Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 116177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Bobby quirks an eyebrow at me. “Seriously?” Then he leans in and shamelessly gives my pit a sniff. He smiles up at me. “Smells like all man to me.”
I frown. “That could mean I didn’t put any on.”
He slaps a hand to my shoulder. “You’re just nervous ‘cause we’re about to leave our safe haven of South Wood University for the past four years and start our lives. All our friends and family are out there, waitin’ for us to walk across that stage.”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s it.” I shake off the nerves. Then I look at him. “Also, I don’t think none of ‘em know yet.”
Bobby looks at me. “Know what?”
I take his hand, interlock our fingers, then bring them up to our eyes. On my ring finger, I wear the bright, silver, polished band Bobby gave me.
“That I’m yours forever,” I answer, “and you’re mine.”
Bobby smirks. “Well, after our big-ass weddin’—whenever that is—I sure will be.” Then he puts a kiss on my lips, both firm and soft at the same time with that special Bobby Parker flair only he is ever capable of.
The big question was popped earlier in the semester, right in the heart of springtime. We had both finished strenuous weeks full of exams, and I was rehearsing like crazy for a performance I was starring in at a big local theater. Bobby was acting funny, but in a way that didn’t worry me; I simply felt clued in to the fact that he was up to something.
I just didn’t know how big that something was.
He drove me to my opening night in his new car: a white sedan he bought with all his saved-up money that had a long black racing stripe over its top. (I jokingly refer to it as his Soccer-Ball-On-Wheels.) I should’ve been suspicious of my cast members acting strangely attentive to me, but I was too focused on the big show. It was my first time to perform on a stage that big, and with a whole company of professional dancers, some of whom have made a serious living out of it (and from whom I was eager to learn).
The show was amazing. Every step and hit felt perfect. The audience even gave us a standing-O at the end. I was on top of the world as I hopped into Bobby’s car afterwards to head to the after party. I wouldn’t shut up about the performance, and Bobby had a grin ear to ear as he listened to my play-by-play.
It was at the party that my life changed forever.
Right in the middle of all the dancing, chatting, and drinking, suddenly the music cut off, and the lighting in the room changed. I seemed to be the only person startled by it. As I clutched my glass of wine and glanced around the room, all the other dancers parted and stepped aside, creating a giant circle with me at its center. Confused, I asked someone what was going on, but that someone took my glass right out of my hand and joined the circle just as fast, not giving me an answer. Bobby was nowhere in sight.
Until he was.
From the end of the aisle of dancers, Bobby emerged. He was nervous, I remember. But as he came down the aisle of dancers, confidence began to swell with his every step, and each dancer to his left and right bowed, as if this whole thing was intricately choreographed ahead of time.
Of course it was.
And when Bobby finally reached the end—right in front of me—he had his hands behind his back, and his adorable brown eyes met mine, excited and full of anticipation.
“What … What’s goin’ on?” I asked, completely beside myself.
I knew damned well what was going on.
And I knew what was about to happen.
My heart was beating so hard in my chest as Bobby then revealed his hands, and I saw the bright, bold silver ring pinched between his fingers.
My lips were parted.
I couldn’t move.
And there in front of all of my fellow dancers, Bobby dropped to a knee, and smiled up at me.
Then began the speech I’ll never forget: “You are and have always been the love of my life, Jimmy. It never mattered to me if our love never became romantic or physical. Not truly. I’ve always only ever wanted whatever would make you happy, regardless if it was with me or someone else. What exists between us is more intimate than friendship. It’s the forever thing.”
His hand, confident and self-assured, extended toward me with the ring pinched between his skillful fingers.
Oh my God, this is really happening, I thought to myself, stunned.
“You knelt before me in a locker room one day, in front of all of my soccer teammates, and you stole my heart by giving me a prom-posal I would never forget.” A heart-crushingly beautiful smile had spread across Bobby’s face, his cheeks turning rosy. “I felt it only fair to do the same to you, and ask you to be mine in front of a roomful of your ‘teammates’.”