"What is it with you and ice skating?" I asked Amanda as we left Saxs Fifth Avenue.
"Oh, come on! It's fun. Besides, it's an unwritten rule that if you're in New York in the winter, you HAVE to skate at Rockafeller Center," she explained. "Please?" This little beg was followed by puppy-dog eyes.
"Okay. But afterwards, I really gotta talk to you."
"Fine. Afterwards. Right now, I don't want any serious talk. Just you, me, and lots of fun." She grabbed my hand, and led the way to the rink.
"You know, it never ceases to amaze me how large this rink looks on TV as opposed to its actual size," I said, lacing up the skates I had rented.
"Yeah. It'll seem even smaller once they cram about thirty of us or so on it. Come on," AJ said, pulling me to my feet. "It's almost our turn on the ice."
Hand-in-hand, we skated around the rink, laughing and trying to keep each other from falling. It was perfect. I stopped skating and faced her. "I love you, Amanda Jean." I then delivered a gentle kiss to her lips.
"I love you, too." She returned my kiss, and then resumed skating. She sighed. "I just wish you didn't have to leave tonight."
"Well, actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm not."
Amanda Jean perked up. "You're not? You're staying a few extra days? Till when?"
"Till whenever I feel like leaving."
"I... I don't understand."
"I'm moving here."
AJ stopped skating. "You're what?"
"I'm moving here." I let out a deep breath. "I talked it over last night with Tay and Ike. Everything's settled, or at least in the process of being settled..."
"I... I don't... Why?"
A small chuckle escaped my lips. "What do you mean 'why'? Because I wanna be with you, and because you're here. Why else?"
Amanda shook her head is disbelief. "What about the band? The business? Your family?"
"What about them? The band? Well, I guess we're finally taking a break. There's more to life than music, and the new album's been out for over a year. We did the tour. Ike's got Rebecca and Kaitlyn. Taylor's got Laura and Maddy. And I KNOW they wanna give Maddy a little brother or sister. The business? We have no intentions of closing down, or anything. Ike, Mr. Negotiations, is working on getting a studio here in New York. That's where I'll do the mixing. No big deal. And family? You're my family, too, Amanda Jean."
Her eyes filled with tears, and a few spilled over. "I... I... oh my. I don't know what to say. I never... only in my... I wasn't expecting this at all." She sniffed.
"I've given this a lot of thought. I can't expect you to just up and quit your job and relocate to Tulsa, and I would never ask you to do that, either. But I CAN relocate. Mixing can be done anywhere. And as far as the band goes, it works out in favor of Ike and Tay, as well. Amanda Jean, I just want to be with you." I cupped her face in my hand and kissed her lips, which were salty with tears.
"Nothing would make me happier than to have you here in New York with me." She let out a small laugh. "Look at me," she said, wiping her eyes. "You turn me into the biggest sap, Zac Hanson."
"Just doing my job. And speaking of job, I've got one for you. Do you think you could help me find an apartment?"
"Oh! Well, is just so happens, I know of someone looking for a roommate."
"Anyone I know?" I teased.
Amanda took my hands and placed them over her heart, smiling. "I don't belive this. I think I'm in shock. My heart's racing," she said, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Well, believe it. See? I told you, sometimes dreams do come true." I leaned in and kissed her, while the rest of New York skated by.