It made sense at the time, but I didn’t think of what it would be like having a partner see every cent I spend.
“Can’t hear you. Showering.” I put my head back under the water, but I can still hear him.
“Cashton Evelyn Kingsley.”
“That’s not my name,” I sing.
The shower curtain is ripped away.
“What am I in trouble for?” I ask as innocently as I can.
“Want to tell me why you dropped fifteen thousand during your shopping trip with Seb this morning?”
“You said the limit of spending without you being alerted was twenty?”
He folds his arms. “Not the point.”
“I’m really beginning to regret hiring you as the band’s financial manager.”
“No, you’re not.”
I swallow hard. “I am with this.”
I turn off the shower and reach for my towel, but Locke steals it away from me.
“Babe,” I complain, “I love you, but now is not the time to have this conversation.”
I thought I was safe spending that much. I don’t even know how he found out.
“What conversation?”
I huff and grab my towel off him. “You’ll find out soon.”
“You didn’t go and buy me a whole new wardrobe again, did you? I still have clothes with tags on them. You need to stop spending frivolously, especially on stuff for me.”
“No, I don’t. And it wasn’t clothes. And it wasn’t frivolous.”
“But it was for me?”
“No.” I hate my voice goes up at the end, so I make my escape into the hotel suite.
“Cashton Muriel Kingsley.” He follows me.
“Why do you always give me feminine-sounding middle names?”
“Because I can.” Now Locke’s hands are on his hips.
He’s not going to let this go.
I turn to him. “Think really hard about what you’re doing, Sherlock Emerson. If you push this, it will be your fault.”
“What will be my fault? Why can’t you just tell me what ridiculous thing you bought me this time?”
I point at him. “Your fault.”
I go to where I stashed the tiny box as soon as I got back to the hotel so Locke couldn’t find it.
When I pull it out, my boyfriend’s eyes widen.
“Wait …”
“Nope.” I put emphasis on the P. “You pushed, and now you must suffer the consequences.” I step toward him. “When the tabloids ask about this moment, I will have to tell them the truth. You cornered me while I was showering and demanded I tell you my secret.”
“Cashton …” Locke covers his mouth with his hand.
I reach him and get down on one knee. “I will have to tell them I did this naked with nothing but a towel wrapped around my waist, and I will even have to mention that my cock fell out because it wanted in on the moment.” I fix the towel.
“I love you so much” is all he says.
“Good. Still doesn’t change this story.” I hold up the box and lift the lid, revealing a platinum men’s wedding band with two rows of fine diamonds around the middle.
Locke lets out a soft gasp.
“I’ve been planning this ever since you got the official word that your divorce was final.”
I’ve been making Big Plans. Life plans. And they all involve the boy I fell in love with at seventeen years old.
I would give up my entire world for him.
He’s the only thing that matters to me.
I love Seb and my other bandmates.
I love my life on the road.
But I love Locke more.
“I’ve been thinking about this moment since we were eighteen years old,” Locke whispers.
“I have always loved you. I’ve never loved another. And I know I never will. Sherlock Michael Emerson, will you marry me?”
He nods, and tears fill his eyes. “Yes. Yes, I will, Cashton Olivia Kingsley.”