"It's two waterfront lots. The houses have already been demolished and I’ve got an architect working on the plans for my own. I close on the properties next week,”
"So you're moving back?"
He looks down at me and nods. "I've known for a while that LA isn't where I belong. I’ve been looking for a place to settle down. Coming back here feels right. I’ll be renting a place while my home gets built. If you need a place to stay, let me know."
I ignore his offer because I can’t accept it. "Wouldn't being so far from your work be hard?"
"There’s these things called airplanes. They work pretty well at getting you to and from faraway places."
I smack him on the arm, and he chuckles. "The travel will be fine. And I will have a recording studio built with all the best equipment. I’d like to have it finished within a year."
We both go quiet, watching a family of geese swim out on the lake.
"You're getting cold. Let's go sit inside the car." Talon leads me back to his car and opens the door for me. He left it running, so it's nice and warm inside.
We both settle into our seats, but he makes no move to pull out. Instead, he turns my way. He studies every inch of my face, and I do the same, cataloging every little difference. His face has sharpened and gotten more beautiful over the years. He’s grown into a man.
He reaches out, cupping my jaw in his hand. His thumb strokes my cheek. “I didn’t think you could get more beautiful, but you have.”
I scoff, “Now, who’s lying? I’ve seen you in pictures with actresses and models.”
His eyes narrow at me, “You’re not any less than them.”
“Mia seems wonderful,” I say, sharply changing the topic to something I’ve been wondering about since I met her at the funeral.
His hand falls from my face, and he sits back in his seat. "She’s a good person—a better person than I deserved."
I can't stop myself from asking. "Why aren't you guys together anymore?"
"I love her, but not in the ways she needs. I was too dependent on her when I was at my lowest. Once I was finally healthy, I could see that I was using her as a crutch, and that wasn’t fair. Our divorce was final last week."
He turns to me again, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles. The gentle contact sparks up my arm, just like he always did. “I’m sorry for being an asshole. I got to California and lost myself in every excess I could find. Alcohol, drugs, and women fueled me. I couldn’t drag you down with me. The other two were always better for you anyway.”
“I didn’t stay with either of them either,” I tell him.
“I know. We talk.”
“Really? You have an ex-boyfriend group chat?”
He laughs, “Something like that. I reached out to Foster after I got out of rehab. I knew he was into a healthy lifestyle and wanted his help. I don’t talk with Cole much, but me and Foster have a good friendship.”
“So happy I could bring you two together,” I grumble.
He laughs as he pulls away from the site of his future home. The smile I wore all the way home falls when I walk back into my house and see the stack of bills waiting for me. Time to sit down and figure this out.
Chapter 8
Days later, when I get home from working a shift at the flower shop, a familiar black Corvette is parked in front of my house. Inside a rockstar lounges on my couch watching television with my mom.
“Hey,” I say, walking into the room. They look up at me in unison.
“How did work go?” my mom asks.
“Good, I made some arrangements for a wedding, and they came out beautiful. What’s going on here?” I ask, looking between the two of them in confusion.
“I came to see you. Your mom told me you’d be home soon, so I hung around. We’ve been watching this home improvement show. I’ve got some new ideas for my house.” He stands from the couch, “Can we talk privately?”
“Sure, let’s go into my room.”
