His words push every ounce of air I just inhaled from my lungs. “Helluva dress, Ever. You’re stunning.” His lips brush my cheek in a polite formality, the words for my ears only.
“Thank you,” I murmur and meet his eyes. I swallow at the hunger I see there, mirroring my own. Wet heat pools on the thin fabric of my thong as I step off the stage and walk through the tables and guests. Once back at my table, I say to the group, “I need a minute. Be right back.” I make my way across the patio and around the corner to my cottage. Inwardly cringing, I slip inside to quickly don a new—dry—thong. There’s no one around to witness my mortification, yet my cheeks are on fire.
Coming out of my front door, I almost collide with Taya. “Ever. Hi.” She braces my shoulders from the near miss.
“Taya.” A genuine smile takes over my face. “And Mitch. Hi, nice to see you.” He shakes my hand formally. “I didn’t realize you were coming, but I’m glad you’re here.” And I mean it. Seeing them gives me a warm fuzzy feeling in my chest.
“Yeah, Jay—Julian asked if we’d come.”
“I’m glad he did.” I hope I’m conveying more than I’m saying. I wasn’t lying when I told Julian that while I study it, implementing is still a work in progress. I’m committed to navigating it, so I guess thatstarts with embracing the opportunities that arise. “I’m sorry I’ve been MIA. I just needed some time.”
“No need to apologize. I get it. And time must agree with you because you look stunning.” Her hands on my shoulders trail down my arms until she’s holding my hands out wide at our sides, taking me in.
My cheeks flame anew at the descriptive word.His word.
“Thank you. Stop.” I release her hands and flap them at her. “Let’s go get you guys a drink.”
“Yeah, sorry we’re late. Traffic.”
“No worries. Plenty of party left.”
We stop at my table and I introduce her to the twins before Lilly, Noah and Seth greet them familiarly. We move to the bar where Julian is in an animated conversation with Auz. When he sees Taya, he pins me for a moment to gauge my reaction. I reach out and slide my hand along his forearm, where his gauzy white button-down shirt sleeve is casually rolled.
His smile looks relieved as he turns his gaze to Taya, hugs her, then shakes Mitchell’s hand. “So glad you guys made it.”
“Ran into some traffic. Sorry we’re late,” Mitchell says, then orders two champagnes from the bartender.
I want to try harder, so I add, “Taya, let me take you to say hi to Allie and Ashley.” She takes her champagne flute from Mitch and walks with me to the edge of the stage.
“How is he?” She doesn’t play games, and I appreciate the candor.
“He seems so good. Different. In the best way.”
“Right? I think so, too. Therapy is agreeing with him.”
“That you know he’s going again says a lot. He’s been very open about . . . everything. It’s refreshing. Oh, hey, I got into Pepperdine. I start this fall.”
“Oh my God, congratulations. Guess we’ll be seeing each other on campus.”
“I’d love that.”
“Me too.”
The formal party carries on for another two hours. As the guests dwindle, it morphs into a pool party. A local band sets up on the stage and begins playing popular covers. Before I can dip out and change into a swimsuit, Julian’s deep baritone hits my ear from behind. “Can I get one dance with you in that dress before it’s gone?”
“If I can get one with you in your . . . formalwear?” I giggle as I say it because the tan linen pants and soft white shirt are as formal as I’ve ever seen him. Usually clad in workout attire, he makes quite a mouthwatering picture. His skin looks tanner against the crisp white; his dark hair shines and his blue eyes rival the sky. He’s still the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. “Also, I didn’t know you could dance.”
He takes my hand and with a half twirl he whisks me onto the dance floor as the band plays “Maybe I’m Amazed.” I wonder for a moment if he planned it. I decide I don’t want to know. I let him sway me back and forth as he says, “I’m not sure I do.” Then he admits, “I just wanted a legit reason to hold you this close in public.”
“Shameless, but honest.” The people, the din of conversation, everything blurs and fades around me as I stare into his face. I want to freeze time. “How long are you staying?” I don’t want him to go. That realizationsobers me.
“I leave tomorrow.” His smile is almost a straight line and a little sad. I turn my head and rest my cheek on his pec. I breathe him in, his smell so familiar it makes me ache.
Don’t go.“I wish you didn’t have to leave. So soon,” I amend when I realize what I implied.
“Why?” He stops swaying and leans back, his eyes bouncing back and forth between mine. “I mean . . . what do you mean?”
“I just wish we had more time.” I squeeze the hand gripping mine, curled against his chest as we dance.
