Page 16 of Get Me (The Keatyn Chronicles 6)
"Sounds good." He nods and takes a deep breath. "Okay, I'm doing this."
He goes onstage, slings his guitar around him, and addresses us.
"I think we all know the story about when Tommy and Abby met. How people in the room swore they could see the sparks fly. Or, so my dad says." He laughs. "No offense, but I always kinda thought it was bullshit. A fairy tale made up to sell more movies. But then it happened to me. I've been working on this song since the moment I met her. The melody kept playing in my head. And as soon as Keats told me the French word for fate is sort, the rest of the lyrics flowed. This song is called 'Sorta like Fate.'"
Aiden joins me on the dance floor and wraps his arms around me. "Sorta like fate? I told you that, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did."
Damian gently plays a few chords on his guitar and starts singing beautifully.
"You're my faith and inspiration,
You're the ink in my tattoo.
You're the water in my desert,
All I think about is you.
You're the sun in all my sunsets,
You're the wind in every breeze.
You're the moon on my horizon,
You're the one that makes me breathe.
It's sorta like fate that we're together,
It's sorta like fate that we're both here,
It's sorta like you and me forever.
My destiny is near.
It's sorta like you and me against everything,
It's sorta like fate . . .
It's sorta like fate . . .
You're the joy in all my madness,
You're the fire in my flame.
You're the smile from across the room,
You're the thought I can't erase.
You're my happy ever after,
You're the beating of my heart.
You're the words that fill my pages,
You're the light in all my dark.
It's sorta like fate that we're together,
It's sorta like fate that we're both here,
It's sorta like you and me forever.
My destiny's so clear.
It's sorta like everything that I ever need,
It's sorta like fate . . .
The spark to all my passion,
My future standing there.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
You're everything I've ever wanted,
So, baby, don't be scared.
It's sorta like fate that we're together,
It's sorta like fate that we're both here,
It's sorta like you and me forever.
I'm your destiny, my dear.
It's sorta like you and me against everything,
It's sorta like fate . . .
It's sorta like fate . . .
It's sorta like fate . . .
It's sorta like fate.
You pull on me like gravity,
I wanna get down on one knee.
The world can spin around us,
Cuz, baby, now it's you and me."
"Wow," I whisper. "That was beautiful."
Aiden spins me around to face him. "Did you help him write that?"
"Not really. I just helped with the chorus."
"Is the song about us?"
"No, he wrote it for your sister."
"But you helped with the lyrics?"
"A little, when we were in St. Croix. I couldn't sleep and heard him working on it. So I went down to the beach and we just had a conversation about love at first sight and what it feels like."
"And you were thinking about me?"
I don't answer his question but, rather, ask one of my own. It's something I've been wondering about. "Do you really think we're sorta like fate, Aiden? Or was that just the player in you talking?"
Aiden takes my chin in his hand and looks deep into my eyes. "Player Aiden never talked about things like love, fate, or marriage. Just like the stars, all that is only for you. Want to know my favorite part of the song?"
I nod.
"The world can spin around us because, baby, now it's you and me."
"Why is that part your favorite?"
"Because that's what I want more than anything. To only have to worry about us."
"And not all the stalker and Brooklyn stuff?"
"Exactly. I love you. I wish that's all that mattered."
I give him a kiss and say, "I love you too."
"Damian's in love with my sister, isn't he?"
"I think that's pretty obvious. In fact, I'd say he's wooing her."
Aiden grins. "You really should always listen to me. I'm smart."
"I don't know about that, but you definitely were right about the wooing. Wanna hear something funny?"
"Of course."
"When Dawson wanted us to get back together, I told him he'd have to woo me. He sent a text where he misspelled wooed. Forgot the e. So it just said he wanted to wood me. I got all mad at him, but it was kinda funny."
"So can I woo you with my wood?" Aiden asks adorably.
"I think it's the only kind of wooing you haven't done yet." I take his hand in mine. "Come on, let's go congratulate Damian on his beautiful song."
We wander over to the stage. Damian's arm is wrapped around Peyton, whose dazzling grin is just like her brother's. Definitely song-worthy.
"You helped me," Damian says. "I was leaning toward this before our talk. There she was, just sitting on the beach."
He points to me, so I sing, "Singing du wa ditty ditty dumb ditty do."
He smiles. "Flipping her hair like she didn't have a care."
We all laugh.
He's like, "I think maybe I should stop while I'm ahead."
Mom and Tommy join us.
"Damn, you must have read my mind. I think all those things about my wife," Tommy says.
Mom gushes, "I didn't think it was a big deal we weren't married, but I'll admit: I like hearing you say that. And, Damian, you better record that song quick. You've got a hit on your hands."
Glimpse of the future.
12:30am
Aiden pulls me off the dance floor and says, "Let's go for a walk."
I take his hand and follow him. He seems to be wandering aimlessly, but I get the feeling I'm being led somewhere.
"Isn't it a gorgeous night?" he asks.
"It's been the perfect night. Mom was so surprised he proposed, and everyone was so surprised by the wedding." I spin around in the grass. "I'm so happy I got to be here with my family. And be with you."
"I like your family. Your grandpa is a character."
"Yeah, he is. I love him. So, where are we going?"
"For a walk," he says cryptically.
A few minutes later, we're standing in the gazebo where Mom and Tommy got married. Aiden flicks a switch and the ceiling lights up with hundreds of twinkle lights.
"Did you do this? The lights? They weren't on here this afternoon."
"I thought we could dance in private. It's a lot prettier than my dorm."
"I love your room. And the twinkle lights."
"Before we dance, I have a present for you. Do you want it now?"
"I do."
He stops and grins at me.
"What?"
"You just said I do. In a wedding gazebo. It gave me a glimpse of the future. Of our wedding."
"Does the future ever scare you?" I ask him.
"Not as long as you're in it with me."
Knowing my future is uncertain, I don't reply, but rather focus on the present, untying the ribbon and letting him open the lid.
Nestled in a little black velvet box is a beautiful ring. In the center is a green stone, surrounded by teeny diamonds. Radiating out from it are four silver filigree hearts forming a four-leaf clover, each leaf set with a marquis-shaped green stone. Around the edges of the hearts are more of the little diamonds and behind the clover is more silver, making it look like two clovers sitting on top of each other.
"It's gorgeous," I manage to mutter, overwhe
lmed by its delicate beauty. "I've never seen anything like it before."
"It's vintage," he says, grinning.
"I love it," I say as he slides it on my left ring finger.
"This isn't your Christmas present. It's a ring from me to you. I love you, Keatyn. I know the future scares you. I know that you can't commit to anything, so I'm not asking you to. I just want you to always know, wherever you are, wherever we are, that I love you. And I want you to carry our luck with you."
My eyes dart above me.
"What are you looking for?"
"I'm waiting for fireworks to go off, doves to flutter around us, or a romantic score to start playing."
"Why?"
"Because this seems too perfect to be real."
"Dance with me?"
