“Sounds good to me.”
Chapter 29
Marie
One Year Later
Kira stands up behind the drum kit and the entire packed theater goes dead silent. The Belwick buzzes with energy as the drummer raises her sticks in the air. “This one’s for Marie,” she shouts into the crowd. “One, two, three, four!”
The music slams down over the room and my spine goes tingly with excitement as Kira smashes the drums with a wild, frenetic energy. Even Ansell begins to sway next to me, not quite dancing, but about as close as he ever gets. As the house lights shift and warp, the diamond ring on my finger glints and I grin to myself. I’m still not used to wearing it, but marrying Ansell was the best decision I ever made, and I’m happy we eloped to Las Vegas a month earlier to make it official.
This is Pride’s first show since releasing their new single with Universal. So far it’s getting decent air time on radio stations and the streaming numbers are good, but we’ve got a long ways to go. I’m working with them every day, sitting down and talking strategy, trying to come up with ideas about how to break them into the mainstream.
Ansell keeps wanting to offer his help, but I need to do this all myself.
Mostly anyway. I’m not dumb enough to deny Pride all the resources at his disposal.
The show is a huge hit and we duck out ten minutes early. The night is crisp and comfortable, a beautiful fall evening. Ansell pulls me tight against him and looks around. “Where to now?”
“Home,” I say, leaning my head on his shoulder. “I’m exhausted.”
“Don’t you have to stay? You’re the manager.”
“Nah, they have plenty of help in there and I already made sure the owners paid up front.”
He grins at me and kisses my cheek. “Good girl. Make those fuckers pay.”
“Besides, shouldn’t you get your pregnant wife back home?” I put my hand on my belly and smile up into his eyes.
He laughs and kisses me again, this time hugging me close. While the baby wasn’t the main reason we got hitched, it was a pretty important one. We both want to avoid the mistakes our parents made with us, and we’re so excited to have a family.
Even Ansell seems ecstatic.
His emotions keep slowly appearing, more every day, like the flood is unleashed and it won’t stop rushing. He’s still getting used to experiencing so much, but I think it’s making him stronger and more resilient in the process, and our relationship is growing deeper and more incredible by the day. I’m fulfilled at home, I’m fulfilled at work, and I haven’t heard a peep out of the Crawfords in a long time.
I’d call that heaven.
“Have you spoken with your sister recently?” Ansell asks as we head toward where he parked the car.
“We talked yesterday. She seems like she’s doing fine, although you never know with Baby.”
He laughs. “True. How’s William?”
“She said she hasn’t spoken to him in a couple weeks. I think they’re in a fight.”
“Again.”
“I don’t know what’s going on with those two. They hate each other, but I think they also like it that way.”
“I’ll never understand it. I prefer things… simple.”
“I agree.” I kiss my husband on the neck and lean against him. We pause beneath a streetlamp and he holds me tight against his chest.
“I’ve been thinking. Now that the baby’s coming, what do you think about getting a different place? Maybe a row home in Old City, somewhere big and nice.”
“You don’t like your apartment anymore? It’s enormous, you know.”
“I’m aware, but why don’t we get something that’s more… you and me?”
“Instead of all Ice King-y.”
“Exactly.”
I nod and stand on my toes to kiss him. “I’d love it.”
“Good. I thought you would. Now come on, I want to get you home.”
“Why? To put me to bed?”
“In a way, that’s exactly what I’m about to do.”
I laugh as he squeezes me against him and for the first time in my life, I feel dizzy, happy, complete.