When rising tattoo artist Londen Richards lands an unexpected booking with Jaden Hossler, the notorious musician with a love for ink, she never imagines it will be anything more than just another session. But as Jaden sits in her chair, studying her...
The tour had reached a point where everything felt surreal. The cities and venues were blending together, but there was a constant—Jaden’s presence, his energy, his music. Every night, he gave it all. But what stood out to me the most was how much he was evolving. The boy I first met, unsure and distant, had transformed into someone who owned the stage, who had found his voice—not just in his music, but in life, and most of all, in our relationship.
But tonight, something felt different. There was a nervous energy in the air as I stood backstage, watching the final preparations for the show. Jaden was pacing, his guitar slung over his shoulder, his brow furrowed. He had a look in his eyes that told me he was up to something.
“Londen,” he called out as I approached, his voice tight with anticipation. “I need to talk to you for a second.”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What’s going on?”
He flashed me a nervous smile, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m going to ask you something tonight. Something important.”
I felt my heart skip a beat. “What’s that?”
He looked around, making sure no one was nearby, and then pulled me closer. “Just… trust me. It’s going to happen during the show.”
I didn’t know what to make of it, but I nodded, trying to play it cool. “Alright, you’ve got me curious now.”
---
The lights dimmed, and the crowd’s roar filled the air, signaling the start of the show. I watched from the wings as Jaden took his place on stage, the spotlight illuminating him in a way that made him look larger than life. The band began to play the opening chords, and the crowd went wild. But my eyes were focused on him.
The performance was electric, and I could see the way he was pouring his heart into every note. As the set went on, I noticed him glancing at me between songs, his eyes full of meaning. I couldn’t help but wonder what he had planned.
---
The moment arrived.
Jaden stood center stage, the crowd hushed as he took the mic in his hand. The band had finished their set, and the spotlight focused entirely on him. I could feel the tension in the air. This wasn’t just any moment.
He took a deep breath, his fingers gripping the mic stand tightly, his voice shaky as he began to speak.
“Alright, I’ve got something to say,” he said, his words barely audible at first, but the crowd quieted, hanging on to every syllable. “There’s someone who means the world to me. She’s been with me through everything—my music, my highs, my lows. She’s the reason I’ve been able to push myself to be better, to be real.”
My breath caught in my throat as I watched him. My heart raced.
“I’ve written songs about her, I’ve sung about her, but there’s one thing I’ve never done…” Jaden paused, taking a deep breath, his eyes locking with mine in the crowd. “And tonight, I’m going to change that.”
The crowd murmured, sensing that something big was about to happen. I stood frozen, the world spinning around me.
He smiled at me, that warm, familiar smile that always made me feel like I was the only person in the room. “Londen,” he called out softly, his voice reverberating through the mic. “I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I’m here tonight, and I want everyone to know just how much you mean to me.”
The crowd cheered, and my heart swelled with emotion.
Jaden stepped forward, holding out his hand toward me. “So, Londy,” he continued, his eyes never leaving mine. “Will you make me the happiest guy in the world and be my girlfriend?”
I froze. The words had finally come, the moment I’d dreamed about, and yet, I could barely comprehend them. My stomach flipped, and I could feel my face burning with a mix of surprise and joy. The crowd erupted into applause, their cheers deafening, but all I could hear was the sound of Jaden’s heart beating.
Jaden smiled, waiting patiently for my response. His hand was still outstretched, an invitation, a promise. I felt my eyes tear up as I made my way toward him, my legs moving before I could even think.
“Yes,” I whispered, barely able to contain the emotions flooding through me.
Jaden’s face lit up, his expression filled with pure joy. He pulled me into his arms, lifting me slightly off the ground in a tight embrace. The crowd cheered louder, and I felt like I was floating on air, caught in the magic of the moment.
“I love you,” he murmured in my ear, his words sending a rush of warmth through me. “You make me feel like I’m home, like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
“I love you too,” I whispered back, the words feeling more real than ever.
He kissed me softly, and the cheers of the crowd seemed to fade into the background, leaving just the two of us in that perfect moment. The lights, the noise, everything else vanished as we stood there together, in front of thousands of people, but it felt like we were the only ones who mattered.
---
The rest of the show was a blur. Jaden’s energy was even more electrifying than before, and as the final song played, I stood side stage, watching him perform with everything he had. He had just asked me out on stage in front of all those people—and now, everything had changed. We were no longer just two people with a connection. We were more. We were official.
When the show ended, and the crowd erupted into applause, Jaden came off stage with the biggest grin on his face.
“You said yes,” he said, as though he still couldn’t quite believe it.
I laughed, still trying to process everything. “Of course, I did. How could I say no to that?”
He wrapped his arms around me, lifting me up in the air once more. “You just made me the happiest guy alive.”
And as we stood there, surrounded by the buzz of the tour, the people, and the lights, I realized something.
This was the moment I had been waiting for, and I had no idea where this journey would take us, but I was ready to take it together—with him.
