Page 34 of Tainted Tempos

I quirk an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yep. If you’re this impressed over a waterfall, wait ‘til you see the picnic lunch I packed.”

“You packed?” I question, skeptical. He must have had that arranged, too, right?

“Uh-huh.” He nods enthusiastically, slipping the backpack from his shoulder. His T-shirt is tucked into the waistband of his bathing suit, and while it should look ridiculous, Mav looks sexy. Strong. Like a warrior.

I watch as he reaches into the backpack and pulls out a Ziploc bag with wrapped sandwiches. “Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.” He lifts another bag. “Fruit.” He reaches in and shows me a canister of Pringles. “Chips.” He grins. “What more could you want?”

I gaze at him and momentarily get lost in his eyes. Sky blue and endless. “Nothing.”

Mav’s expression softens. “Me neither.” He replaces the plastic bags and drops the backpack at our feet. Then, he pulls out his T-shirt and kicks off his sneakers.

Extending his hand to me, he tilts his head. “Want to go swimming?”

I pull off my tank top, shorts, and sneakers in response. Then, I place my hand in his. He squeezes my fingers gently. “Yes,” I say aloud.

Mav and I walk into the crystal pool. The water is warmer than I thought, and I sigh, sinking into it. Mav wraps his arms around me, holding me against his chest as we float deeper. With the lush greenery, natural flowers, and beautiful waterfall surrounding us, I exhale and take it all in.

My shoulders relax. The tension that’s been a constant source of pain in my neck eases. I wiggle out of Mav’s embrace to tug out my hair tie. Then, I tip my head back and let the water run through my hair. Floating on my back, I look up at the clear blue sky, note the tall, green trees, and feel my heartbeat slow.

I’m going to be okay. I’m processing and healing and moving forward.

Right now, this feels hard but I’m going to get through it. I have an amazing support system—Allegra, Nova, and Ivy. The guys in The Burnt Clovers. But most of all, Mav. I turn my head slightly to see him floating next to me, his long body stretched out like a starfish.

Mav and I are together, and that certainty has bolstered my confidence.

The moment’s weight settles on me, and I float closer to Mav. When our arms brush, he shifts to pull me close again. I embrace him back, enjoying the feel of his arms around me. I can’t verbalize the feelings coursing through me—gratitude, relief, trust—but Mav seems to understand anyway. He holds me close, kisses my lips, and whispers, “You’re everything, Mckenna Byrne. And I won’t let you forget it.”

TEN

MAV

My datewith Mckenna is pure perfection. An entire day together, lost in special moments, in paradise. It feels good to be back in sync. We’re joking and laughing together. I’m holding her close, breathing in the scent of her hair, and getting lost in her smile.

It’s magic. It’s the honeymoon dreams are made of.

“Come here.” I take her hand as we wade deeper into the pool of crystal blue water. As we near the waterfall, the rushing water fills my ears, creating ripples around us.

Mckenna tightens her hold, and I look back to smile at her. God, she’s breathtaking. Her navy eyes spark with that flicker of fire I love. For too many days, I worried it had been snuffed out. Seeing it now, along with her playful grin, calms me on a cellular level.

We can do this. I got her. We’re together.

Married.

“What?” Mckenna asks, scrunching her nose adorably.

“You ready to go under the waterfall?”

“Under the waterfall? Mav?—”

“Worried about your hair?” I taunt.

She snorts and points to her dripping wet head. “You’re such a child.”

I shrug because...it’s partly true. It’s the image I’ve cultivated in the band for years. Plus, I like pushing everyone’s boundaries and searching for adventure. “You’d be bored without me.”

She grins but doesn’t refute the statement. Is that partly true, too?

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