyone gathered here.”

Before any of us can begin to guess what he’s doing, Axel gets on one knee.

And he pulls out a ring.

And now we can guess what he’s doing.

“Maddie Leaver,” he says, a slight tremor in his voice betraying a hidden nervousness. “Will you marry me?”

My brother’s girlfriend starts to cry. She raises her hand to her mouth and nods.

She can’t stop nodding.

“Yes, Axel. Yes.”

And, just like that, the entire party erupts into applause and a very loud whoop from Drake and Bishop comes from the back of the room as Axel joyously and tenderly fits the ring onto Maddie’s finger.

I must say I’m crying too. She looks so happy.

My brother’s done something good and something smart, for once.

I turn to find Mom in the crowd, desiring to see her reaction to all this. She’s standing next to Winston, who’s clapping. Mom has tears running down her face, just like me.

I am so glad she’s here to see this.