Read Out of the Shadow for Free Online Page A

slow smile.
    “ Don’t call me that,” she said as she fingered the damp tendrils curling at the collar of his t-shirt. “Getting a little long, huh?”
    He shrugged and draped an arm around her shoulders. “Maybe. Come on back to the dressing room.”
    Parker led the way to the tiny dressing room and opened the door. The room was cluttered with battered furniture and an old dressing table. A dingy off-white refrigerator stood in the corner and Ren immediately opened it up, tossing bottles of water to whoever requested one.
    Cole plopped into a wide recliner and pulled Ally down beside him. She nestled into his side, not able to take her eyes off of him as the conversation roared to life around her. RJ was regaling Lisa with stories of their youth as Ren and Parker explained the last couple of venues they’d played to Jamie.
    Cole toyed with her hair and tucked a strand behind her ear as he leaned closer. “Take a walk with me, Al, will you?”
    “ Sure,” she said, getting to her feet.
    Cole stopped near the dressing table and dug through a bag, shoving something in his pocket. He clapped Jamie on the shoulder and smiled. “We’ll be back in a few.”
    “ Yeah, sure,” Jamie said, rolling his eyes. He glanced at his watch and shot Ally a look. “Not too long, cuz. We need to get back real soon.”
    “ I know,” she said, ignoring the niggle of anxiety in her stomach. She laced her fingers through Cole’s and followed him to an empty dressing room down the hall.
    This room was void of furniture but for one dusty sofa shoved against a wall. Cole sat and tugged Ally down next to him. He kissed her softly and smiled as he pulled away.
    “ I’ve really missed you, Al,” he said.
    “ I’ve missed you,” she said. She held his hands in hers, eyes still on his face, afraid that if she looked away, he’d disappear again.
    “ Al,” he said as he sucked in a deep breath. “I’ve been doing some thinking…”
    “ Cole,” she said, her eyes wide and sparkling with fear. “What kind of thinking?”
    He chuckled and hugged her quickly, pressing kisses into her hair. “Not that kind of thinking – I’m not stupid.” He eased her back and smiled. “I was thinking a lot about us and stuff. I love you, very much, and it gets so hard being away from each other that sometimes I feel like I can’t breathe.”
    “ Me, too,” she whispered, squeezing his hands.
    “ And I thought a lot about…well…” he sighed and dropped her hands to rake his fingers through his hair. He stood and dug a tiny box out of the front pocket of his jeans. He sat back down and took her left hand. “I wanted to ask you to marry me but I know it’s way too soon. I know you want to get some college under your belt.”
    She nodded, not able to speak, her eyes tearing up and her heart a frantic mess.
    “ So, I didn’t buy an engagement ring. I bought you this instead.” He pinched the box open to reveal a thin gold band with two interlocking hearts encrusted with shimmering diamonds and rubies. He plucked it out of the box and slipped it nervously on her finger. “The man at the jewelry store kept talking about promise rings and I really didn’t pay much attention so I’m not sure exactly what they are. I guess that’s what this is, I don’t know. What this one means to me is that I love you more than anything and that one day soon, I’m going to replace this ring with an engagement ring. That’s what I wanted it to say. And stuff.”
    She sniffed as a couple tears leaked from her eyes. She nodded, touched not only by his gift but by the raw honesty of his words and the tinge of red painting his cheeks. She smiled at the beautiful ring then threw her arms around his neck and held him tightly.
    “ Thank you,” she whispered as he gave her a squeeze. “I love it and I love you.”
    “ I know, princess,” he said as he rubbed her back.
    “ Hey!” Jamie shouted as he pounded on the door. “I’ve got to get the girls