Who Are You?

~Chapter Nine~

One week later....

After having a layover flight in Atlanta, Chris joined me on my second flight for our trip to New York for the Loudwire interview. They decided to ask him, Eric and Spencer to also be a part of the interview. I was fine with it. It had been a long time since I had gone to New York City, so I was looking forward to this trip. I'm not sure who took care of everything, but somehow, I ended up with a week in Manhattan at The Crowne Plaza Hotel at Times Square. My mind was very much overwhelmed.

When we got there to check in, apparently there was some miscommunication and they had put me and Chris in the same suite together. We just laughed it off and went on up to 727. At least there were two beds in the room. Chris and I just looked at one another in a non-awkward way and burst out laughing.

"Why are you laughing," he asked me.

"Why are you laughing?"

"You first," he said as we both fell back on the bed we were standing at the foot of.

Looking up at the ceiling, I said, "If you would've told the me from five years ago, let alone six months ago that I would be accidentally put into a suite in New York City with Chris Cerulli, I would've laughed in your face," I said, then turned my head to the right to look at him.

"Why do you say that," he asked as he looked at me.

"Because things like this don't happen to me, that's why."

"Things like what?"

"They say never to meet people you admire, look up to, etc. They say they will disappoint you. You, you are the complete opposite of that stereotype, Chris. You have no idea how significant your music was for me when I was in my cancer battle. Graveyard Shift was one of my go-to albums then. Voices was on fucking repeat. Eternally Yours, even though it made me cry, I listened to it all the damn time. I was so angry and depressed. There I was, all alone, fighting for my life, so desperately wanting to beat the shit out of that cancer for my son's sake. Spencer is the one that held my hand through that battle. I didn't have a significant other to depend on. I had to depend on myself. That music kept me sane," I said as my eyes watered up.

He reached over and brushed the tears off my cheeks.

"Ingrid," he said softly. "It's alright. Don't you ever feel embarrassed or ashamed to share that part of yourself with me."

"I call it emotional vomit," I said and tried smiling.

He chuckled; "Emotional vomit, I like it."

"I swore I would never get married again. Would I love to be in a relationship, sure, but no more piece of papers for me. I don't need a piece of paper to tell me who I can love."

"I feel the same way about that."

Out of nowhere, both of our phones went off. Grabbing mine, it was Jolly.

We are here. What room are you in?
727

See you soon.

Looking over at him; "That was Jolly. They're here."

"That was Spencer. He and Eric are here. They are in room 730."

"Maybe we are all right here together," I said, leaning over and giving him a quick kiss before getting up.

Going over to the door, I opened it to see Jolly and Spencer standing there together.

"Hi," I said and gave them both a kiss. "Come on in."

They came in and the door shut.

"What's up, Chris," they asked at the same time.

"What are you doing in here," Jolly asked.