Page 95 of Taste of Surrender

I swallowed and opened the lid of the box to reveal a black carbon fiber ring with a band of shredded green meteorite in the center. When I was searching for rings, the design had reminded me of the Northern Lights. “The day of our first kiss, you got stung by a bee.”

“I remember.” He chuckled slightly.

“I was so fucking scared, but I didn’t want you to know. We played the questions game, and I asked you if you could visit any place in the entire world where would it be?—”

“I said I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights,” he answered as though he too was remembering.

“Right. You said it would be cool to see.”

“It is.” He looked up at the dancing lights through our glass roof.

“It is,” I agreed and continued. “And I couldn’t think of a better place than here to ask you if you’d marry me?”

“Yes.” He nodded enthusiastically. “Of course, I will.”

I slipped the ring onto his finger, the fit perfect as though it had always belonged there, and then got to my feet. Grabbing his face with both hands, I kissed him while the aurora borealis continued to light up the night sky with vibrant hues.

There were no paparazzi around to steal our moment. For once, we were just two people in love who no longer had to sneak around.

29

Ryan

Four MonthsPrior

When Jasper toldmy sister and me he’d gotten us backstage passes for Surrender’s concert, little did I know meeting Donnie that night would throw me into the middle of a murder investigation.