Page 84 of All Right No
“I’m certainly going to be coming,” some lady in one of the front rows yelled, waving a Black Halo branded dildo in the air.
Words were going to have to be spoken post-show to somebody about that particular item’s availability.
“Unless you want to give me a ride on the real thing.”
Xane flashed her a wicked smile. “Darling, I’d love to, but I don’t think the one you have there belongs to me.” He swept his arms to the side, and the lighting gods illuminated a blushing Rock Giant.
“Anyway, getting back to the purpose of this moment.” He dropped his voice down low. “Mr. Gore would like a few words.”
Oh shit! This was the moment. “That’s right,” he said into his mic. “One moment, please.”
Ash unhooked his guitar and handed it over to one of the techies on standby in the wings, before moving over to the main mic where Xane was standing. His friend clapped him on the back and then gave him some space.
Ash drew in a deep breath then let it go, pushing all his doubts about what he was about to do out along with it. “Hi guys.”
Screams erupted.
“I think a few of you are aware that I’ve had a pretty ropey time over the last few months. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it out here to see you again.”
There were assorted cries of sympathy and hollers of, “We love you, Ash,” that filled his heart up to capacity and kept him going.
“I’m not going to bore you with all the details, which aren’t very exciting, but I do want to take this opportunity to say thank you to a very special person. Ladies and gents, that person is Ginny Walters, and without her, I wouldn’t be here.”
Fantastic crowd that they were, they honoured his lady with massive roars of approval.
“Ginny,” he waited until they were listening again. “I don’t deserve you, and I realise you’re probably cursing me now for putting you on the spot, but thank you, and I love you.” Applause erupted. Ash licked his lips. “Also, will you marry me?”
The whole auditorium erupted into cheers, while a contingent down at the front keenly volunteered to console him if she said no.
Ash raised his hand to shield his eyes from the glare of the lights. He wasn’t sure if she was out there in the crowd or back stage at this minute, so it was difficult to know in which direction to look. His heart climbed up his throat as he waited and waited. It felt like an eternity, the minutes stretching on, while sweat beaded across his brow and tension knotted all the muscles in his back. He’d planned this moment as he’d wanted to let the whole world know how he felt about her, but getting here had involved conquering mountains he’d been pretending for years didn’t exist. Even buying the ring had proved tricky. He’d done that before when he was head over heels about Connie, and the result certainly hadn’t resembled his imaginings.
“Ginny, are you out there?”
He closed his eyes and took a breath. What if she wasn’t? What if she didn’t appear, or did the unspeakable and said no?
She wouldn’t. She wasn’t that sort of woman. He’d told her all about Connie, about how he’d thought he’d done everything right, and then got down on bended knee and discovered nothing was as he imagined. He still didn’t know the whole truth of that episode of his life, and recognised that he almost certainly never would. But it didn’t matter. He wasn’t the same person he’d been back then, and Ginny was nothing like Connie.
Nothing at all like her.
He stuck his hand in his pocket and fingered the ring he’d bought. It had been burning a hole in his pocket since mid-October. He’d bought it right after he’d been given the all clear to tour. Rather than heading straight home after that piece of fantastic news, he’d wandered around Stockholm for a bit, allowing his emotions to catch up with themselves. Somehow, he’d ended up in a backstreet with an old-fashioned jeweller’s store. He’d seen the ring in the window and immediately known it was the one.
Of course, going home and finding a way to check her ring size to ensure he hadn’t made a mistake without cluing her in to his intentions had been an interesting challenge. Dorky challenges, involving the measuring and comparisons of certain lengths and girths—mostly of his cock—had eventually yielded the required information.
“I’m here, Ash.”
He got down onto one knee. The spotlight blinded him, so he couldn’t tell looking up if her expression was one of pleasure, but she put her hand in his when he reached out, and didn’t back away when he slipped the engagement ring past her knuckle. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
See—his nightmares had been unfounded. She was nothing like Connie.
On his feet again, Ash crushed her in an embrace and kissed her. His heart was fit to burst, and he couldn’t speak. Tears gathered in his eyes, and the bastards up in the control box showed those close-ups on the big screens.
Happy tears.
Everyone would know he was a soppy romantic, but he guessed he’d clued them in on that score already.
“Take her home.” Rock Giant wolf whistled.
