Chapter 10 – Brandon

The rest of Nina's stay in Vegas passed similarly to that first night. Nina's friends joined the band and I for nights out before Nina and I made our way back to my room in Caesar's and fucked until we were both too exhausted to carry on. A lot of our time together was also spent talking, reciting countless stories of exhilarating and embarrassing moments that each of us had missed out on hearing over the years we'd been apart. She wanted to know everything about the band, and I wanted to know everything about her. Seeing her back in Vegas was spectacular, and I worked very hard to push the thought of her having to leave eventually to the back of my mind. It didn't work for long.

"When do you leave?" We were in a small, dark Las Vegas side-street bar, crowded around a sticky, round table and perched on small stools. Ronnie's question surprised me and made me swallow hard. I bowed my head and turned my glass coke bottle around in my hands before lifting it to my mouth and taking a generous gulp. Nina's eyes found me, burning into my cheek as I lowered my gaze back down to my lap and leaned one hand against my knee. She leaned forward and lifted my hand, entwining her fingers with mine and giving my hand a small squeeze. I'd noticed earlier in the week that she was wearing the gold charm bracelet I'd bought her once and I concentrated on its intricacy so as not to lose my mind at the thought of her leaving. Again.

"Our flight is at 11:30am tomorrow morning."

Fuck.

"Well, then, we'd better give you one hell of a send-off girls!"

I wanted to kill Ronnie, there and then. I could imagine tomorrow's headlines: 'The Killers frontman lives up to his band's name and murders drummer'. Instead, I glared at him.

The rest of the night passed in a blur, Ronnie necking bottles of beer faster than I was downing my cokes. That night, I was only truly happy when I was back in bed with Nina, her body pressed to my side and her head against my chest. A lump formed in my throat when she twisted her head and rested my chin just above my armpit and said "I don't want to go, Brandon."

"You don't have to, baby."

A canyon of skin appeared above her nose as she frowned pensively, contemplating what I'd said. A strand of hair fell from behind her ear and dangled in front of her eye. She forced a puff of breath upwards from her mouth, making the strand blow upwards for a second before landing exactly where it had done initially. She giggled a contagious laugh which made me chuckle as I reached up and pushed the rebellious lock of hair back behind her ear.

"Thank you." She smiled sweetly, dimples appearing like little canyons in her cheeks as the corners of her mouth lifted up. She was perfect.

"I don't want you to go back to Phoenix, Nina."

"Me neither, I wish I could just stay with you, here."

There was no contemplation about it, no deliberation going on in my mind, no angels or devils on my shoulders fighting over my decision. I knew it already: I wanted her to stay.

"Then stay. I'll be going back to my place in a couple of days anyway, you can come with me."

"What are you saying Brandon?"

I considered her question, and then decided that I was just going to say it outright. I was asking a lot of her, I was asking her to uproot from a place where she had a home, had friends. It was extremely selfish of me, but I couldn't help it. The thought of not seeing her every day agonised me with resurfacing memories of life without her. I didn't want either of us to go through that again.

"I want you to move in with me. In Vegas."

Almost immediately, I noticed a thick band of water develop across her lower eyelids which acted as a barrier for them, the only thing holding them back. She looked at me with wide, innocent eyes, seemingly searching my face for any hint that I was lying. She'd be looking a long time, because I'd never been as serious about anything in my life.

"Are you sure? I mean, you haven't seen me in so long. You don't know that you want to live with me, surely."

"I know exactly what I want, and that is to spend what's left of my life by your side. I understand if that's not what you want, but it's all I've wanted since the day I met you darlin'."

A wide smile spread across her face and then she lunged at me and wrapped her arms around my neck. She left quick, happy kisses all over my face before landing a heavy smooch on my lips, pulling back and saying "I'd love nothing more than to live with you, Brandon."

A wave of relief washed over me, a huge smile erupting and a thrilled laugh exploding from my lungs. I grabbed her and pulled her on top of me so that she was straddling me and pulled her towards me in a tight hug. I was elated, my imagination wild at the thought of living with her. I pressed my lips to hers and kissed her gently, still holding her tight.

"I'm never going to let you go now, you know that?"

She laughed gently, her shoulders vibrating. "You're never going to have to."

And with those six words, the worry that shrouded my mind, holding it back from being truly happy retreated, leaving my mind clear and truly happy.