Ellery turns back to the crowd.“Tonight, let’s change that.Selene and Lorraine deserve to shine.Whatever you want to sing, ladies, the stage is yours.”
She gestures widely to her friends, who exchange a glance before smiling.There’s a warmth between them that Dante wishes he had, a nonverbal exchange of understanding.
Selene stands from her drum set, flicking a hair tie off her wrist and pulling her long black hair onto her head in a loose knot.She slides beside Lorraine on the bench and kisses her cheek, soft as a butterfly lighting on a flower.
But Dante doesn’t watch.Ellery moves to stand beside him so they can watch Selene and Lorraine together.All he wants is to be with Ellery.
“Thank you for being here,” she says, her voice soft so as not to catch the mic.
“I’ll always be here for you.”It’s simple, but he means it.He has always meant it.Being away from her was a harsh martyrdom, and he’s done with it.
She places a hand on his arm, the one with the tattoo sleeve, as Selene and Lorraine sing “Shallow,” their voices harmonious and haunting, full of pent-up yearning.It’s been years since he’s heard them sing, far too long.They might not have the most commercial voices, but their message is heartfelt and real, and it lasers through the encroaching night.
He feels the heat of Ellery’s fingertips as they trace the words and images of his tattoos.Does she know they’re all for her?Every time he has missed her, every time they were together.Words and images entwined on his skin, his tangible memories of her.“I couldn’t do this without you,” she says.
There is so much he wants to say, but there isn’t time.Why couldn’t Selene and Lorraine have chosen a longer song?He relies on what he always says.“You can do this, El.You can do anything for five minutes.”
CHAPTER10
Five Years Ago, San Diego—Ellery
Dante’s parents were awesome.Dante’s brother was awesome.That didn’t mean Ellery wasn’t thrilled when his mom and dad yawned after dinner and begged off another drink in the Gaslamp District in favor of heading back to their hotel.
She crowded into the rideshare between Dante and Casper, her heart thumping.She hadn’t had a moment alone with Dante all day.
And he was acting weird.Not that she had spent altogether that much time in his actual physical presence, but he was moody and distant.
At least Casper acknowledged her presence with something closer to gratitude and pleasure.
“Do you have any particular bar in mind?”Casper asked, his face open and guileless.
“Not really.I don’t spend a ton of time down here.Although any time I’ve ever been, I always wish I lived here instead of LA.”
She glanced at Dante, but his back was to her.Whatever.If he was going to ignore her, that was his issue.“Is this your first time in San Diego?”she asked Casper.
“Yeah.It’s a really cool city.Very laid back.People are surprisingly friendly.I don’t know if I could live here, though.”
“I know what you mean.I’ve been in Southern California now for almost six years and I still can’t deal with the constant sun.”
“You’re from where?”
Dante swiveled, the muscles in his arms brushing against her.“She’s from Milwaukee.”
Okay.At least he wanted to join the conversation instead of sulking.Ellery brightened her smile.Nothing like feeling stuck in some unknown family drama.“Yeah.Milwaukee.But my sister is at college in Florida, so my parents spend a lot of time down there.”
“Cool.Do you get along?”
“Yeah, we do.Samara is definitely different from me.She’s probably going to be a chemical engineer or something brilliant.”Ah, yes.The favored younger sister.Ellery felt the apology blush warm her cheeks.
Dante nudged her with his knee.“What you do is just as important.You create.That’s amazing.And I’m sure your parents are proud of you.”
Ellery bit her lip.Some things were too much to consider at once.Better to deflect.“So, what about you?”She glanced between Casper and Dante.“You two are, like—”
“Twins?”Casper grinned, a dimple appearing beside his lips.“Yeah.Fraternal.Dante didn’t tell you?”
Dante turned back to staring out the window, all sullen again.
Her inner self sighed.“No.He just said he had an older brother.”
