"I kissed you," I told him, grabbing his shoulder to keep my head above the water. "I didn't even think. That dick called you a faggot and I just turned into your beard."
He took a step toward the side, towing me toward the wall where I could stand. "Ashton's your soulmate. The two of you are inseparable in a way I'll always be jealous of. Luke's your fantasy. Me? I'm just the old friend. I get it. And you don't want to give anyone the wrong impression, because no matter how strong you've become, Vi, there's still that little part of you trying to be perfect because you need the approval. Well, I don't know how to break this to you, but you're not perfect. You're a spoiled, bratty, egotistical bitch, and I love you for it."
My back hit the wall gently, and I reached out to grab it, but Cy just pressed his hands on either side of my face, holding me there. His eyes scanned my expression, then he turned to claim the spot beside me. I looked over, but he was staring into the darkness beyond the pool.
"Don't put me on a leash, Vi," he said softly.
"I'm not," I promised.
He laughed once. "Wrong leash, babe. I know you'll give me free rein with this job. I'm talking about us. Me and you. I'm not about to forget the nights we spent right here, spilling our darkest secrets. I'm not gonna suddenly turn into the perfect employee. I'll handle things with Luke, and I'll mind myself when Ash is here, because I get it, ok?" Finally, he looked over. "The last thing you need is for Ash to think there's something between us. He'd cut us out of his life like cancer, and I'm pretty sure you couldn't survive that."
"And Luke," I tried.
"Fuck Luke," he told me. "He makes a good shield to hide behind, but I've been listening to criminals and their sordid lives for the past few years. Trust me, I'm good at this, and I can see what you're doing. You were doing just fine when you were running this show, but the more lives that get involved, the more pressure you feel, and sooner or later, you're gonna crack. If it's Ashton hammering at you, it'll be more like shattering. He's the glue that keeps you from falling apart."
"Who's your glue?" I asked.
Cy shrugged. "Used to be you. I'd kinda like it to be that way again. I liked being the strong one when you needed it, knowing you'd be it for me when it was my turn. We've always been good together. Shit, we even like the same guys."
"Yeah, we kinda do," I admitted.
So he tugged me over, pulling me against his chest before I even knew what was happening. The water sloshed over his face, but my legs wrapped around his hips to hold myself up, yet Cy's hands never touched anything but my waist. When he leaned back with a sigh, letting the wall hold his weight, I grabbed his shoulders and gave in.
"Don't put me on a leash," he said again, but this time his voice was softer. "I'm not gonna cross your lines, babe. I just want you to trust me again. Enough to tell me what's going on inside your pretty little head."
"I keep hoping that you and Ash can figure things out," I admitted. "Get back together."
He laughed at that. "It's not gonna be that easy. Damn if he didn't get hotter though. That man went from being ethereal to a hunk and a half."
"He lifts weights while I work out," I admitted.
"Mm, so which one of these rooms are we turning into a gym?" He reached his arms behind my back to grab his own wrist, holding me there without hugging. "Unlike you, I have a tendency to get kinda soft in the middle if I don't stay on top of it."
"I don't have anything like that," I admitted. "I mean, we'd been living out of hotels for the last few years. That and the apartment in New York, but the building had a gym."
"I'm bringing mine. Not that much, but we can work up to it. Maybe the guest suite?" He cocked his head. "Real convenient being on the first floor, so when those little voices start making you feel bad, you can work out instead of something worse?"
"I've been good," I assured him. "No bullshit."
"You ate the shit out of Luke's tofu." He grinned. "The boy can cook, I'll give him that." Then he turned serious. "And I'm here to listen to you as much as anyone else, ok? Any problems, and we'll jump on it. Promise me, Vi?"
"I promise," I breathed, leaning in to hug him. "I've missed you so much, Cy."
"Oh, baby, same. I think I was gonna marry that guy because I was just lonely. I thought Kindle was the best I could get, but this?" He leaned back to look me in the eyes. "This is home. We're gonna bring Southwind back. You and me, the first colors, right?"
I nodded. "And when Luke breaks my heart?"
"Then I'll let you cry it out on my shoulder before I break his face." He leaned in to kiss my brow. "And I might try to pick him up afterwards."
"Asshole," I giggled. "But if you can, then more power to you. Pretty sure he's straight."
"Mm." He shifted me a little higher. "I think something about him makes him feel like he doesn't belong here. I think he's too ok with who's gay and who's not. I also think he wasn't at Southwind long enough to be indoctrinated by our insanity. He lived in the house, and unlike you, he didn't slum it down in the cabins or I would've remembered him. I mean, I kinda remember something about a teen dad, but fuck, he was just on the periphery, you know? And I was kinda mourning the loves of my life running off without me."
"You mean Ashton," I said, not willing to fall for his dramatics.
"Kinda don't," he promised. "The first girl I ever liked?" He lifted his hand between us to point at my face. "All you, Violet. Thought I was gay until you stormed your little ass and pigtails into the mess hall to demand that whoever had taken your purple bear bring it back."
"Gran gave me that," I explained.
