by Erika Wilde
“But I am furious with my mom,” she went on, resentment vibrating in her tone. “I always had a feeling she was involved in our breakup somehow, but no one, not even you, would admit it.”
He winced at the accusation, because it was true. But seven years ago, with his and Raevynn’s future on the line, he did what he thought was best, for both of them. A part of him still believed he’d done the right thing, even if it had cost him the girl he loved.
He framed her face in his hands, needing something essential from her in that moment, to help ease his own regrets. “Tell me you understand why I did what I did, Rae,” he implored her. “Why I didn’t tell you the truth back then. Tell me you forgive me for hurting you so badly.” He desperately needed to know that she didn’t hate him for the choice he’d made.
To his relief, her expression softened, as did the look in her eyes. “I might not like what you did, but I do understand your reasons, and I do forgive you.”
“Thank you,” he whispered gratefully, and settled his lips against hers.
The kiss started as an affirmation, a way to assuage any lingering pain between them, and quickly escalated into a frantic need to have her. To bury himself back inside Rae’s body and claim her every way imaginable. His time with her was limited, and he didn’t want to waste a minute more of it immersed in the past. Not when he was exactly where he wanted to be, with the one woman who finally made him feel again.
Chapter 11
Raevynn was startled from a deep, peaceful sleep by the sound of the front door slamming shut and a female voice calling out from the living room area of the beach house.
“Hello, anyone home?”
She sat upright in confusion, trying to make sense of what was happening. Beside her, Collin jolted awake and swore out loud as he immediately jumped to his feet and quickly pulled on the shorts he’d worn the previous day, his hair a tousled mess around his head. The pattering of running feet sounded down the hall, and Collin leapt forward, reaching the bedroom door right as it flew open. He caught it halfway, blocking the entrance, and from where Raevynn was sitting on the bed with the covers pulled up to her chest, she could see two little people just outside the door—a young girl and boy jumping up and down with enthusiasm.
“Uncle Collin!” they both greeted him eagerly, making Raevynn realize that his niece and nephew were in the house, which perplexed her even more.
“Hey, guys!” he returned just as exuberantly, though his voice was still raspy from being woken up so abruptly. “What are you two doing here?”
“Mommy brought us,” the cute little girl with brunette curls bouncing all over her head told him. “We came to visit and go to the beach!”
“Sorry for the early-morning wake-up call,” that same female voice interrupted from down the hall, obvious amusement in her tone. “Clearly, you didn’t get my text message.”
Collin scrubbed a hand along the stubble on his jaw. “Nope, didn’t see it. Give us a few minutes and we’ll be out.”
“Come on, kids.” The woman beckoned to the girl and boy. “Leave Uncle Collin alone so he can get ready.”
“Okay!” they said in unison, and ran back down to the living room.
Closing the door, Collin leaned against it, a half smile on his lips. “Surprise,” he said sheepishly.
“What’s going on?” she asked, still bewildered by the unannounced visitors. “Is that Avery and her kids?” she guessed.
“Yeah. I texted her yesterday afternoon while we were at the boardwalk and you were in the restroom. She has Sundays and Mondays off from the salon, so I told her you were here, and if she was able to visit for the day, you’d probably love seeing her. She said she’d see what she could do and get back to me and that was the last I heard. I didn’t want to say anything to you until I knew for certain she could come.”
Pushing off the door, he reached the nightstand and picked up his phone. He swiped it open and winced. “Yep, she texted me about two hours ago, around eight this morning,” he said wryly, then read her message out loud. “On my way with the kids. Be there soon.” He lifted his gaze to hers, appearing suddenly uncertain. “I hope you’re okay with this.”
Now that her confusion had cleared, Raevynn was definitely surprised but incredibly excited to see her friend again. She knew Collin’s invitation to his sister had been issued with good intentions, and she appreciated the sweet gesture. And if Avery had made the effort to come and visit, then it meant that the other woman wanted to see Raevynn. And that knowledge filled her heart with joy.
“Sounds like a fun day,” she said with a genuine smile from her side of the bed. “Guess we ought to take a shower and get ready.”
“Want to take a shower together and save time?” he suggested, waggling his brows at her.
“No!” She laughed, even as her body went liquid at the heat glinting in his eyes. “I’m not fooling around with you while your sister is in the house with her kids!” she whispered. “And taking a shower together would not save time. You go first since you’ll be quicker.”
“Okay, fine,” he said with a cute boyish pout.
He headed into the bathroom, the shower went on, and ten minutes later he strolled back out, hair damp and dressed for the day.
“Go out and hang with your sister,” she said, not wanting him to distract her while she was getting ready. “I’ll be out soon.”
He left her alone, and she made quick work of her shower and brushing her teeth. She put on mascara and lip gloss and released her hair from the quick topknot she’d clipped onto her head so it didn’t get wet. She left her hair down and loose, though she kept a band around her wrist just in case she wanted to braid it later. Since the kids had mentioned a trip to the beach, she put on the bikini she’d bought at Walmart, and wore one of the casual dresses over the two-piece swimsuit.
As she headed down the short hallway and toward the voices drifting from the living room, a bout of nerves swirled to life in Raevynn’s stomach, because she wasn’t sure how Avery would react after not seeing or hearing from her for seven years. Would things be awkward? Would Avery keep her distance and treat Raevynn like a celebrity like everyone else did? Would their conversation be stilted and superficial?
Those were her worst fears when she wanted nothing more than to just be accepted as Raevynn the friend. But a lot of years had passed, and there was no telling how Avery felt about her now.
Taking a deep breath to chase away her anxiety, she turned the corner at the end of the hallway, glancing toward the living room, where the kids were busy putting a puzzle together on the coffee table and Collin and Avery were sitting next to each other on the couch, chatting and each enjoying a cup of coffee.
A few steps in, and Avery turned her head, her wide-eyed gaze meeting Raevynn’s. Collin’s sister gasped in shock, set her mug on the end table, then jumped up from the sofa and rushed toward her. The other woman pulled Raevynn into the biggest, tightest, most genuine hug that was filled with so much affection. She embraced Avery back, and when they finally pulled apart, Raevynn had a huge lump of pure emotional joy in her throat that she had to swallow back.
“Avery, you look amazing,” Raevynn said, and meant it. Her friend had matured into a beautiful woman with voluptuous, sexy curves. The last time she’d seen Avery’s dark brown hair, it had been long, straight, and halfway down her back, but was now cut into a cute shoulder-length fashion that was layered and styled with beachy waves.
“So do you!” Avery’s green eyes sparkled as she grabbed Raevynn’s hands. “Oh, my God, it’s so good to see you! I can’t believe you’re really here. Collin was just telling me how the two of you ended up together here at the beach house.” Then she lowered her voice and grimaced. “I’m really sorry about the kids barging into the bedroom like that. They were so excited to see Collin.”
Raevynn couldn’t stop the warm flush that crept onto her cheeks, because Avery wasn’t stupid and had probably concluded that they’d slept toget
her. But then again, her friend was one of the very few people who knew about Raevynn’s romantic relationship with Collin all those years ago, so she tried to quell her embarrassment.
“Who is that, Mommy?” the little girl asked as she glanced curiously from the puzzle to Raevynn. “Her hair is so long and pretty, like Rapunzel’s.”
Collin chuckled while Avery guided her forward. “This is Raevynn,” she said to her daughter, then pointed back to the little girl. “That’s Harper, and the little boy who looks like a mini-me of Kevin is Lucas.”
“Hello,” Raevynn said with a friendly smile, agreeing that Lucas was a much younger version of his handsome father.
“Hi!” the two of them chimed together, their expressions a bit shy meeting a stranger for the first time.
“Raevynn is my best friend,” Avery added.
Is, not was. Trying not to let another wave of emotion overwhelm her, she met the other woman’s gaze gratefully. “You have no idea how much that means to me. In all these years, you never stopped being my best friend, Avery.”
“I’m so glad.” Avery pulled her into another quick hug before releasing her. “We have so much to catch up on!”
Raevynn glanced at the man sitting on the couch, casually drinking his coffee and smiling at her in a sweet but sexy way that made her heart beat hard and fast in her chest. He’d given her this gift, and it made her love him even more for his thoughtfulness.
“Thank you.” She mouthed the words to him while Avery was picking up a piece of the puzzle that had dropped to the floor.
“You’re welcome,” he returned in the same way, and winked at her.
The silent, intimate conversation between them made her smile. Everything with Collin was so easy. So natural. So real. God, she was going to miss him when she had to return to her gilded tower.
“Uncle Cah-win,” Lucas said in his adorable three-year-old voice as he stood up from where he’d been kneeling in front of the coffee table. He patted Collin’s knee to get his attention. “When are we going to da beach?”
“Soon.” Collin gently chucked the cute boy beneath his chin. “How about you and your sister help me make some chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, then we’ll pack some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and snacks for later. After that, we’ll grab your sand toys and be on our way.”
“Yay!” Both the kids burst out with excitement, then raced to the kitchen.
“Do you want help?” Avery asked.
“Nope. I got this, and them,” Collin assured his sister, then stopped and kissed Raevynn on her cheek, bold as he pleased. “You two enjoy the time alone to talk and catch up.”
Avery gave her a perceptive look as they sat down on the couch, side by side. “Clearly, you and my brother picked up where you left off all those years ago.”
Raevynn nodded since there was no denying the truth, but didn’t elaborate on their current status quo. Instead, she spoke from the heart. “I missed him, and I missed you.”
“I feel the same way,” Avery replied, then waved a hand in the air between them as if to dismiss the emotional, mushy stuff, her eyes suddenly sparkling with curiosity. “So, tell me all about being Raevynn Walsh, the mega-superstar.”
Raevynn rolled her eyes. Talking about herself and her career wasn’t her favorite topic, but she understood Avery’s fascination and gave her a rundown of the past seven years—from winning Encore to becoming the opening act for huge singers, then finally headlining her own shows around the world. Avery asked questions about the songs she wrote, the videos she made, and what her life was like, in general, while Raevynn tried to be as open and honest about everything as possible.
Once Avery seemed content with all that knowledge, Raevynn turned toward her friend on the couch, becoming a bit more serious. “Avery, I’m really sorry I didn’t keep in touch.” She needed her friend to know she had so many regrets, and that was definitely one of them.
Avery sighed, her expression exposing a moment of sadness. “It hurt a lot at first,” she confessed softly. “I’ll even admit that I was mad that you didn’t even text me. But a few months after you were gone, Collin explained to me what happened with your mom. How the two of you were caught together and she’d issued some threats toward him and demanded he walk away from you. I knew then, deep in my heart, that it was most likely your mom who kept you from contacting either of us.”
“It’s true.” Raevynn’s chest ached and her voice cracked with so much pain. “I truly regret not finding a way to reach out. Can you forgive me?”
She recalled Collin asking her the same question the night before, for different reasons, but it made her realize that the two most important people in her life at that time had been wrecked emotionally by her mother’s selfish actions.
“Of course I can,” Avery said, and pulled her into another warm hug that alleviated all of Raevynn’s concerns and fears.
“Mommy and Rae-Rae!” Harper called out from the kitchen, interrupting the moment between them. “Come and eat!”
Raevynn laughed as they stood up. “Rae-Rae?” she mused of the nick-name Harper had given her. “I kind of like it.”
“I’m sure your full name was too much of a mouthful for her, and that’s just what came out,” Avery explained with a grin.
Harper proudly carried a platter of the pancakes she’d helped make with her uncle to the small dining table, and Lucas helped Collin bring the butter, syrup, plates, and utensils, then they all sat down and enjoyed breakfast together.
With the kids happy to be at the beach house and hanging with their uncle Collin, who they clearly adored, there was a lot of teasing, laughter, and a little bit of chaos. But unlike Raevynn’s hectic world, this was a wonderful, carefree, and fun kind of chaos that lightened her heart and made her smile.
She realized it was the kind of happy chaos missing from her life, and she vowed that was going to change.
Chapter 12
An hour after their lively breakfast, Raevynn helped Avery and Collin fill a pullable utility wagon with the various beach items stored in the garage. Chairs, towels, sunscreen, an umbrella, their cooler bag of drinks, sandwiches, and snacks, and a ton of sand toys for the kids.
They all five made the short trek to the beach a few blocks away from the house, and once they found a place on the sand, she and Avery set up an area with the towels and an umbrella, while Collin took the kids closer to the water so they could build sandcastles together. He’d taken off his shirt and wore a pair of swim trunks, and Raevynn furtively looked her fill of his solid chest, chiseled abs, and the way his muscles moved in the daylight.
Beneath the shade of the big umbrella, and because it was a Monday and the beach wasn’t crowded, Raevynn didn’t bother wearing the floppy hat or her sunglasses. Sitting in one of the fold-out chairs, she watched as Collin got down on his knees in front of Harper and Avery, helping them fill their buckets with wet sand for their fortress.
“Your kids are adorable and so sweet,” Raevynn said, unable to stop the tug of genuine envy pulling at her. “I’m so happy that you and Kevin ended up getting married. You always were the perfect couple.”
Avery glanced at her and smiled. “You should have been my maid of honor,” she said softly. “You weren’t there physically, but you were in my heart and thoughts that day.”
She swallowed the knot in her throat. “Thank you.” They’d talked and dreamt about their weddings together, and it was hard to accept how much Raevynn had missed out on. Despite her career, she should have kept in touch somehow.
“Kevin had to work today but said to tell you hello.” Avery paused for a moment, then added, “Maybe the four of us could get together sometime.”
She knew her friend was referring to herself and Kevin and Collin and Raevynn. She didn’t know what the future held yet, but one thing was certain. She would make time for her friendship with Avery. “I would really like that.”
Avery squeezed her arm. “Good. Then let’s promise
to make it happen.”
Automatically, they extended their littles fingers to make a pinky promise—just like they used to—then laughed as they realized how easily they’d fallen back into familiar and fun habits.
“How do you like being a hairstylist?” Raevynn asked a short while later.
Her friend’s eyes lit up, giving Raevynn her answer before Avery even spoke. “I love everything about it. The cutting, the coloring, the styling, and chatting with clients. It’s a fun job,” she added with a laugh.
Absently, Raevynn reached out and touched the short, wavy strands around Avery’s face. “The way your hair is cut and styled now is so cute,” she said wistfully.
“Thank you.” Avery beamed at the compliment. “Keeping it long, especially after having kids, was just too much work. It’s so much easier and lighter to take care of now.” Then she tipped her head and took in the endlessly long braid Raevynn had put her hair in before leaving for the beach, just to keep it from getting tangled in the breeze. “And you . . . you kept yours so long.”
She shrugged. “All part of the Raevynn Walsh brand,” she said wryly. “But if I could, I’d chop it off as short as yours.”
“Then you should,” she said, repeating what her brother had said. Then, she grinned. “If Taylor Swift can lop off all her long, curly hair and rock a shoulder-length style, then so can you.”
After the past few days of reflection on her persona and career, Raevynn was beginning to believe she could, too. She tucked the possibility into the back of her mind for now, but she couldn’t ignore the growing desire to make some extreme changes. Her hair being one of them.
A happy squeal from Harper had Raevynn and Avery glancing out toward the water, where Collin was pretending to be a monster while chasing his niece and nephew. The scene made them both laugh.
“He is such a goofball with the kids,” Avery said with a shake of her head, just as Collin swept a child up under each one of his muscled arms, carrying them around while they squirmed and screamed in delight.