I hand it to Ayden, and he carefully puts it around my neck and seals the clasp.
He tugs gently at my ponytail as he presses a sweet kiss to the back of my neck. “You’ll be amazing tonight,” he says.
I turn to face him, and lift the sea urchin off my chest so I can look at it. “My good luck sea hedgehog.” My heart swells, and I raise my eyes to Ayden’s. “You’re the only person who would ever think to get me a sea urchin, Ayd. I needed this so much tonight.” I reach for the back of his neck and pull him close for a kiss. “Thank you,” I murmur into his lips.
I hold Ayden’s hand as we leave my house and walk out to his car. As soon as we’re inside, I start rambling nervously. “My mother’s going to pass out when she sees me stand up on that stage with Guy. She thinks he’s doing solos.” I pause as Ayden starts the engine. “Which he is doing, so I guess that’s not all a lie. He just didn’t mention to her that I’ll be up there for two songs. I just don’t want to upset her.”
“You won’t. And you know this car ride will take about thirty seconds,” Ayden reminds me. “Are you sure you’re ready to leave the driveway?”
I look at him, nearly in a panic. “I absolutely hate this anxiety,” I say. “Hate it, hate it, hate it. This is why I told Guy no. But he insisted.”
Ayden sits patiently.
I sigh heavily. “Fine. I guess it’s time.” I put on my seatbelt and look out the window as we pull out of the driveway and head toward the center of Lucky Bay.
The town square is crowded.
“Lot of people here to pay tribute to your dad,” Ayden comments as we spot Peter and Tari and wave them over.
“Lot of people willing to enjoy free food and a free party, you mean.”
“Bella, do you want us to take your guitar for you?” Peter says to me as they reach us. “We can bring it to Guy in case you run into your mother.”
“Thanks.” I hand it to them, and as if on cue, my parents come around the corner.
“Hello, Ayden.” Mom smiles stiffly. “How are you?”
“I’m good. How are you doing, Lucy?”
She smiles more warmly now. “Very well, thank you. And your support means so much.”
I nearly fall over. Mom never disliked Ayden, not exactly. But his family came from the “wrong side of town” as she liked to say when we were kids, and she never seemed to get past his more modest background. But right now, she’s looking at Ayden like she’s genuinely…grateful.
“I’m happy you’re feeling better,” Ayden says to her.
“And Bella, you look beautiful.” Dad kisses me. “You and your mother really outdid yourselves with this party.”
“Mom did most of the work,” I say.
I sit with my parents and Grandpa through the agonizingly long dinner of salmon and scalloped potatoes.
Ayden’s mom comes over to give me a big hug and whisper in my ear, “Words cannot describe how thrilled I am about you and Ayden. You were already a daughter to me, anyway.”
I tell her she’s going to make me cry, and we laugh before she heads back to Ayden and Michael.
“You seem jumpy tonight,” Grandpa says to me quietly. “Boy, this salmon’s delicious, isn’t it?”
I smile at him. “It is.”
“Fresh as can be.”
“Your earrings look very nice, Mirabella,” Mom says.
“You gave them to me, Mom. You’ve got good taste.”
“Well.” Mom blushes and tries not to smile. Then she looks more closely at my hair, and her mouth turns into a deep frown. “You could have gone to Antoine’s with me this afternoon. He’d have styled your hair beautifully.”
“I’m sure he would have.”
Ayden comes up behind me. “You’re going to rock it,” he says in my ear. “And it’s time.”
“What?!” I glance up at the stage where Guy is gesturing to me. “Shit! I didn’t even see him!”
Ayden tugs at my ponytail. “Just look for me in the crowd. If you lose focus, keep your eyes on me, babe.”
“Hey.” Guy gives me a high-five. “I got my keyboard, here’s your guitar, and I’ve got the songs. We’re ready to go, honey.”
“I think I’m going to puke,” I say.
“It’ll be over before you know it,” Guy assures me. “You sitting or standing?”
I smile at him shakily. “I’ll stand.”
I turn to face the crowd, fixating on my mother immediately. She’s noticed me already, and her face is pinched. Every muscle of mine feels frozen solid.
“You’ve got to look away,” Guy says. “Your mom? This isn’t the right time to look at her. Turn away, Bella.”
And I do. I look away from her. Finally.
I turn to Guy. “Do you do therapy on the side?”
He laughs, and I catch eyes with Ayden. His gaze is intently focused on me.
“Now you’re looking at the right person,” Guy says. “Keep your beautiful eyes on him. He’s a good dude, by the way. I’ve always liked him.” He grabs his microphone to turn it on. “You ready? Once this is on, there’s no turning it off.”
I take my place in front of my microphone, preparing to turn it on. “Let’s do it. Nothing can be worse than this delay.”
As soon as Guy calls attention to the stage, the crowd goes silent. But he starts to play right away, and I turn on my mic and join him.
I start out a little shaky, but I’m able to pull it together by the end of the first verse. My voice gets stronger, and I start to relax. I never lose eye contact with Ayden. Through the entire song, he’s right there with me, his eyes telling me I can do it.
The Beatles song Guy and I chose is a hit. The music, the duet, it all comes together. People dance while we sing, and clap when we finish.
“My friend Bella’s only up here for one more song,” Guy says. “We’ve got something new for you all.”
He sings the first verse, and I take over on the second. Guy finishes with pushing and pulling but something’s changing that I can’t deny, and I pick up where he leaves off—however long we have to wait I know it’ll work, I know the stars will shine just for us.
The combined chorus from each of our songs somehow gels—I stop and realize what I’d lose, I stop and see how far we’ve come, babe. We love each other right, we love all night. I’ll take the chance if you do too.
When we finish, after Guy gives me a hug and I turn to wave at the crowd, I sneak a peek at Mom. She smiles at me, like a real smile. I jump off the stage and head for Ayden.
I see him coming from across the lawn. I can make out the blue of his eyes from here. I break into a jog, and when I reach him, I jump into his arms and he wraps me up in a hug.
“You were amazing,” he says into my ear. “Blew me away, Bella.”
“I love you,” I say into his neck.
“Mirabella!”
Ayden keeps me in his arms but turns slowly toward the sound of my mother’s voice. I lift my chin as Mom approaches us at a rapid pace.
I say to Ayden, “It’s okay. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Ayden puts me down and kisses my temple, then says hello to my mother as he passes her.
“Well, that was a surprise performance,” Mom says as she reaches me.
Lucky Bay is my mother’s world. It’s never really been mine. And as much as I love it here, it’s the world I was born into, not the one I want to stay in.
I look back at her, at her eyes that are so receded sometimes it’s hard to read them at all. But tonight, I can see something, some sort of life in there. “Surprise,” I say, feeling deflated all of a sudden. “I didn’t know how to tell you. You’ve never liked me to sing, you know. And I hate so much to upset you.”
“I know.” She pauses. “I don’t know why it bothered me.” She furrows her brow. “I guess it scared me.”
I’d been looking away, not wanting to hear her reject me again, but that last part gets my attention. I whip my head toward her.
“Grandma never allowed much expression,” she says. “I don’t know where you get it from, that talent of yours up on stage. It’s certainly not from me.”
She meets my gaze, and my heart breaks at the unshed tears in her eyes. “The medication is helping, and so is the therapy. But it’s brought to my attention how hard it must have been for you all these years. I neglected my own child because I was in so much pain.”
I put my arms around her in a hug and then lead her behind a large tree for privacy. “How can I help?” I ask her.
“Be happy, Mirabella. Watching you up on stage, and seeing you with Ayden—you’re listening to your heart. You’re following your dreams.”
I swallow. “Yes. I am.”
“Your grandfather spoke to Dad and me. About you moving to California again.”
Oh no.
But she smiles. “We will be fine here, Mirabella. If you choose to move to L.A. again, we will be okay. Your father’s going to talk to you about this as well. He fully supports whatever decision you make. As do I.”
I choke back my tears of gratitude and relief. “Thank you Mom. I appreciate that so much.”
As soon as I get home, I open my garage door. I walk to the far back corner and after several minutes of pushing things aside, like my lawnmower and an old boom box, I find what I’m looking for.
I take it out of the garage and carry it to the edge of my front lawn. I stand there for a moment, glad for the cover of the night. But I’ve made my decision. In truth, I think I made it a while ago, but I couldn’t hear the little voice speaking to me from deep inside. I was too busy being scared.
The dirt is soft and the sign goes in easily. I step back to look.
FOR RENT in big red letters. Yeah, that’s about right.
I go inside and pack a bag for Ayden’s. And then I reach for the phone. It’s after midnight, but I can’t wait.
Dad picks up after the second ring. “Hi Dad.”
“I thought you’d be calling.” His tone is neutral, but I think I hear a hint of—could it be pride?—in it. “Your mother said she talked to you at the party.”
“Yes, she did. I wanted to ask you, though, if…”
“I’m here, Bella. For your mother. And for you too.” He pauses. “Last time you went out there, we weren’t supportive as we should have been. I don’t want you to think it will be the same this time. If you need anything…”
“Dad,” I say. “What you’re doing right now for Mom? That’s all I need from you. I can’t tell you how much that helps me, to know she has you in her corner. And I do have one more favor.”
After I finish with my father, he puts my mother on the phone.
“Mirabella!” Mom exclaims. “Why are you calling so late?”
I choke back a sob. “I just wanted to say good night, Mom. You threw a wonderful party for Dad. You should be proud of yourself.”
“Oh.” Pause. “Thank you. And are you thinking about moving with Ayden?”
“Yes. I am. But I plan to fly home every three months to visit. I just talked to Dad about it.”
“Every three months? You’ll come home to see us?”
“Yes. I wanted to see how you felt about that plan. Really be honest with me.”
“That sounds fine, Mirabella. It truly does.”
“Call me if you need my help. With anything, okay?”
“Will do. Good night, then.”
“Good night.”
I brush the tears off my cheeks and go pack my bag. Then I drive to Ayden’s.
He opens the door before I even knock. “You all right?” he says as he searches my face.
“I am.” I kiss him. “And I’m ready. For L.A.” I kiss him again. “I’m ready for us.”
His mouth lifts in a surprised grin. “Are you sure, Bella?”
I step inside his house and walk with him toward his bedroom. “More sure than I’ve ever been of anything,” I say. “And more scared. But that’s part of the fun, right?”
He puts his arms around me as he urges me onto his bed. “It’ll be fun, and I’ll keep you safe. I’ll always be by your side. I can promise you that.”
I know he can. He’s made good on that promise since I was three years old. As we fall into bed together, I know that somehow, I’ve figured out how to get myself out of Lucky Bay for the second time.
Sometimes, you have to come home for a while, to the place where you were born, to heal. And it doesn’t always mean you failed or you’re a coward. Sometimes it’s the bravest—and the hardest—thing you can do. Sometimes it’s the only way to say goodbye to the past and to move forward. Ayden’s officially my plus one now. And I’m his. Forever.
EPILOGUE
Los Angeles; One Month Later
Ayden
Bella turns over in her sleep and sighs. I press a kiss to her bare shoulder, not wanting to wake her but impatient all the same. One last sleep sigh, and she opens those beautiful hazel eyes and smiles over at me. Her golden hair shines in the morning sun pouring in through our windows we forgot to close the blinds on last night.
“You’ve never looked more beautiful.” I kiss her nose. “I love waking up next to you.”
“What are you doing up?” She glances at the clock. “It’s barely seven.”
I kiss her neck until she shivers, and then I keep kissing her, pulling the covers down to expose her bare breasts. I spend time on each one, and Bella squirms and moans beneath me. Then I keep moving south.
Down her stomach, across her navel, and I press light kisses on the soft satin skin on the inside of each thigh.
Then I put my lips where I know she wants me most, and I don’t let up until Bella’s writhing around my head with her hips. When she goes over the edge, I shift until I’m over her body, bracing my arms on either side of her head. Her hair’s now framed out and around her face like a golden halo, and I take care not to land on it with my elbows.
Our eyes lock, her hazel to my blue, and with one thrust, I’m all the way inside her. We both cry out at the same time. Making love to Bella never gets old. Each time, I swear to God, feels better than the last. More mind-blowing. More emotional. More connected. I don’t deserve her. But I’m sure as hell never going to let her go.
She falls over into bliss again, and I follow her, calling out her name and burying my head in her neck. Without moving off of her, I reach under my pillow and hand her what’s been burning a hole in the sheets for the past twelve hours.
Her eyes get huge as she stares at the ring shining in my open hand.
“Holy shit, Ayden.”
I break into a laugh. “Mirabella Wesley, I love you. You’re my best friend, my angel, my everything. Will you also be my wife?”
Bella throws her arms around my back, pulling me even closer. “Freaking yes, I will,” she says. “I love you, Ayd.”
I slip the ring onto her trembling finger, and she holds it up to the sunlight. “Gorgeous.”
I kiss her. I couldn’t agree more.
After I lost my father so unexpectedly, I was so scared of loving anyone again, of letting anyone too close. But Bella’s not just anyone. She’s everything. She was always mine just like I was always hers. We were too scared of losing each other to realize the truth. But now that we have, we don’t have to worry about crossing the ocean of life all alone. Now we can navigate through the storm the way we were meant to: together.
COMING NEXT!
As Colton Wild’s best friend, Jenson is an unofficial Wild man! Jenson and Olivia’s second chance off-limits love story is filled with romantic and sexy twists and turns. JENSON releases this October and is available for pre-order now!
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Take a peek at JENSON:
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THEY WERE MEANT FOR EACH OTHER, THEY WERE TOLD TO STAY APART … A SECOND CHANCE OFF-LIMITS ROMANCE.
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> He's a single dad and she's a career woman ... but their hearts are perfectly matched.
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Olivia
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Jenson’s mine.
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The problem? He’s always been off-limits.
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But we planned to tell our families the truth. Except sometimes plans change. So we both moved on, or we tried to.
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But now Jenson’s back in town. We’re both single. And we can’t keep our hands off each other.
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Jenson
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I’ve loved Olivia since she was born. I was told to look out for her, and she was the girl who made me smile when nothing else could.
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When we got older, I fell in love with her. And then we broke each other’s hearts.
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I’m a single father now, with two boys who look up to me. And I’m about to show them how to lay all your cards on the table. I’m going to fight for the one thing, outside of them, that’s meant the most to me in my life.
* * *
I’ve come back to town on a mission:
To make Olivia mine. Because she and I are meant to be.
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But for Olivia and me, meant to be has never been easy…
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READ JENSON AND OLIVIA’S STORY IN JENSON, COMING FALL OF 2018! PRE-ORDER NOW!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you so much for your help with editing and proofreading and keeping me on track to: Jon, Hunter, Dawn, and J.W.
And a special thank you to my parents for all the Maine summers by the beach.
Ayden Page 22
