We walked hand in hand toward the sun, my feet dug into the sand as we finally met the water, still hand in hand.
“What do you think?” Will nodded his head toward the ocean. “We may die trying. Last time we were in here your lips turned blue.”
I bravely pulled my tank over my body away from the camera, then slid my shorts down to my feet, kicking them off. “Last time you weren’t exactly ready to kiss my lips back to their normal color.”
“I’m here now.” Emotion deepened his voice, added a touch of hoarseness.
“Yes.” I clung to his hand. “You are.”
His jeans fell.
I was pretty sure Will’s plan when he woke up this morning wasn’t to numb himself to death and dive into frigid cold water without a wet suit.
But that part of him was back, the adventure, and the fear had completely disappeared from his eyes. I knew it because when he looked at me, he looked at me, not through me. I wasn’t a puzzle anymore.
I was just me.
We dove head first together, hand in hand.
And when our heads bobbed up, the sun winked behind the horizon, blanketing us with dewy pink sky.
Will’s mouth met mine in a frenzied kiss.
I met him half way as we kissed and kissed and kissed until my teeth started chattering.
Finally a cut was yelled.
And the crew ran toward us with towels and blankets.
When I looked over at Will, I expected him to be freezing his ass off, maybe still a bit hesitant, shy.
Instead, he was smiling brilliantly like he’d just been reborn.
And maybe, maybe he just had.
I’D NEVER EXPERIENCED this sort of freedom before, maybe when I was a kid but even then nothing but money and fame surrounded me. Angelica Greene, the girl who had destroyed my heart, crushed my soul, made me a shell of a human, had breathed life back into me.
And yet, it wasn’t just her.
It was the realization that every road I’d taken had been because of her, and had been wrong.
It’s easy to lose yourself in someone you love.
Easier still, to lose yourself in someone you hate.
I pulled the blanket tighter around my body and searched frantically for the one and only girl I wanted in my arms.
Zane was currently handing her another blanket and exchanging the wet towel for another dry one.
The lightness in my chest only grew when I locked eyes with Ang from across the beach, her smile was bright — free.
I started walking.
And then walking turned into a slow jog.
Until I was sprinting toward her.
And lifting her into my arms, twirling her around, and crushing my mouth against hers. Our lips molded across each other while I slid my tongue inside. Heat spread down my body.
Someone whistled.
A few people started cheering.
And when we both finally came up for air, the magical moment was gone, because Andrew was standing there with a knowing smirk on his face.
Like he still had something over me.
Over us.
I glared and then gave him a smirk of my own.
Because I’d won.
He’d lost.
“Hey.” Ang wrapped her arms around my waist. “What was that for? I thought you weren’t into public displays of affection.”
I kissed her again just because I could.
“Yeah, well I figured it was time to change that, besides, someone reminded me that I used to strip on stage so there’s that…”
Zane snorted next to us. “And you think I’m bad, I swear for an entire year I was convinced you didn’t even own anything other than loose tanks and shirts with holes in them.”
“Will!” A familiar voice called.
I looked over my shoulder as Trevor approached, his grin wide.
Ty, and Trevor made their way through the crowd. We’d all aged since our last world tour when I’d turned twenty-two.
And every single one of us for the better.
Trevor was married with three kids and basically invested all of his money and decided to produce with Ty who had started his new label and basically did what he did best since he was still single.
Played the drums.
And got laid.
But he still looked good.
And then there was Andrew, standing on the outside, when he used to be always standing by my side.
I was the lead singer and he’d been the only one in our little group that had picked up the slack with vocals more often than not.
An uncomfortable silence settled over all of us before Trevor averted his eyes from me to Ang.
“Hey, Ang,” he said softly, then pulled her into a tight hug.
I expected her to flinch, to default into what was comfortable, but instead she returned his hug and pulled away only to wink and say. “Someone finally married you, huh?”
He barked out a laugh. “Yeah, apparently I’m not, wait what did you use to call me? Allergic to commitment? A hater of love?”
“I believe I told you that you were going to die alone too,” Ang said thoughtfully.
Zane burst out laughing behind her.
“Hey, man.” Trevor shook his hand. “When you gonna leave your label and come over to The Dark Side with me and Ty?”
Their label was literally called The Dark Side because of all of the alternative music they produced.
Zane shrugged. “Yeah well, my agent’s kind of an asshole when it comes to shitting where I sleep so…” His grin widened. “Sounds like a fun idea and easy way to send good ol’ Will into an early grave, I’m in!’
I groaned. “You’re not in, you’re… wait I thought you wanted to stop touring for a few?”
Zane just shrugged. “I think I could be convinced if I had the right… opening act or maybe even a double headlining tour.” That was all he said before he walked off and started talking with Alec.
“That look on his face.” Ty finally spoke up. “That’s the look of trouble, he had that same look when he set my pants on fire.”
“First of all,” Trevor said, “your pants were already on fire, he was trying to put the fire out.” He coughed into his hand. “Second, it’s Zane ‘Saint’ Andrews, you can’t really say no to the guy when he asks.”
“Don’t I know it,” I grumbled.
Andrew crossed his arms behind Ty, his gaze solely on Ang, but he still wasn’t speaking.
“So…” Ty sniffed. “Looks like you’re repping pretty much every big name in the business.” I felt Ang recoil next to me. “Including the incredible comeback from the one and only Angelica Greene.” He said the words like he meant them. Ang smiled softly, as a pink bloom spread across her cheeks. I suddenly wanted to take her away, from the crowd, from all of it. From the past that she was doing a damn good job of facing.
“Comeback?” Andrew finally piped up. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
Ang flinched while Trevor rolled his eyes and looked heavenward like Andrew had pushed him past his limits before filming even began for them.
“Yes.” Ang spoke in a stern tone, “Then again, who knows, Will’s probably going to steal the whole show.”
“From what I hear, Will’s not naked near as much as you are. So, I highly doubt it.” Andrew said in a cool tone his eyes raking over her body with such raw sexuality that I wanted to punch him in the face.
Even Ty looked uncomfortable and nothing really made the guy react.
“It was good seeing you guys.” I said, pulling Ang closer to my chest.
“Dinner,” Andrew blurted. “I mean if this is a reunion, shouldn’t we all… reunite?”
I was torn between wanting to show him that he had little to no effect on us and wanting to hide Ang away from it all.
Instead, she pushed away from me and took a step toward him, and then side stepped him completely and walked off by herself.
I held my breath.
She didn’t puke, just went into her trailer and shut the door.
“Well this is fun.” Trevor blew out a long drawn out breath. “Andrew, can you try not to be an ass? Just once?”
“No.” His jaw clenched, “Not in my nature.”
“You’re telling me,” I said under my breath.