Tender (Damon Albarn)

Days Three And Four

a/n: Ayeeee guess who's back!!!
I've been gone for too bloody long, sorry for my unannounced break I've just been so busy and I've had the biggest hit of writer's block ever. I'm going to get back into writing because I really do want to finish this and loads of my other works because they just help me escape. I'm gonna shut up before I get deep.

I've also come back because people actually enjoy this book and I have over 7k reads and so many positive comments about 'Tender' and my mind is completely blow by that, thank you all so much ❤️

Damon

I paced around our hotel room in anticipation, waiting for Jessica to return from a private conversation Cristina wanted to have with her. I nervously messed with the small box inside my pocket that constantly stays in the pocket of every pair of pants I wear.

There was more to this trip than relaxation, there was something I wanted to do. I pull the box out of my pocket and flip it's lid upwards, exposing the ring inside meant for Jessica's finger. I sigh and snap the box shut.

"Idiot," I mutter to myself, "she's not ready for marriage..."

I slide the box back into my pocket and sit down on the bed. I place my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands and sigh, thinking how I should do it and if now is the right time. My head quickly snaps up and out of my hands as I realise something. I stand up straight and rush out of the room to go find Valentino.

I quickly walk down to Valentino's office, being careful not to bump into Jess and Cristina on my way there. I reach the wooden door of the office in a matter of moments. I stand outside for a moment, reluctant to knock as I bring my clenched fist to the door, then quickly withdraw it away from the wood as if it was a snake. I stand there for a while longer, contemplating what to do, until then, suddenly, the door opens in front of my and there stands Valentino.

"Damon!" He greets me, "How can I help you?"

"Uh, well...I need to ask you some questions..." I say uncertainly as I'm not sure how to approach the topic.

"Of course," Valentino smiles and steps out of the way of the door, "please, come in."

I nod and walk into his office. It's a decent size with a paper-stacked desk, filing cabinets and a few adjacent, comfortable-looking chairs around the room.

"Please, sit," Valentino gestures to the chair in front of his desk.

I sit down as he shuts the door and sits on the opposite side of his desk, "So, what is it you wanted to ask me?"

My gaze averts to my lap and I think of how to ask the question. I sigh, bring my eyes up to him and say, "I want to propose to Jess, but I don't know how. Could you help me?"

His eyes widen, "You don't know how to propose? Well, you get down on one knee an-"

"With all due respect, Valentino, I'd like to keep this serious," I ask.

"I understand, this is a very serious matter."

I nod and sigh nervously, "So, what do I do?"

Valentino leaned back in his chair, his index and middle finger rested on his chin as his face screwed up in deep thought. I sat there, bouncing my knee nervously as I waited for his answer. Suddenly, he straightened himself up, widened his eyes and snapped his fingers.

"Paradiso!" He exclaimed.

"Pardon?" I asked, very confused as to what he meant.

"Paradiso!" He said again, "It is the most romantic restaurant in the whole of Italia! Jessica always uses to say she'd want her true love to take her there!"