I recall the screaming coming through thewall in the VIP area and now I’m positive Ryan was the cause of thepiercing cries.
“That’s huge,” I press my cheek into themattress and don’t know what else to say about it.
Ryan sighs, “Alana, I need to know where yourhead is at.”
“In terms of what?” I immediatelyrespond.
“Of us, our future.”
Future?I stare silently at one of thelarge crystal candelabra’s sprinkled around the room, glimmering inthe candlelight.
“You’re going to be done with schoolsoon-”
“I don’t have a job lined up yet,” Iinterrupt him.
“I know, that’s why I need to know,” hepauses, pressing harder against my muscles causing me to groan.“The owners approached me a few days ago, they’re expanding.Opening a Culture in Las Vegas and they want me to headlineit.”
“What?” I push myself up and Ryan rolls offme. I sit up, covering my bare breasts with my arm; my hair fallinglike a golden veil around my body. “Is that what you want? To go toVegas?”
“Yes,” he answers and it stops my heart.
“Is this what you were trying to tell meright before you licked me senseless all afternoon?”
“Sort of.” Ryan’s mouth spreads into a wide,salacious smile. “But just so we’re clear. I only licked yousenseless because that’s how I wanted to spend my afternoon. Notbecause I was keeping it from you. I just didn’t know how toask.”
“Ask what?”
“If you’ll come with me.”
“What?”
“Alana, just listen,” he scoots onto hisknees, “This would be major money for me, a chance to set us up fora good long while. And maybe you can find a job in Vegas? Youruncle might know someone. And it wouldn’t be permanent. We’ll comeback, because I know New York is where you want to be.”
“New York is where I want to be. But whatabout your graphic design business? You’ve been doing so well.”
“It’s been good,” he agrees, “and I’ll stilldo it, but it’s going to take me a long time to build a reputableplatform. This opportunity will be a chance for me to put some realmoney in the bank. And it will let me support you so you can getout from under your dad.”
“Is that what this is really about? Myfather?” I retort.
“No, not him, us,” Ryan looks anxious, “andmoving forward.”
“Forward?”
“Yes.” He hesitates. “I need to know…what Imean is…I want to know if…” Ryan is fumbling all over himself and Ihave no idea what he’s trying to say, until it dawns on me like thesun. My heart flutters. He wants to know if I’ll marry him.
I try not to concentrate on the future toomuch; my main focus is the present. Finishing law school, getting astellar job and living independently; but there’s been times I letmy mind wander past all that. And yes, it’s Ryan I see standingnext to me when I imagine it. But now? It feels so soon. And yet,indisputably right.
“Ryan,” I interrupt his nervous rambling, “doyou want to know if I’ll marry you?”
He nods his head, his eyes as big as blueporcelain saucers.
I smile sweetly, “You’re going to have to askme to find out.”
His face falls, “That’s your answer?”
I shrug my shoulders; that’s all I’m givingaway.
“What about Vegas?”