Keep on Keeping on BOOK ONE

Chapter 22

As we walked along the street, looking in the windows of different jewellers, hand in hand, Brendon got recognised a few times. Some people just waved and said hello, whilst others asked for a selfie. I looked in the window of a jewellery shop and saw it. The ring. I gasped when I saw it. It was a sapphire stone, surrounded by small diamonds. Sapphire is my birthstone. And this ring was exquisite to me. Brendon must have looked around to see where I was. He was chatting to some fans. As soon as his attention was away from them, they called after him. Brendon stood next to me.
"Is is that the r-ring?" Brendon asked. I looked at him with tears in my eyes, nodding. He held my hand and kissed my cheek. The fans were tugging at him, to get his attention back onto them.
"Excuse me guys, I need to go in here and buy my fiancée her engagement ring." He explained. One of the girls who looked about 19 or 20 said quietly, thinking that no one could hear her;
"Why is he with her anyway? Look at her she's fat and ugly! He can have a beauty like me rather than that fat bitch!"
Brendon had heard her too and he stopped in his tracks. I was inside the store at this point, but I heard what Brendon said.
"My fiancée is beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. You may have attractive packaging but the inside is nothing but ugly with comments like that being made! You aren't a true fan if that's your mindset about other people." Then he came into the jewellers.
We asked to see the ring. I tried it on and it needed resizing as it was too big. So Brendon paid the deposit and we left the store.
"What shall we do now?" Brendon asked. I sighed and held his hand.
"B, I need a vacation. A proper one. I haven't really had one for like 18 months or something."
We stopped walking. Brendon turned to look at me.
"18 months?! Babe that's crazy! How are you still functioning?" I shrugged. "I know you may not want to, but why don't we book one together?"
"I would love to B. Just us though. Where could we go?"
"Of course just us and maybe one of the islands, Hawaii or Honolulu?"
"Oooo Hawaii sounds good." I said grinning, thinking about going on vacation. Brendon suggested that we go back to his house and look at vacation resorts in Hawaii. So that's what we did.
We booked into a private rental within a hotel. The hotel was 5 star and located on the north West of Hawaii. The flights were booked and we were leaving in 3 days for 10 days of pure relaxation. I notified work that I was on vacation. It seems the label had other ideas though and wanted me to go into the office for meetings and prep for Panics world tour. I had no idea why, everything was booked. I had secured different things with different European companies and other world wide organisations. I needed the timeoff. I was burnt out. I told Brendon and he spoke with the label and said I needed some time off. I had more or less workd non-stop for 18 months. They backed off.
I asked Brendon to drop me home. I wanted to spend some time with Lauren. I hadn't seen her since New York.
I called Lauren and asked her if she wanted to hang out. She came straight over. It was so good to see her. I have missed her. She said she's hoping to get a promotion at work. Assistant Manager. Fingers crossed she gets it.
I cooked us some dinner and we watched a movie, Scream, cos you know Ghostface. We drank a lot of wine, so Lauren ended up staying over. She slept in my bed with me because the guestroom wasn't made up. I told her all about tour and that I have chosen my engagement ring. I also told her about mine and Brendons vacation.
"So," I started. Lauren looked at me. "You and Dan? How? When?I need details Lau." Lauren laughed.
"We exchanged numbers in New York and were texting a lot. Then there were phone calls. We realised that we have a lot in common and decided to go on a date next week." Lauren explained. I nodded.
"Dan's a really sweet guy Lauren. I really like him and if you 2 did end up together that would be amazing. I know, I know it's just a date." I said putting my hands up to deflect any protest Lauren made. "And if it doesn't go anywhere after the first date, then you have made a new friend." I hugged Lauren and we continued watching the movie.

The next afternoon I had to go shopping for vacation things. I needed some new bikinis, beach towels, beach hat and new sunglasses. I needed lots of holiday clothes, suncream and after sun. I definitely needed a wax. And my hair needed a cut and highlights. I booked myself in for those. After my hair nails and wax I went clothes shopping. I had gotten the majority of things I would need. I was going to get the remainder tomorrow. I also needed to pack my suitcase and carry on, find my passport out and then drive over to Brendons. I was staying there as our flight was a morning flight. By the time I would be finished I would need this vacation even more.
I opened my front door and took my shopping bags in. I then went back for the suitcase. I wheeled it then carried it up the steps of my front porch.
I sat down and checked my phone. I had a few messages. Nicole had text me so I called her. We caught up and made plans for after we got back from vacation. Brendon had messaged saying he loved and missed me. I said
'Ditto x'
'Baby I want to see you x'
'B x'
'What? X'
'Come over then 😉 x'
'OK, be there soon 😘 x'

I laughed because I could imagine him texting that out, grabbing his car keys and racing out the door. I got off the sofa and took my shopping bags into the guestroom, along with the suitcase. Brendon must have been nearby because he knocked on the door.
"It's open." I called out as I managed to lug the suitcase onto the bed and open it.
"Maddie?" Brendon called.
"In the guestroom B." His cute face peeped around the doorway.
"Hey baby." He said and kissed me.
"Hey B." I say smiling.
"You are packing already?" Brendon asked.
"Some, yes. I bought a lot of stuff today, for the vacation, so I might as well pack it." Brendons eyes widened when he saw what I was pulling out of the shopping bags. There was a long black dress I had bought. It had a slit in it and it was off the shoulder. I thought it would be nice for an evening out somewhere. Brendon came behind me and put his arms around my waist.
"I can't wait to see you in that dress. I bet you look so sexy in it." He murmured and kissed my neck. I softly moaned and turned to face him. I kissed him and well you can,guess what happened next.