I come down the stairs after Kamden had finished my hair and make up (which I hated) and Jack studied me. All the other boys just stared and I honestly felt a bit uncomfortable.
"Ya look gorgeous," Race says, giving me a hug. I'm pretty sure he's crying. Why, I have no idea. I don't recall there being any reason to cry.
"Yeah, ya look great, Jay," Mush adds, kissing my cheek. I smile at him an kiss his cheek back. I missed Mush.
"Let's go," Jack says, looking at the circle thing which I discovered was called a watch. "The coach is waitin' outside."
"Okay," I say, kissing all of the boys goodbye on their cheeks. Then, Jack takes a gloved hand and leads me out to the coach. "Where 're we goin', Jack?"
"It's the surprise ya been hearin' 'bout," Jack tells me. I give up. I know I could press for hours, but I wouldn't get anything more out of him.
Then, we pull up to the theater. Medda's theater. I'm going to see Medda! That must be it! That's good! I've missed her dearly.
Jack and I approach the door handle and he gives it a yank. It won't budge. He frowns slightly.
"Huh?" he muses. "Medda said it would be unlocked."
"What do ya wanna do?" I ask Jack. He looks at me with tears in his eyes. I have no idea why everyone's crying. He pulls me into him and kisses me on the forehead.
"Let's go around ta the side," Jack suggests. Then, I realize he's not dressed very nicely. I look like I'm fit to meet a Queen and he just has a button down shirt, nice dress slacks, and shined shoes. What's going on here? I play along.
"Whateva ya wanna do, Jack," I tell him. We go around to the side and I see the door that Spot and I had run into when he saved me from the Delancey Brothers. Spot. I sigh. Where is he?
"Let's try this door," Jack suggests, pointing to that very door. I nod. Jack opens the door and there's a phosphorus glow which appears to be cast by candles. "I guess this will woik."
We walk in and I see a small table set for two with a basket of rolls laying out and some sparkling water. Well, it might be wine, since Jack is 'of age'.
"Ya took me ta dinner?" I ask Jack. What is going on? If it's secluded, then why did I have to dress all fancy? I don't understand what is going on.
"No, I did," a voice says behind me. I know that voice. I love that voice. I feel tears rush to my eyes and a hand clamp to my mouth as I turn around and see the man I love standing there. Spot Conlon. Decked out in shined shoes, a dressy suit, a bow tie.
The tears rush from my eyes as I launch myself into Spot arms, bawling my eyes out. I've missed him so much and I love his so much more than that, which is a lot. Sometimes, I debated coming. Home to see him, like when I heard about the Newsie war. I though I should come home to help. But, Brooklyn prevailed, as they always have with a leader like Spot.
I also thought I should come home the time of Tick's death and grieve him among his friends and family. I dearly loved Tick as though he had been my brother. But, Jack told me I sure continue with my studies, as that is what Spot had wanted and what Tick would've wanted.
"Oh my God," I breathe out. Spot holds me close and then, I pull my face away just to look at him. He's shaven all of his potential facial hair which is good. I like when he looks clean and trimmed.
Spot smashes his lips to mine as though he hasn't kissed me in a million years and it certainly feels that way. I melt into the kiss, our salty tears mixing as we both cry. We pull away and kiss again for another long moment.
"Thanks, Jack," Spot says. Jack nods curtly. Then, he exits the room, closing the door behind him.
"I missed ya so much," I tell Spot. He takes my hand and sits me in a chair. He pushes it in for me and hands me a bowl of salad and a roll.
"I missed ya too. It was killin' me to not see ya beautiful face everyday," Spot says. I blush and know he sees it, even in the fun light. "So, how was school?"
"It was amazin'," I tell him. "I learned so much and got ta do so much. But, I'm so relieved ta be home."
"I'm glad you's here too," Spot informs me, squeezing my hand slightly. I smile at him brightly and take a bite of salad.
"How is ya new job goin'?" I ask Spot, eating another bite. His face falters.
"Well, I love it 'n everything, but--," he begins. But, I know what he's going to say.
"Ya miss bein' a Newsie," I fill in. Spot nods, staring at me a moment before speaking.
"How'dja get ova it?" Spot asks me. I shrug.
"It was hard at foist, but I jus kept tellin' me-self that is was somethin' I had ta do eventually," I say. Then, I add. "Break away from bein' a Newsie, I mean."
"It was hard," Spot complains.
"I know, especially for us 'cuz we had special roles in the Newsie woild," I explain. He nods and we finish our salad. Then, Spot gets two bowls of pasta, which is one of my favorite foods, despite the lack of Italian in my body. "Thanks."
"God, you's so beautiful," Spot says out of the blue. I blush.
"Thanks, ya ain't so bad ya-self," I tell him. I twirl some of the pasta and take a bite. Spot stares at me.
We keep talking about anything and everything. It feels so surreal, being with him, after I've been gone so long. I stare lovingly in his icy blue eyes. I can't tear my gaze away. I love him so much, it's hard to warp my head around just how much I love him.
Then, at the end of the meal, a chill rips through the room. I turn to grab my shawl, but it falls off the back of my chair. I turn to get and wrap it around my body. I turn back around and see Spot standing there beside me. Then, he stares directly at me.
"I could get used ta this," he says. "Jus the two a us. I'm in love wit ya, Jaylinn, and I know I will be me entire life."
I open my mouth to tell him I love him too, but then, he does something that stops the flow of words from my mouth completely.
He gets down on one knee and pulls out a ring....
"Spot--?" I begin, tears dancing in my eyes.
"Marry me, Jaylinn?" Spot asks. I nods, tears dripping over the edges of my eyes like waterfalls.
"Yes, yes, I love you!" I exclaim. Spot puts the ring on my finger and kisses me passionately he wraps his arms tightly around my waist and I grip the back of his head. We go over to the couch and my back hits the cold surface.
Spot pulls away abruptly. "Are you sure about this?"
"Of course."
YOU ARE READING
Brooklyn *Spot Conlon Love Story*
Romansa"In my defense, I've never really known a guy as more than a friend. Never really looked at a guy that way and don't see why I should." ~ Jaylinn Kelly. Yes, she says that now, but what happens when she meets the fearless, King of Brooklyn and her...
