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That was just like him. How dare he? I couldn’t stomp off stage like I wanted to though. Hallow would want to see what upset me so much. He’d demand to see the note. The devil was in those details. The devil was Kingpin. He always thought of everything.
He forced my hand or rather my voice.
Smiling nervously, Hallow studied me like I was having a bout of stage fright. I tucked the note into my pocket. I’d sing my heart out, looking at the man I truly loved, Hallow. Then I would join him so he could pop the question again.
If only he would do it now and stop this. Hallow’s hand was in his pocket. I gave him one more second before I started the song.
As I listened to the words coming from me, I almost laughed. I was no great lyricist, but clearly Kingpin wanted me to beg him to come back. Even if it exposed me. I should understand I made him angry? He wanted me to apologize? He was seriously conceited. I was the only person that should be angry. Unlike what the song claimed, it was far too late for us. But I made sure to hit the highs all the same. The part that got me was about turning back time. I’d really wanted to with Hallow. I wanted Hallow all along.
Kingpin wanted me to have those feelings for him. I had. As the song dragged on, I reversed it, as if it was a duet. I’d like to say I wasn’t affected at all. Touched by the rest of the words, I felt them dig up emotions I thought I’d completely squashed. Singing about losing him hurt me the most. Mostly, I felt like he wanted me to admit that what we did wasn’t all wrong. However, by the end I only felt like the song pretty much summed us up. Kingpin was having me sing a sad goodbye to him.
He’d missed the actual goodbye I sang to him before.
When I stepped off the stage I was almost in tears. Hallow stood as everyone clapped, but I had to excuse myself to the ladies' room. In the stall, I read the rest of Kingpin’s note.
My Angel,
Sing your song to the man you love, me, “Right On Time,” Brandi Carlile.
Although I preferred your song. Come back to me. I’m ready to tell the truth tonight. With or without you.
- Beau
Shit on a brick. Leaving the bathroom as quickly as I could, I had to stop him. I went straight to Hallow. I stood beside him, waiting. He didn’t move.
I gave him a hint. “I know what’s in your pocket.”
Standing up, Hallow searched his pocket.
“It’s on the inside,” I said, trying to help him out.
Hallow produced the box. But his face scrunched up full of confusion as he held it out. He opened it.
“It’s your ring,” he announced like he hadn’t known it was there.
Regardless, everyone quieted, thinking he was about to drop to one knee. At a nearby table Ember, who was all smiles, started filming us on her phone. She gave me a thumbs up.
Kingpin shouted out, “Wait.” He appeared between us.
No one seemed bothered. Fuck. The club thought he was simply calling attention to what was about to happen.
But fuck a duck, I knew what he planned to do.
“I have something to say. Something that may come as a surprise to everyone,” Kingpin announced.
Holy shit.
Nevertheless, no one in the club batted an eye. They didn’t expect what was coming. Hallow looked at his President like he was about to praise him. Like he was going to say what a lovely couple we made.
“Yes, Hallow. Yes,” I tried to answer his unspoken proposal to stop Kingpin’s speech.
Hallow spoke up. “I hadn’t been planning to, but of course, I want to marry you again, Eve. This ring just appeared in my pocket. I guess it’s the perfect night for it.”
As he moved to read the note, the wheels in my head were spinning.
Kingpin opened his mouth.
“You shut it down. You don’t say a goddamn word,” I barked at him.
