Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 129207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
He releases my hand, and not a moment later, he produces a small velvet box from his pocket and thumbs it open, not willing to release my other hand, and despite the insane noise around us, I can’t look away.
A beautiful white gold ring stares back at me with a delicate band that’s decorated with a huge rock right in the middle. Smaller diamonds circle the big one in the center and as it sparkles against the crazy lighting in the stadium, I look back up to meet Ezra’s stare. “I’ve had this ring for the better part of four years, knowing all along that we would find our way back to each other. You captured me from day one, Rae. You tethered your soul to mine the very moment I walked through that door. You became the reason I breathe, and now I don’t know how to do life without you.”
He pauses for just a moment as the crazed audience cheers for their leading man.
“I don’t want to wake up and not see your face staring back at me. I don’t want to build a life without you, and I don’t want to give my heart to any other. It’s always been you, Rae. I’m done waiting, and I’m done with the hypotheticals. I want to take the plunge, and I want you to jump right off the fucking edge with me. What do you say, baby? Will you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife?”
Tears stream down my face, and I launch myself into Ezra’s arms as my lips crash down over his. “I thought you’d never ask,” I tell him, feeling the intense vibration of the crowd roaring with excitement.
My lips are straight back on his, and he doesn’t even get the chance to put the ring on my finger before Rock and Dylan crash into us, their big arms circling us as they squeeze the living daylights out of me. “I fucking knew you two would make it,” Rock says as I cry into Ezra’s shirt.
I catch Madds out of the corner of my eye, scrambling over the banister with Hardin and beelining straight to the edge of the stage, and before anyone can attempt to help her, she scales the stage like Spiderman before crashing into us too, all but peeling the boys off me before yanking me into her chest. “God, I’m so happy for you,” she tells me. “I think I actually peed myself a little.”
The celebrations roar right through the crowd before we’re reminded that the show isn’t over, and as Ezra goes to lift the microphone back to his lips, I go to make a hasty exit, only he holds on to me, refusing to let me go.
“That’s not the only surprise I have for tonight,” he says into the microphone as Rock and Dylan make their way back to their instruments, leaving Madds to hide in the wing where I usually spend my nights. “It’s been a long time coming, but what better night to tell you that our new single, ‘Not Waitin’ on a Hypothetical’ will be releasing at midnight tonight.”
Not Waitin’ on a … Holy shit. This man!
My jaw drops, and I gape at Ezra, having had no clue that the boys had recorded something new. Hell, when did they even get the time to do it?
The crowd is far beyond chaos now. They’re practically on fire with their current excitement level, and despite that, Ezra still feels the weight of my stare and glances at me, and the way his eyes shine with undeniable love and happiness has me so filled with elation, I could burst.
“So, what’s it going to be?” he asks his eager audience as he keeps his eyes locked on me. “Do you wanna be the first to hear it, or what?”
They roar their excitement, and not a moment later, he pops his microphone back into the stand and pulls me into his side. Rock comes in on the drums, giving us the most captivating beat I’ve ever heard, but nothing, and I mean nothing, prepares me for when the lyrics begin pouring out of Ezra. They’re the perfect ode to us, capturing our love in the most spectacular way possible, doing us justice in a way I could only ever dream of.
34
Raleigh
Crashing through the door of the hotel room, Ezra’s lips come down on mine with a hunger that sets my body alight. “God, I fucking love you,” he says, as we struggle to get the door closed behind us, too impatient to have one another.
I can’t help but laugh as our bodies become entwined in a frenzy of limbs as we try to tear each other’s clothes off our bodies. His shirt is first to go, followed by mine, and as he pops the button on his black jeans, I reach behind me, frantically trying to unclasp my bra. Our lips are permanently fused together, his moving over mine with the kind of skill that brings me to life.