Chapter 2

Lucian raised an eyebrow and tapped the steering wheel.

"Oh great, you're mad again. Go home, sleep it off. You'll feel better tomorrow."

He glanced at his phone and muttered. "Chloe left something at the venue. I'll go back and find it."

I nodded. "Okay."

Got out. Closed the door.

He watched me from the driver's seat for two seconds. Something felt off.

Then the taillights flashed and the car pulled away.

I went upstairs alone.

His jacket hung over the back of the couch. The collar still smelled like cedar.

The balcony door was half open. Words were carved into the railing.

He'd scratched them with a key the day we moved in. Crooked letters. A strip of paint scraped off.

"Seraphina Sterling, one day I'm going to marry you."

He'd just closed his first round of funding. On top of the world. He picked me up and spun me around twice in the empty living room.

"Once I've made it, I'll give you the wedding of a lifetime."

I believed him.

I waited eight years.

Year one, he said the company was just starting. Give it time.

Year three, he said they were expanding. He couldn't leave.

Year five, he said it was almost done. Next year for sure.

Year eight.

I stood on the balcony, tracing the carved words with my finger.

Where the paint had chipped, rust had crept in.

The ring box pressed hard against my hip.

I took it out. Opened it.

The diamond caught a bit of light from the living room and flashed.

If he wasn't going to ask, I would.

Three months of working up the nerve.

Calling the organizers, filming the video, buying the ring, getting Sadie and the others to set up the restaurant.

And I barely touched the mic.

The lock clicked. I put the ring away.

Lucian walked in and tossed his keys on the console table.

He saw me looking at the balcony railing and raised an eyebrow.

"What's so interesting? Come to bed."

I didn't move. "Did you find it for her?"

"Yeah."

He walked past me and started taking off his watch.

"Lucian." I stopped him.

"It's over."

His hands stopped for a beat.

Then he scoffed.

"Over a song request? Really?"

"She's never been to a live show. What's wrong with letting her have a turn?"

"I can't have another woman around besides you?"

He sounded tired. "Enough. I said I'd book you a show. Go to sleep. I have investors tomorrow."

He kept walking toward the bedroom.

I looked at him walking away.

"The Sterlings are hosting a dinner next week. They'll make an announcement."

"After that, we're done."