He shakes his head. “I can’t believe I’m going to do this. This song, it’s telling her—and the world—exactly how I feel. I’ve never put myself out there like this before.”
“Now who’s being dramatic?” I tease. “Your family and friends are going to hear it, not exactly the world.”
He looks around the room. “No, but they’re my world. The people who I care about most.”
“And the people who will both tease you mercilessly and be happy for you. Is she worth a little teasing?”
He glances at her out on the dance floor, his eyes filling with emotion. “I keep picturing our own wedding. I want to marry her, Keats. I’d do it today if I could. I know we’re young. I know it’s crazy. But I would. My dad would freak if I told him that.”
I give him a hug. “You’re an adult, Damian. You have to make decisions about your life. Well, almost. A few more weeks and my froggy becomes a man,” I say with a laugh.
“Peyton wants to plan something for me. Should I let her, or should we stick with tradition?”
“We’ve been going bowling and then out for hot wings on your birthday for a long time. Why don’t you let me help her plan something and we’ll surprise you.”
“Sounds good.” He nods and takes a deep breath. “Okay, I’m doing this.”
He goes onstage, slings his guitar around him, and addresses us.
“I think we all know the story about when Tommy and Abby met. How people in the room swore they could see the sparks fly. Or, so my dad says.” He laughs. “No offense, but I always kinda thought it was bullshit. A fairy tale made up to sell more movies. But then it happened to me. I’ve been working on this song since the moment I met her. The melody kept playing in my head. And as soon as Keats told me the French word for fate is sort, the rest of the lyrics flowed. This song is called ‘Sorta like Fate.’”
Aiden joins me on the dance floor and wraps his arms around me. “Sorta like fate? I told you that, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, you did.”
Damian gently plays a few chords on his guitar and starts singing beautifully.
“You’re my faith and inspiration,
You're the ink in my tattoo.
You’re the water in my desert,
All I think about is you.
You're the sun in all my sunsets,
You’re the wind in every breeze.
You’re the moon on my horizon,
You’re the one that makes me breathe.
It’s sorta like fate that we’re together,
It’s sorta like fate that we’re both here,
It’s sorta like you and me forever.
My destiny is near.
It's sorta like you and me against everything,
It's sorta like fate . . .
It’s sorta like fate . . .
You’re the joy in all my madness,
You’re the fire in my flame.
You’re the smile from across the room,
You’re the thought I can’t erase.
You’re my happy ever after,
You’re the beating of my heart.
You’re the words that fill my pages,
You’re the light in all my dark.
It’s sorta like fate that we’re together,
It’s sorta like fate that we’re both here,
It’s sorta like you and me forever.
My destiny’s so clear.
It's sorta like everything that I ever need,
It's sorta like fate . . .
The spark to all my passion,
My future standing there.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
You’re everything I’ve ever wanted,
So, baby, don’t be scared.
It’s sorta like fate that we’re together,
It’s sorta like fate that we’re both here,
It’s sorta like you and me forever.
I’m your destiny, my dear.
It's sorta like you and me against everything,
It's sorta like fate . . .
It's sorta like fate . . .
It’s sorta like fate . . .
It’s sorta like fate.
You pull on me like gravity,
I wanna get down on one knee.
The world can spin around us,
Cuz, baby, now it’s you and me.”
“Wow,” I whisper. “That was beautiful.”
Aiden spins me around to face him. “Did you help him write that?”
“Not really. I just helped with the chorus.”
“Is the song about us?”
“No, he wrote it for your sister.”
“But you helped with the lyrics?”
“A little, when we were in St. Croix. I couldn’t sleep and heard him working on it. So I went down to the beach and we just had a conversation about love at first sight and what it feels like.”
“And you were thinking about me?”
I don’t answer his question but, rather, ask one of my own. It’s something I’ve been wondering about. “Do you really think we’re sorta like fate, Aiden? Or was that just the player in you talking?”
Aiden takes my chin in his hand and looks deep into my eyes. “Player Aiden never talked about things like love, fate, or marriage. Just like the stars, all that is only for you. Want to know my favorite part of the song?”
I nod.
“The world can spin around us because, baby, now it’s you and me.”
“Why is that part your favorite?”
“Because that’s what I want more than anything. To only have to worry about us.”
“And not all the stalker and Brooklyn stuff?”