My heart literally stopped when I saw Mateo drop down on one knee. The waves lapped along the shoreline as the clouds darkened above.
He gazed up at me, love beaming from his eyes. “Will you, Cheyenne? Make me the happiest guy on this planet?” He breathed out, “Marry me.”
The look on his face should have melted me into a puddle right there. But it didn’t. It wasn’t the gushy love proposal I’d longed for–the security, the insane happiness I’d felt when I had been with Zachary in college…no…this feeling was different.
An overwhelming trap seemed to close me into a prison.
I couldn’t marry Mateo.
His exuberance turned to tension. “Say something, Chey. You’re worrying me.”
My hands tightened as my throat clenched. I whispered hoarsely, “I…just…can’t.”
“Why?” he countered.
Mateo’s face struck me like a knife to the heart. Why? He deserved an explanation. But how could I tell him that I just didn’t love him? Not like that. I loved him with all my heart as a person but…not in that forever into the sunset as we grow old kind of way.
No.
I bit my lip as I cast for something to say. Anything that wouldn’t break his heart.
His face read mine like a tragic novella.
The simple ring he offered me twinkled in his hand. It was perfect. Exactly my style. He knew me better than anyone, even better than Kristie. But was friendship enough for a marriage? Especially with our huge careers going across different continents. It wouldn’t work.
“I…I just don’t…love you.” I hated how those words sounded so cruel as I spoke them but anything less and he’d plead with me, trying to talk me out of my madness.
The force of those words crushed him. He dropped down on all fours.
Caressing his back, tears trickled down my face. I couldn’t soothe him.
Maybe he knew fighting with me or pleading was pointless because he didn’t say anything. He only cried.
Sorry it’s late. My plan is to upload either on Wednesdays or Fridays. More next week! A new man will cross Cheyenne’s path.
“And so he was standing there, staring at me. Right in my room at the concert.” I relayed the weird meeting to Kristie. THE Jack Rackham had practically stalked me. Taking his private jet just to see me. I didn’t know how to feel about it. “And then he gave me his phone number, but I’m not stupid enough to call him. It’s just so strange. You know?”
Kristie gawked at me. “What do you mean you’re not going to call him? Are you kidding? He’s a famous movie star and he finds you, gives you his phone number and wants to catch up. Didn’t you have a crush on him when you were a kid? You owned every poster and t-shirt of him. I mean, why not call him? See where it goes!”
I shook my head. “Mateo is why not. We’re practically back together. At least in between our tours. How can I go off with Jack Rackham? He’s a stranger to me.”
Kristie countered, “Mateo? Really? You haven’t been truly together with him in years.” She sighed. “Come on, Chey. What would having a few drinks with Jack do? Can you honestly say you wouldn’t regret it for the rest of your life? Take a chance. I know I would if I were in your shoes.”
The wind kicked up at that moment, swishing my hair. Kristie made sense. Would I regret not meeting up with Jack? Just for old times sake at least?
But Jack’s face looked so crestfallen when I’d told him about Mateo. He wasn’t looking to catch up with a buddy.
My insides jumped remembering how close he was to me. The smell of his cologne. The beauty of his face.
But I got a weird vibe from him. He hadn’t changed. He was an arrogant asshole who thought the world should bow down to him. Did I really want that in my life?
Fiddling with my rings, I shook my head. “He wanted me to drop everything and go with him on his private jet. It was kind of creepy. And my PA let him in my room without asking. I’m fed up with her. I’m firing her asap once I find someone else to fill in.”
Kristie’s eyes widened. “Oh I know a girl who needs a job. Her name is Fidelity Jenkins. She’s a dj in college, but she’s looking to break in around here and it’d be good for her to move to Del Sol Valley. Want me to give you her phone number?”
“Wow, Kristie, that’d be great!” I was so lucky to have such a sweet bestie.
She arched her eyebrow. “How much do you want for Jack’s phone number? I’ll always take your leftovers, you know.”
I laughed.
Back at home, I Smoogled Jack’s name to see what he’d been up to lately.
After Moonlight’s last movie, Jack didn’t have anything else listed on SIMDB. No more movies in the works. No tv shows. No singing. So strange.
I took his picture with his phone number.
Jack’s perfect features captured me like a firefly in a bottle. “Cheyenne–for you only”.
Should I take a chance? Call him? My insides squished as my heart sped up.
Just then my phone rang.
“Mateo!” I breathed, all thoughts of Jack disappeared.
“Hey, babe,” his deep voice reverberated in my ear. I wanted to sink into the phone. He was my comfort. How could I think about anyone else? “Want to meet me at the beach? Got a surprise for you.”
As I dabbed on my makeup, I decided right then to throw away Jack’s phone number.
Mateo was my man. I didn’t need any of Jack’s drama in my life. Mateo made me happy. It was just that simple.
We met up on the boardwalk next to a small cafe. I clung to his arm, snuggling into him.
The ocean crashed onto the sand as sandpipers cawed around us. It was a private beach–a perfect place for us to meet–a rock star and a pop star. So surreal that this was my life.
I looked up at him, searching his face. His body was stiff. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
Wrapping his arm around me, he answered, “I’ve been thinking a lot about our situation.
“How if we keep going like this, I’m going to lose you. And I’m sick of it, Cheyenne.”
I shook my head. “You’re not going to lose me. I’ve decided, Mateo. I’m going to do everything I can to make room for you. I promise.” Every time I was with him, he made me feel so secure. Happy.
He drew up behind me and put his hands over my eyes.
“What are you doing?” I giggled.
“I don’t want you to make room for me in your life, Cheyenne.”
He swallowed then said, “I want you to be in my life. Forever.”
When he uncovered my eyes, I took in what his surprise was and my throat clenched.
So sorry for my three year hiatus. The pandemic was just too much for me and it got me off track onto other things in my life. Hope to get back to this soon. I have two chapters ready. Stay tuned!
Day & Knight 