Page 67 of The Ghost of You

I pull on Mason’s arm to bring him back to sitting next to me on the couch.

“What the fuck? Who is that?” he asks me.

I just grin and pass over the popcorn. “Dee’s ex. My best friend. Those two loved each other hard and fought each other harder. I accidentally spilled the beans about seeing him.”

Mason looks at me in understanding. “So you let her know he would be here?” I nod. He looks down at the popcorn I am offering him. “And you thought it would be entertaining?”

I chuckle. “Oh it will be entertaining alright.”

Mason gives me that goofy grin. “Good, I could use some entertainment after the long-ass day I had.”

We sit there and watch the two of them argue for fifteen minutes. I don’t even think they realize we are still sitting here.

My mouth nearly hits the floor when Seraphina spills a huge secret I didn’t even know about. “You proposed to me, Darnell. Do you not remember that? After all that fighting we did, when I finally spent three weeks with you on tour, you proposed!”

Darnell grabs her arms. “I remember everything about that Sera. I fucking loved you.”

“But then you slept with that groupie!”

Oh fuck.

“You told me you would only marry me if I quit the band!”

“I was overemotional, okay? You know I always have been!”

Darnell sits on the arm of the couch across from us, burying his face in his hands. “I made a goddamn mistake, Seraphina. A huge mistake.”

Mason leans over and whispers in my ear. “This is intense.”

“And entertaining,” I interject.

“It’s like a soap opera.”

“Aren’t you glad I brought the popcorn?” I look at him and smile.

“Extremely.” He places his hand on my thigh and I tense. He must notice the movement because he immediately removes it. Darnell starts to sniffle. “Oh shit, is he crying?”

Seraphina kneels in front of him. “I never should have said those words to you, Darnell. I was selfish and an idiot. I wanted you all to myself. I’ve never been good at sharing.”

“You didn’t need to share me, Sera. You just needed to let me live my dream.”

“I wanted you to.”

He shakes his head. “No, you didn’t. My dream wasn’t just the music. It was you.” He looks up at her, tears trailing his espresso skin. “You were my dream, Sera. I wanted you there by my side every step of the way.”

I bring my hand to my chest. This is so romantic. Sera better make the right choice.

She brings her hands to cup his face. “You were my dream too, Darnell. Is it too late for us?”

His hands go over hers. “It’s never too late.”

They both go at each other at the same time. Their lips locking, their hands everywhere, moaning each other’s names as they fall backward onto the couch Darnell was sitting on.

Mason clears his throat and they both shoot off the couch.

Seraphina smiles at me and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen her look so happy.

“Ugh, sorry, man. I’m going to need to take a raincheck on the songwriting tonight.” Darnell grabs Sera’s hand and pulls her out the door before Mason or I can even respond.

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