I choose you to be by my side.

I choose you to hold me at night.

It’s the biggest decision, I’m about to get right, and I choose you. I choose you.

I played the next verse as people began to hold their cell phones in the air waving them back and forth like they were at an acoustic concert. Alyssa watched me sing, tears pooling in her eyes.

Everybody has one. A choice they have to make. Half human half heaven, that decides the family tree.

I repeated the chorus and then stopped playing at the bridge. This time I put the ukulele down, reached for her hands, and finished the song a cappella.

I was worried I wouldn’t know what to do when I was in these shoes, kneeling here it’s clearer than the sky is blue, that I choose you, I choose you. With so little we control, thank God it’s in the rules, we get to choose and I choose you.

My voice cracked at the end as I released her hands and reached into my pocket. Shaking, I pulled the box out and opened it, revealing the Tiffany’s ring I’d bought a while ago.

Alyssa gasped and put her hands over her face.

“Lyss,” I whispered. “I’m not eloquent. We can agree on that. I’d like to think I’m romantic, but honestly, right now — I’m just done. I can’t… I can’t put into words how I feel, what you do to me, how much I love you. Love seems like such a weak word. It doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about you. You’ve started a fire in me, and I’m freaking obsessed with the slow, painful burn. I choose you. I choose us. Will you be my wife? Will you choose me too?”

Holy shit. I was about two seconds away from passing out.

Alyssa nodded and then her arms flew around my neck as she knocked me over onto my ass. “I can’t believe — I can’t! Agh, I love you!” Her lips found mine and the plane erupted into cheers as I held her body tight. “You ass,” she whispered into my ear.

I fell back laughing as she grabbed the box from my hands and put the ring on her finger. Her smile fell.

“What?” I reached for her face. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” More tears streamed down her face. “It’s just that… this is the ring I wanted. Did Jaymeson tell you? How’d you know?”

Embarrassed, I looked down.

“Demetri?”

I kissed her mouth and sighed against it. “Jaymeson didn’t tell me. I saw the ring in the window, and I couldn’t stop looking at it. For some reason it drew me in and I knew I had to buy it, because I had the same reaction when I met you.”

“You wanted to buy me?”

“Among other things,” I teased. “But mainly, I just wanted to be near you. I wanted to be in your atmosphere. You drew me to you and I was hopelessly lost the minute you told me your name, and again when you made me taffy, and again and again. Every kiss was like a part of my heart was getting ripped from my chest, and in return a part of you was getting fused with my soul. I never want to be apart from you, Lyss, and that’s the truth.”

We helped each other to our seats as people congratulated us, and more clapping ensued.

“I don’t get it.” Lyss’s brow furrowed. “Why were you being so shady in the hot tub?”

“Panicked. I had the ring in my pocket, so I didn’t want you to know that I was getting ready to propose soon.”

“So you decided to freak me out instead?”

“Never said I was the smartest rock star on the planet.”

“Nope, but you are the hottest.” She grinned and grabbed my hand. “I love you Dem.”

“Love you too, sweetheart.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jaymeson

I drove back from the airport faster than the speed limit allowed, but I was bored as hell and horny as a teenager. There were willing females still waiting at the hotel — and I was going to be the one they were willing with.

Maybe.

I slammed on the brakes as a deer ran out in the middle of the road. After honking my horn a few times, it skittered away. I sped off and cursed into the cool night air.

The temperature was oddly warm, especially for Oregon. I could almost believe it was California, you know, if you took away the crisp bite that was still present in the air.

Finally, I took the exit for Canon Beach, counting down the minutes until I was able to park the car, grab a couple of tequila shots and a willing woman who’d most likely Tweet about our one night stand the minute it was finished.

My gut clenched at the thought.

I ignored my gut, just like I ignored my heart and everything else in my damn life. I didn’t do relationships. It was like a sick four letter world to me. No way was I going to end up like my parents, divorced, unhappy, bitter, and about one plastic surgery away from dying on the table with a permanent smile on my plastic face.

I shuddered as I pulled into the parking lot and half-jogged toward the hotel. I pulled open the door to the lobby and ran right into another person.

“Apologies,” I muttered, then paused.

Priscilla’s giant brown eyes stared back at me turning into raging storm of irritation before she rolled them and pushed against my chest. “Just watch where you’re going next time.”

“I said I was sorry,” I snapped.

“You’re right.” She crossed her arms. “Apology accepted.”

I grinned.

“Have fun with whoring around tonight.”

“Wait.” I grabbed her arm. “Kind of harsh, don’t you think?”

She peered around me and smirked. “Kind of honest.”

I turned to see where she was looking and saw not one, not two, not even three, but around ten girls all in short skirts and skanky heels sipping wine at the hotel bar and throwing me sexy glances.

With a grin I waved.

All ten waved back.

Priscilla groaned and moved past me.

I reached out and grabbed her arm again, totally not on purpose. It was more of a reflex, or something.

“What?” She jerked back. “You need help with the harem?”

“No.” The excitement of what was going on behind me died when I looked into Priscilla’s eyes, or maybe it was just cheapened. “Question.”

“If I answer, will you go away?”

“Maybe.”

“Fine.”

“Do you like wine?”

“I’m underage, Jaymeson. Eighteen, remember?”

Hell yeah, I remembered. It was why Alec and Demetri basically threatened me within an inch of my life yesterday when they saw me stare at her for longer than three seconds.

“Please,” I snorted. “You’re eighteen, not a saint. Do. You. Like. Wine? It’s a simple question.”

Priscilla shifted uncomfortably, alternating between standing on one foot and then the other. Her heels were either starting to bother her, or she was one of those girls who had quirky nervous ticks that made a guy want to make her nervous just so he could discover every last one.

“Yes.”

“Good.” I smiled, feeling happier in that moment than I’d felt in days. “Stay here and I’ll be right back.”

Priscilla didn’t say anything.

I sighed. “Please?”

“Fine.” She huffed, looking down at her shifty feet.

I ran over to the bar, handed the bartender a fifty, grabbed two paper cups and a corkscrew, I was back all within three minutes. Giant grin in place, ready to have a good time.

“Let’s go.” I pushed open the door and let her pass.

“Where we going?”

“To the beach.” I laughed. “Where else?”

“Hmm.” She fell into step beside me, but nearly fell over. Maybe I’d only pour her half a glass. Those shoes were like her Everest. “If you’re trying to seduce me it won’t work.”

“First…” I handed her the wine and cups then made her stop so I could kneel down and grab her heels. “I wouldn’t have to try — it would happen. I’m like magic.”

“Magic?” She laughed.

“Lift.”

“Huh?”

“Your foot.” I pointed. “I’m not down here for the hell of it. The way I see it is if I keep letting you walk around like that you’re going to get a sprained ankle. Plus, we’re almost on the beach anyways, so lift.”

Priscilla raised her right foot, then her left. I slipped off the Vince Camato heels, my damn hands shaking like I was Prince Charming or some other shitty fairy tale character. Right, pretty sure I was more demon or dragon in her book.

“I can carry them,” Priscilla said.

“Nah, you carry the wine. I’ll carry the shoes. Makes me look like more of a gentleman that way.”

“Ah, so it is part of your seduction technique.”

“Carrying shoes?” I laughed. “Nope. Remember, I’m magic? Clothes basically melt off in my presence.”

“Right along with the skanks’ makeup, huh?”

“Hilarious.”

I laughed even though it kinda sucked that she was partially right. I usually didn’t even know what the chick looked like until later on when the makeup was wiped off from all the kissing and foreplay, and usually by then I was done with her. Damn.

“Over there.” I pointed to a spot closer to the ocean.

We both sat down. I dropped her shoes and pulled the corkscrew from my pocket. “So Priscilla…” I let her name dance around in my head a bit before I continued. “Where were you headed before I rescued you?”

“Trapped and coerced.” Her eyes narrowed. “And I was going home. Curfew.”

“Naughty girl. Are you breaking your curfew to be out with me then?”

“Nope.” Her smile made me feel funny. I looked away. “I’ve never been late. My parents won’t care. They trust me, and if they’re worried, they’ll text.”

“Trusting.”

“I’ve never given them a reason not to be.”

“Do you want to?” I smirked.

“Want to?”

“Give them a reason not to trust you? Because if you do, I’m all for it.”

“No thanks.”

I couldn’t be sure, but it looked like she was blushing. She cleared her throat and grabbed the cups while I popped the cork.

I poured the red liquid into both paper cups and stuffed the wine bottle snugly into the sand.

“A toast?” I lifted my cup to hers.

“Oh yeah?” Her cup touched mine. “To what?”

“Being eighteen and breaking the law?”

With a laugh she threw her head back, exposing her neck to the moonlight and making my gut clench again. Her wavy black hair fell across her chest and suddenly I forgot to breath. I also forgot she was eighteen for five whole seconds. Mentally hitting myself, I cleared my throat and looked away. It was going to be one hell of a night if I couldn’t get any relief soon.

“To breaking the law,” came her soft whisper. I chanced looking at her and nearly choked as I brought the cup to my lips. Why did she have to be so pretty? Because that’s exactly what she was. I reserved the word hot only for girls who were walking sex, but Priscilla was so much more than that.