True Love Waits novel Chapter 155

"I'm not angry at you, but that doesn't mean I don't mind,"

said Carlos as he pulled Debbie into his arms. "So you need to make me happy."

"Okay. How about I sing a song for you?" She put her phone aside and cradled his neck.

"What? 'Pray for You' again?" Carlos asked through gritted teeth.

Debbie stuck out her tongue and made a face. "No, no, no! I don't want to be buried alive again. Grave mold is a bad look for me."

Her reaction amused Carlos, who pinched her nose and ordered playfully, "Then sing."

Debbie rested her head on his chest and listened to his strong heartbeat. "This is my favorite song. Hope you'll enjoy it."

"Uh-huh."

Carlos moved the slider on the dimmer, and instantly the room was cloaked in darkness. The neon lights of the city came in through the window, bathing everything in the room in a curious cast of blue. Tucked in his arms, Debbie looked him in the eye and started to sing. "I've seen the world, done it all, had my cake now. Diamonds, brilliant, and Bel-Air now. Hot summer nights, mid July, when you and I were forever wild. The crazy days, city lights, the way you'd play with me like a child. Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful..."

Carlos had long known that Debbie was a good singer. She seemed to have magic in her voice; his restless mind cooled down when she started singing. That was why he liked to hear her soaring vocals. She was able to hit some intense parts, and there were times when her voice went positively stratospheric. She was gifted, and he was a lucky man.

And singing had an effect on her as well. When she hit those emotional parts, her eyes would start tearing up. She was able to feel what she was doing, give it some punch from deep in her lungs and enthrall an audience. "Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful? Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul? I know you will, I know you will, I know that you will. Will you still love me when I'm no longer beautiful? Dear Lord, when I get to heaven, please let me bring my man. When he comes, tell me that you'll let him in. Father tell me if you can. Oh that grace, oh that body, oh that face makes me wanna party. He's my sun, he makes me shine like diamonds..."

His eyes were as deep as the ocean; she couldn't help but lose herself in them.

She finished off with a beautiful line. "Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful?" As she crooned, her voice was low and angelic, as tender as a baby's skin, and as soft as new fallen snow. She relaxed finally, done with her rendition of Lana Del Rey's "Young and Beautiful". After a moment's pause, she added, "Will you?"

She was so nervous waiting for his answer.

Carlos lowered his head, kissed her on the forehead, and whispered in her ear, "Yes, I will."

The atmosphere between them was so tender and warm that they weren't willing to surrender to sleep. They were buzzing with all the pleasant emotions the song and Carlos' words had stirred in them. It was so wonderful that neither of them wanted it to end. Eventually, they agreed to close their eyes at the same time and fell asleep almost as soon as they did so.

The next morning, when Carlos dug Debbie out of the quilt, her schoolmates had already eaten their breakfast and left for Y City.

Debbie's eyes were still closed. Carlos made her sit on his lap, helped her pull on her slippers, and carried her to the bathroom.

"Need me to brush your teeth for you?" His voice snapped Debbie back to her senses. She looked at her messy hair in the mirror, and then turned to Carlos, who was already in his suit. Like being hit with a slap, she was able to take full stock of the situation.

"No, I'm good. When did you get up? I had no clue. Has everyone gone?"

"Yeah. They're on their way to Y City. I've been up for 3 hours already." He answered her questions patiently and helped her squeeze the toothpaste onto her brush.

She splashed some water on her face, and took over her toothbrush. "Don't worry. I'll be quick."

"No rush. I'll wait in the dining room."

Carlos left and checked the time before he started working—it was 10:05 a.m.

After brushing her teeth and washing her face, Debbie began her morning skin care routine. First, a skin toner to get rid of excess dirt, traces of oil and makeup, and correct and balance the pH of her skin. She also didn't want acne. Then, an antioxidant serum to neutralize sun damage. Finally, an eye cream and moisturizer. She followed this routine dutifully—Carlos wanted her to look radiant. At the last, she changed her clothes.

When she showed up in the dining room, it was already 10:45 a.m.

Although Carlos was patient, he was a little stunned and confused. 'She said she would be quick, but it still took 40 minutes.

If she hadn't rushed, how long would it have been?' He closed the lid on his laptop and walked up to his wife, who was shoveling food into her mouth, devouring her breakfast like a wolf devouring its kill. "Take your time. Don't choke."