“I still supported you, so technically it’s our idea.”
“It’s not ours!”
Sam sneers, blowing her a kiss and Maggie shoots him a middle finger. “Okay, okay. You can keep your brilliant ideas for yourself. We’ll share mine, my love.”
Maggie blushes instantly at the “my love,” and I can’t stop myself from giggling.
The morning after Vincent’s concert at Speedy’s Pizza, I’d woken up to use the bathroom and caught Sam trying to sneak out of Maggie’s room before Steven and I noticed. When we locked eyes in the hallway, he had the dumbest grin plastered on his face, and I knew immediately what had happened. They’d already spent half the party glued together on the dance floor.
We ended up doing a ridiculous little victory dance in the living room until Maggie woke up, furious, and kicked him out. But the amusement never left his face, and when she told me everything about what happened that night, I knew the spark between them had ignited. The fuse was lit, and nothing could put it out.
It’s always fun being around Margaret Torres and Samuel Wilson. They make me laugh until my stomach hurts. Even now, I’m having the best time.
Maggie clears her throat, refusing to look at him. “You moronic, idiotic piece of shit.”
Sam grins. “You forgot one.”
She throws my brush at him, nailing his toe, and grins when he lets out a groan of pain. “Motherfucker.”
“Much better,” he mutters, trying to act like his toe doesn’t hurt.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Nova Marshall
PRESENT (2023)
"Guitar is the easiest instrument to play and the hardest to play well."
Johnny Cash
"Aurora just called me. They should be here soon," Vincent announced as Maggie, Steven, Will, and I got out of the car. He and Sam had arrived in Montara Beach earlier on Sam’s motorcycle.
We don’t come here often, since Ocean Beach’s usually our first choice because it’s closer, and we can walk there without the car.
"Won’t Max be tired after the flight?" I ask as we unload Steven’s car.
Vincent falls into step beside me and simply shakes his head, grabbing two coolers. "It’s your birthday. Don’t worry about the rest. Just have fun, okay?"
I hand Maggie the bag of beach towels before retrieving one of the two umbrellas. I reach for the second one, but our fingers brush when he leans in at the same time. A jolt shoots upmy spine, sharp and unexpected, and I wince, pulling my hand away. Vincent grabs the umbrella instead and slings his guitar case over his shoulder.
"Thank you," I murmur.
He arches a brow. "For what?"
"For everything."
He nods and starts after Sam and Will, but then stops in his tracks. "Sorry."
I frown. "For what?"
"For everything."
I don’t get the chance to answer, because another car pulls into the lot beside Steven’s. From the driver’s side, Max appears, smiling wide as soon as he spots me. A squeal escapes before I drop the umbrella into my boyfriend’s hands and run toward my friend.
I leap into Max’s arms and he bursts out laughing. "Hey, Supernova. You’re having fun?"
"Your hair is white!" I laugh when he sets me down. His new mullet suits him, but the bleached strands shock me.
