“How’s super dick?” Asia scrunches her face.
“You’re still crushing on Ben?”
“No,” she denies. “Just curious.”
“Right. If you could see the look on your face . . .”
She jumps up and rushes to the mirror hanging on the wall over the dining room table. “What face?”
“Look at me.”
She turns.
“That’s not the same look you had ten seconds ago.”
“What are you talking about?”
“That Asia-wants-to-fuck-you thing that happens every time a hot guy crosses your path.”
“You’re so full of shit, ’Fina.” She returns to the living room. “I’m a taken woman.”
“In theory.” Her boyfriend is everything a mother wants for her daughter. But not right for my wild-child best friend. I know she’s bored and needs someone more exciting, someone willing to explore all the dark things Asia is into. “We’ll see.”
“All right. That’s a conversation best saved for another time.” She collects her purse and keys off the table. “I have a dinner date at six. Sure I can’t get you anything before I go? I could zip over to the grocery store and grab a couple movies for you.”
“Don’t worry about me.” I stand and open my arms for another hug.
She embraces me and then I walk her to the door.
“Call me if you need to talk,” she says as she steps outside.
I wave and then lock the door behind her. That’s when I let go. The tears fall freely and my heart feels like it’s about to burst. The sting of Eagle’s possessive kisses is fresh on my lips. And the ache between my legs is very real. And not only because we made love over and over again in a short time. I want him. Desperately. Self-denial is one of the most important parts of keeping yourself safe when you’re in hiding. Don’t do anything to draw unwanted attention.
My cell rings again and I rush over to see who it is. Eagle. I ignore the call, knowing he left a message for me earlier. I’m too vulnerable to listen to it right now. If I let him, he could talk me into doing anything—like spending another night with him. Which can never happen. Especially knowing he probably found the evidence on that comforter I crumpled up on the floor. My phone zings, the sound it makes when a new text message comes in.
Unable to resist, I read it.
Why are you hiding from me?
I drop the phone on the table and walk away before I say something stupid. Something revealing. I race into the bathroom and slam the door, locking the world out. Then I turn on the hot water and let the tub fill up while I sit on the closed toilet seat, thinking of what I’d really like to say to Eagle.
I love you.
Eagle
I’ve tried half a dozen times to contact Serafina. She’s not going to answer me, so I give up and walk into the clubhouse. The party is just getting started. With Angel’s memorial tomorrow, the old ladies decided to have a celebration here. There’s pictures hanging everywhere of us. I was twenty-one when I first met Angel on the beach. I stop in front of one of the photos hanging on the wall. It’s my girl wearing an Iron Norsemen T-shirt that saysProperty of Eagle.She’s standing in front of my bike with a baseball hat and cutoff jean shorts on. She’s barefoot and beautiful, her blond hair blowing in the breeze. That’s the way I’ve always remembered her.
But it’s time to let go. Not to forget her. Just to accept that she’s never coming back.
“You okay, baby?” Belle hugs me from behind. “She’s with us, Eagle. A part of this club forever.”
“I know.” I move closer to the picture, trying to get a good look at her eyes. Six years is a long time to preserve all the little details in your mind. I’ve struggled to. The dimples in her cheeks when she smiled, the way she smelled, the sound of her laughter, the way it felt to kiss her . . . Shit. I drag my fingers through my hair. “It never gets easier.”
Belle moves beside me and admires the photo, too. “So young and full of promise.”
“Yeah. She’d be twenty-two next month.”
“I’m sorry, Eagle.” She gives me a sad look, but then smiles. “How’d it go at the cabin?”
