Love at The Bluebird

I kiss his dimple and rest my forehead against his. “What are we waiting for?” I ask with a smile. I get up from his lap and hold out my hand.

He chuckles as he stands up and laces his fingers through mine. We walk hand in hand back to our cars, ready to start the next chapter of us.

Epilogue

GAVIN

5 months later

I TAKE IN the sea of bodies standing in front of me and marvel at the fact that all these people, from all over the world, are standing in this frigid cold weather on New Year’s Eve in Times Square, listening to me sing. With the stage lights in my eyes, I can’t see all of them, but I know thousands of them are there, and I want to make sure they have a damn good time.

I look over at Aly to gauge the crowd’s reaction, and she’s nodding her head at me, giving me a thumbs-up and mouthing I love you. She looks stunningly beautiful, her black faux-fur headwrap accentuating her whiskey eyes and porcelain skin, and I can’t wait to bring in the New Year with her.

Goddamn, I’m a lucky bastard.

When I got the invitation to perform during the live New Year’s Eve broadcast, I decided we needed to spend our holidays together in NYC. We arrived the day before Christmas Eve, doing all the tourist attractions, walking everywhere, shopping, and eating copious amounts of food. Sosie and Valerie joined us for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day then flew home together the following day. I could’ve had Sosie stay longer, but I wanted alone time with Aly. I know all of our families are back home watching, and tonight is going to be just another monumental night in our adventures together. Life with Aly has been a dream come true, and I thank God every day for bringing me this angel.

This opportunity to sing tonight has just been one of the many doors that have opened my way. When Atticus Langston heard what his daughter had done, he tried to once again buy my silence. Instead, I negotiated for him to let me out of my contract early after the album released and I wouldn’t press charges. The restraining order was non-negotiable, and she’s not allowed to come within twenty feet of me and Aly. My debut album did so well that I was able to get picked up by another reputable record label and am currently working on my next album for them. An album that is filled with songs inspired by Aly.

Aly being out of a job was the perfect opportunity for her to become my manager. She refused the job at first, but with much convincing and multiple orgasms within a forty-eight-hour timespan, she finally said yes. I have the dream team now, with her and Sosie always being at my side.

I finish up my set and wave to the crowd before being rushed off the stage during the commercial break. I was fortunate to be the last performer before the ball drops, so after the commercial, Aly and I will help start the countdown on live television.

“Mr. McNeer, you have thirty seconds before you need to stand at your mark,” one of the producers tells me. I nod at them and go over to get Aly.

“Oh my God, it’s so cold!” she says against my lips while I kiss her. I’ve got her wrapped in my arms, and I start to rub my hands up and down her back to warm her up. “Can we go back to the hotel now?”

“Not yet, darlin’. We get to help with the countdown.” I grab her gloved hand and start pulling her to where we need to stand.

“Wait, I don’t need to be on live television!” She tries to pull her hand out of my grasp, but I just hold on tighter.

“Baby, this is our first New Year’s together, and not many people get to celebrate it in Times Square! You are not depriving me of my New Year’s kiss,” I tell her while throwing my arm around her shoulders to help lead her where the cameras are. I introduce her to Seth Ryan, the famous television personality who is hosting the live event. We stand on our marks and watch as the cameraman counts down with his fingers and points to us when we’re live.

“I’m Seth Ryan, and you’re watching the Rock N’ Roll New Year’s Eve Countdown. We’re about ready to drop that ball, and Gavin McNeer with his girlfriend, Alyson, are going to help me bring in the New Year!” Seth turns to look at me and winks. “Gavin, any famous last words you have for 2019?”

I grab the microphone from him with one hand and take the ring that has been hidden in my pocket with my other. “Why yes, Seth, I do have some famous last words.” I get down on one knee in front of Aly, who looks like a beautiful shocked deer caught in headlights, and hold out the ring to her.