Hotbox

by Delia Delaney

  I studied him for a moment. “Did you see part of the show?”

  He nodded. “Actually I saw the entire performance. Both of them.” With a smile he added, “I very much enjoyed it.” He took another bite of food, wiped his mouth, and pushed the plate away. “If she wants a career in music, it would be very easy to do.”

  “She doesn’t,” I informed him. When he raised his eyebrows I added, “She gets stage fright.”

  “Yes, I saw the two of you before she went on. She likes having you to calm her nerves.”

  It made me uncomfortable to know he had been watching us, but if it helped him to determine the answer I wanted, I didn’t care.

  “You’re being very patient with my rambling,” he smiled. “I assume that whatever I say is of no interest to you.”

  I pondered that for a second before replying, “That’s not exactly true.”

  He seemed surprised, but didn’t say anything for a moment. Finally he said, “Well, let’s move on to what you’re here for.”

  My pulse quickened.

  “You’ve asked to be cut loose from the organization because you feel it’s the only way you can marry Jayden, which is what you want more than anything. Is that correct?”

  He waited for my response so I answered, “Yes.”

  With a nod, he continued. “There are some very important business decisions I’ve had to make in order for this to be possible. It’s been very difficult. I’ll spare you the details since you are now no longer a part of my company.”

  My heart was thumping in my chest and I was about to thank him profusely.

  “However,” he added, and my stomach sank. “There are a few stipulations.”

  I tried to remain calm, deciding I would wait to see what he said before I got angry.

  “You have been officially cut loose from any further association to my company, but you do know things that need to stay confidential. You know your code of silence still must remain. My name will never be mentioned to anyone, including your wife-to-be. Names of any other employees that you have come in contact with will never be mentioned as well. I don’t think I need to warn you of what might happen if you break my number one rule,” he said sternly. “The same is followed on our end. No one will ever divulge your involvement, nor even utter your name. Is that all clear?”

  I nodded.

  “Very well then. I guess what’s done is done. Enjoy your new life, Tyler.”

  I was so overjoyed all I could offer was a barely audible, “Thank you.”

  He nodded. “So? Go home and propose to your girlfriend.”

  I thanked him again and left.

  When I got outdoors I sighed a huge sigh of relief. It really happened. I was really cut loose. Of course my mind was throwing in doubts at the same time. How could I really trust him? What if he put me through all of this, only to pull me back in later on?

  I didn’t want to think about it, though. I was busy planning my future with Jayden. Maybe Friday night would be the right time to ask her. Once we were engaged, I wondered when Jayden would want to get married. It was already approaching the middle of August…

  The first thing I did when I got home was make the dinner reservation for the next Friday. The only hard part—besides actually getting the words out of my mouth when the time came—was going to be keeping it a secret. As it was I already wanted to find her and pop the question; I had no clue if I was going to be able to refrain myself. On many occasions—like at the music festival, when Jayden mentioned being married—I wanted to tell her right then and there. Having the ring made it even harder to hold back. I tried to be very careful with the decisions I made in my life—especially the ones that would affect Jayden—so I told myself to not be impulsive.

  The next thought that came barreling into my mind was her father. I needed to talk to him first, but I had no plan for getting through that one. But talking to her father actually came quite unexpectedly, and I was somewhat pleased that I didn’t have the time to worry before I was about to do it.

  We went camping that weekend with our usual crowd only this time a few others joined us. Tina and Aubrey were there, as well as Allen and Grace, Chris’s friends. Ryan, Vanessa, Alyson, and Camryn also came. Jayden claimed that Camryn was a more talented musician than herself, but I found that hard to believe. But they did play together later on that night with Shawn, and although I had to admit that Camryn really was as good as Jayden said, I didn’t feel she was any better than her. I guess it was kind of a toss up, but I let my favoritism for Jayden cast the winning vote.

  I really could tell that Shawn was affected by Camryn’s presence, though. He seemed like his normal self around her, but because I’d gotten to know him so well, it was obvious that he was struggling with his feelings for her. Kyle, Camryn’s boyfriend, didn’t camp with us that weekend, and I knew that Shawn was happy about that. However, I could see that he wasn’t going to use it to his advantage. He really was too afraid to ruin his friendship with her. Even though Matt gave him a hard time about it, I kind of agreed with Shawn. It was pretty apparent that Camryn was head over heels for Kyle, and because of that, I felt like Shawn was right in keeping his feelings to himself.

  At least for now.

  Jayden’s dad actually came up on Saturday to go riding with us, and I don’t know what I was expecting, but I thought that she might tone down some of her riding antics because her dad was there. But that wasn’t the case, and as Joe and I were sitting at the top of a trail looking down at her riding with Matt, Shawn, and Chris, I casually mentioned my surprise.

  “Are you kidding?” he smiled. He didn’t say anything for a while as we watched them ride, but after a minute he faced me again. “So… When are you going to ask her?”

  “Ask her what?”

  With a smirk he replied, “To marry you.”

  I was totally taken by surprise. I wasn’t sure if he was curious for Jayden’s sake, or if he actually knew I had a ring. I was aware that he was displeased with the idea that his daughter wanted to move in with me, and even though I told her I’d rather she not until we were married, I wondered if it was something that Joe was concerned about. I guess the bottom line was that I couldn’t read him even if I tried.

  “Obviously you love her,” he continued, “and the two of you have already decided to get married. She seems to think you need more time… Is something holding you back?”

  I swallowed and smiled uneasily. “Uh, well…actually I wanted to talk to you about it. I have a ring and…I want to marry your daughter. So…I was wondering… Could I have your permission?”

  I slowly exhaled, thrilled that the words were already out. Now I just had to deal with whatever he was going to put me through to get an answer. He still had the smirk on his face; it hadn’t changed the entire time. I was pretty sure he liked watching me squirm.

  “Did you plan on asking me or did I spring it on you?” He looked thoroughly amused.

  “I planned on asking you. But I was actually going to come to your home and meet with you. You kind of foiled my plan.”

  We both sort of smiled at each other and he nodded his head.

  “So,” I continued, “I guess this will have to do. A quiet, peaceful place to talk.”

  He started to chuckle; I was being sarcastic because of the bikes reverberating throughout the mountainside.

  “Do you expect me to say no?” he asked outright. “You seem a little nervous.”

  “I am nervous,” I admitted. “But I don’t believe you’ll say no, being that your daughter is madly in love with me and all. I don’t think you’d want to break her heart.”

  He actually laughed at that as he nodded his head. “Use the daughter against her stubborn, judgmental father. Very clever.”

  I laughed at his humor and then we were quiet for a moment.

  “But all joking aside,” I continued. “I love Jayden more than anything. I want her to be happy. I want to give her whatever she needs. What she deserv
es. She’s incredible—everything about her—and I feel like the luckiest guy in the world just to be able to spend time with her.”

  I already knew his answer was going to be yes, I just had a feeling because of his demeanor, but I didn’t know how much grief he was going to drag me through before we got to that point. Finally he said, “You marry my daughter, you get me in the deal, as well. You know that, right?”

  “Yes, I’ve had nightmares about that.”

  He chuckled again, but I think I crossed the finish line because he said, “I’m aware of how much she wants to marry you, and I guess if you’re aware that I’m the downside to it all, then it’s only appropriate that I consent. Yes, you can marry my daughter.”

  I silently released the breath I was holding. “Thank you.”

  He nodded. “When do you plan on asking her?”

  “This next Friday, I hope, if I manage to get the words out.”

  He lightly laughed, and then nodded again. “And when do you plan on getting married?”

  “I really don’t know,” I admitted. “I’ll let Jayden decide that.”

  “She’ll haul you to Vegas.”

  “I told her that wasn’t an option.”

  “That’s what she tells me.” He looked at me carefully and said, “I’m glad. I don’t want my daughter married in Vegas. I don’t care if it’s what she wants.” He seemed genuinely grateful that I wouldn’t do that. He took a deep breath and added, “Just so we’re clear… If you break her heart, I’ll break your neck.”

  He smiled at me and then took off on his bike down the trail.

  I finally took a deep breath. It was done. Her father had given me permission. Now I just needed to get through the most important part and ask the girl.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  The closer it got to Friday, the more anxious I felt. My worries about Olevsky going back on his word had never subsided. I still feared that he would change his mind—or my father would do something stupid and I’d be pulled back in again—and then my life would be completely screwed. I had already asked Joe Adams if I could marry his daughter; there was no going back on that. But in knowing that, I was at least sure that I would be proposing to Jayden no matter what. It’s what I wanted and I was tired of letting my worries and fears get in the way of it.

  I picked her up around six-thirty on Friday. I got off work early so I would have a little extra time to prepare myself for the occasion. Jayden knew which restaurant we were going to so she was dressed accordingly. Once again her appearance just blew me away. Tonight she was wearing a blue knee-length dress that tied at the back of her neck. Her hair was partially up, gathered at the back of her head, but the rest of it fell down in soft curls. Her smile dominated her entire appearance.

  “You look absolutely…”

  “Hot?” she smiled.

  “Yeah,” I laughed, “But I was gonna say ‘stunning.’ ”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Hmm, I don’t think you’ve used that word before.”

  “I guess I didn’t know what it meant until now.”

  “Ooh, aren’t you a charmer,” she smiled. “Step inside, let me just grab my purse.”

  When I entered the house I could see her dad sitting on the couch. “Hello, Ty,” he said, giving me a tiny smile. I wondered what it felt like for him to know that his daughter was going to come back engaged. At least she was going to be if I could actually get through it.

  “Hi,” I replied as casually as I could.

  Jayden grabbed what she needed and kissed her father goodbye. We got in her Mustang instead of my truck; I felt the occasion deserved something less casual. She didn’t think anything of it since we took it all the time.

  “You look very nice,” she smiled at me in the car.

  She leaned close to me and kissed my neck as I started the engine. It was never in me to decline any of her affection, so I softly touched her face and kissed her.

  “Mmm, maybe we should just stay in tonight,” she smiled.

  “But you’re already dressed up.”

  “I dressed up for you. It doesn’t matter where we go.”

  I quickly considered that, but stuck with the plan. “Let’s eat first because I’m hungry. Then we can go casual.”

  “Okay,” she agreed.

  The night was just as nice as the first time we came to this particular restaurant, but warmer. It was August, so the double doors at the edge of the dance floor were opened up and the dancing continued on outside. I found this to be a lot nicer since we both loved to be outdoors. The patio was also a little more romantic (I thought) because of the plants and outdoor lighting that barely lit the scene when it began to get dark.

  We danced for a little while before dinner, and also after we’d had dessert and the bill was paid. After the fourth or fifth song for the night, Jayden teased that I didn’t have to try so hard to win her over.

  “I like dancing with you,” I admitted.

  “Do you?” she smiled. “I just thought you were humoring me.”

  “Nope. When I get to hold you close I’m humoring myself.”

  “Maybe we could continue this at home, then.”

  She took a couple of steps and tried to lead me away, but I gently pulled her back to me.

  “Oh, no. I’m not ready to let you go yet. Indulge me. Just for a little while?”

  She laughed with a shrug. “Okay.”

  When the current song ended she asked, “Can we walk out there like we did last time?”

  “Of course,” I replied, happy that she suggested it. I took her hand and added, “I’m tired of that waiter staring at you, anyway.”

  She smiled, like she had already noticed as well. I glanced back at him and he looked away, embarrassed that he’d been caught.

  “Maybe our affection should be more dramatic,” she said as we walked along the boardwalk.

  We stopped in front of our special bench when I asked, “And what would you like me to do?”

  “Kiss me.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and smiled at me.

  “I don’t think that’s dramatic enough,” I told her. Her eyes got wide and I chuckled. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”

  She laughed in response but didn’t say anything further. We were here, exactly where I wanted to be, and now all of a sudden, I didn’t know what to say. I felt my heart beating pretty hard, and just when I was about to chicken out, I dove right in with, “Jayden, I love you.”

  With a smile she replied, “I love you, too.”

  “And…you know that you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, right?”

  “Yeah, that’s what you keep telling me.”

  “Well, it’s true, in case you didn’t believe me the first dozen times.”

  “Okay,” she smiled. “Then I’ll remind you that you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  I slowly nodded. “That’s good. Because I don’t think I could do what I’m going to do…if you didn’t feel that way.”

  Her face visibly changed. “Ty?” she whispered.

  I took her face in my hands and softly touched her skin with my thumbs. “Jayden, you are my life. There’s nothing in this world that I want more than to be with you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, so… Would you marry me?”

  She sort of gasped, and stared at me for several seconds, completely stunned. As I waited patiently for an answer, it occurred to me that she might be waiting for the actual ring, just to prove I was serious. I was about to reach for it when she smiled and said, “I will most definitely marry you.”

  With a grin I asked, “Are you sure? You have about five seconds to back out because once I put a ring on your finger, you’re mine forever.”

  “I’m yours forever, anyway,” she replied softly.

  I paused, studying her expectant face, and finally I nodded my head and pulled out the ring. I held it for a moment as she stared at it with a smile, then I took her hand and slid it on her
finger. I could tell she was holding back her emotions when she held her hand out to look at it.

  “It’s beautiful. I couldn’t have picked it out any better myself.” She threw her arms around me and held me tight. It was the best feeling in the world and I couldn’t believe I had waited so long to make it official. I guess I was an idiot.

  I held her close, allowing her whatever she wanted at the moment. When she finally leaned back to look at me, I kissed her. We stood together and I felt that no matter what happened, if I could have Jayden in my life, I would survive anything.

  When she slowly pulled away she seemed to have something on her mind. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she looked worried.

  “What’s the matter?” I asked her.

  Her face softened slightly and she put on a partial smile. “Nothing. It’s just…”

  “Just what?”

  She sighed. “I don’t want to ruin the moment.”

  “You already have,” I smiled. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  She smiled at my accusation, but the worried eyes returned. “I’m just wondering… Does this have anything to do with…what I said? –At the music festival? About being married? I didn’t mean to push you into—”

  “No,” I said firmly. “I’d already had that ring for a while,” I told her, kissing her hand.

  “You did?” When I nodded she asked, “For how long?”

  I wasn’t quite sure as I thought for a moment. “I guess for about three weeks. Remember the day I came to your office to surprise you? We went to dinner and then a movie?”

  She looked surprised.

  “I didn’t work much that day because I was shopping,” I told her.

  “And you lied to me?” she said with narrowed eyes, hiding a smile.

  “I didn’t lie to you. I said I got off work early so I could surprise you. How is that lying?”

  “By omission?”

  “Oh, come on,” I laughed. “Isn’t that the one time a guy can lie? –To cover up something good? Well, at least I thought it was good.”

  She laughed and gave me a playful thump. “It’s more than ‘good.’ In fact, I’m so happy I don’t even know what to say, so just kiss me again and maybe I won’t cry.”