Page 115 of Late Nights & Love Lines
He grunts but nods in answer.
Natalie is ten years younger than we are, but Alexei and I have been glued together at the hip since middle school, so I’m surprised Maria’s name doesn’t sound familiar to me.
“Why is this group so damn incestuous?” Beck grumbles. “First Seb and Rowan, now you and Maria? What kind of cosmic fuckery happens in Sailport Bay?”
“No way, man.” Leo stands up, pointing at Beck with his beer bottle. “You can’t blame the stars or our town for this. You’re the one who brought these two to us.” He waves his hand between me and Alexei. “And you recommended Maria. This has Beck Hayes fuckery written all over it—you and your damn one percenters.”
“I went to college with Maria’s older brother…” Beck cuts off. “Oh, whatever. You know how it is in our circles, and smalltowns are even worse. Everyone knows or has dated everyone else anyway.”
“Guys,” I say. The pressure in my head is reaching a boiling point. “We’re getting off track here. Alexei, are you sure you didn’t do anything to make Maria want to leave?”
His eyes narrow, and he chugs his beer.
“Christ,” Leo grumbles, taking a swig of his beer as well.
“What kind of twilight zone have I landed in?” I mutter.
Beck laughs, then music begins to play out on the beach. All four of us walk toward the sliding glass doors.
“There’s at least fifty people out there.” I groan.
“We told you—we got them to tone it down,” Beck says proudly.
“What the hell am I going to tell Rowan?”
“Tell her the truth,” Leo says to my left.
“And what’s that?” My head throbs in time with my pulse. She’s going to freak out.
He looks from me to the ocean, and back again. “That you love her, and you want her to stay.”
“Thatwelove her, andwewant her to stay,” Beck corrects. “Sometimes being part of something bigger than you’ve ever experienced before is hard to put into words. Sometimes you just need to experience the love to truly understand it. Let her feel it, Seb. It would probably do you all some good to see what Sailport Bay can do for you.”
“Fuck me. You all sound like a horoscope about to go horribly wrong,” Alexei grunts.
“Fine, dickhead.” Leo chuckles. “You’re loved too. Buy a house and we’ll give you your own parade, does that make you feel better?”
Alexei shoots daggers from his eyeballs.
“Dad,” Seren shouts. “Where are you?”
“In the kitchen.” Turning to Beck, my chest rumbles. “If Rowan freaks out over this, I’m holding you responsible. You didn’t even give me time to give her a heads-up.”
“Small towns, Seb. Get used to it.” Leo pats my back, then stands at my side while we wait for the girls to find us.
One by one, they enter the kitchen.
I don’t blink until my gaze lands on Row and Seren walking into the kitchen with their heads together.
Right. Rowan is so damn right.
Sensing all eyes on her, Rowan pulls up short. The color high on her cheeks makes my chest ache with longing.
She scans the room with an ease she hasn’t had before.
“Dad, no cap, you’re going to die, D-I-E when you see Row in this dress.” Seren is more animated than I’ve probably ever seen her.
“No cap?” Beck whispers beside me.
