Page 2 of When Stars Collide
“I know, I can feel my testosterone levels dropping by the second.” Peter’s exaggerated shiver practically shook his entire body. “Just promise me, no matter what happens, that will never be us.”
With the way he presented his request, I couldn’t tell whether he was legitimately pleading with me or just being his usual sarcastic self.
“Peter Monroe, I’m appalled that you would even think that I could be in a relationship that’s anything other than a Cinemax movie—the ones they show after midnight, of course.”
“Here’s to that.”
Our free hands met for a high five just as we approached the foot of the dune, catching the attention of the lovebirds above us.
“Hey, you guys!” Elle all but leapt up from the blanket and slid down the sand to greet us, throwing her arms around Peter before letting him go to wrap them around me, crushing my ribcage in her excitement.
“Elle, if you squeeze me any tighter, I’m going to consider this my first mammogram,” I grunted.
“Oh.” She loosened her grip from around me and placed her hands on my shoulders, instead. “I’m sorry. It’s just been, what … three months since we last saw each other? When did you get in?”
“Almost two hours ago; when Peter all but made me chase after his car in the airport parking lot, yelling at me to jump in before he sped off to come here.”
“I’ll have you know, I was every bit the gentleman and slowed the car down before yelling at her to hop in,” Peter interceded.
“Why the rush?” Elle peered at him questioningly.
“Oh, you know, wanted to beat the traffic and all.”
I looked up in time to see him exchanging a quick glance with Luke, who was beginning to make his way down the hill. Anyone who didn’t know Luke may believe his slow stride was just him being overly cautious and not wanting to embarrass himself by possibly face-planting down the dune in front of the entire beach. But for those of us who knew him, his discomfort was evident. The result of his continued recovery from a horrific car accident that had left him with two broken legs and amnesia, the latter of which had stolen ten years of his life from him. He was walking without his cane now, but he still had a slight limp to his gait.
“Mena,” he addressed me with open arms as soon as his feet met more level ground, “it’s good to see you.”
“Luke, glad to see you still remember me.” I hugged him, stealing a peek over his shoulder in time to see Elle shaking her unamused head at me.
“Mena, I’m pretty certain that no matter how many times I hit my head, it could never erase the memory of you.” He chuckled as he released me for his grasp to greet Peter with their usual bro hug, consisting of a hard slap to the back.
“Did you seriously have to break out an amnesia joke?” Elle muttered next to me.
“What? Too soon? Would you like me to calendar them out for another year or so?” I nudged her softly with my elbow, and despite herself, her lips curved upward, betraying any discontentment she was trying to project.
“He looks good,” I observed, watching Luke and Peter quietly talking to each other just out of earshot.
“He’s doing a little better every day.” Elle’s face lit up. “We still have a long way to go. More physical therapy, perhaps. But considering where he was a little over a year ago, he’s nothing short of a walking miracle.”
“No, the real miracle is seeing that smile on your face. It wasn’t too long ago that I thought it was gone forever.” I looked over at Elle, noticing tears beginning to well in her eyes. “Just so you know, I’ve met my hug limit for the day. So, don’t go getting any ideas.”
“Noted.” She rubbed the corners of her eyes with back of her hands and held them up in the air. “Keeping my hands to myself.”
“What’s going on over here?” Luke asked as he and Peter walked back over to us after finishing whatever private discussion they’d been having.
“Oh, nothing. Elle’s just going allFull Houseon me over here. You know, the usual.”
I studied Luke, noticing that something seemed off-kilter with him. The confidence he usually projected had been replaced with a hesitation in his voice and a slight shake in his hand.
He’s nervous. Why, though?
“So, Sloan,” Luke turned his attention back to Elle, “should we go and see about those drinks we were talking about earlier?”
“Um, sure.” Elle made a motion to Peter and me. “There’s this little tiki bar on the south side of the beach—”
“Why don’t we let Monroe and Mena hold down the fort here while we go and get the drinks ourselves?”
I raised an eyebrow at Elle, only to be met with an equally as confused look from her.
