Page 143 of Deliverance

Memories of our absolutely unplanned night surge through me and my blood heats. Still in my PJs and still not ready to start my day, I walk over to the couch, sit down, and close my eyes, my mug warm against my palms.

You taste divine.

A pleasant shudder rolls down my spine and my belly tightens.

Claiming The Deviant’s drummer as mine isn’t such a horrible thing. Or having a man in general isn’t what I expected it to be. Not as suffocating as being married to Rhys.

My phone pings next to me and I check to see who the message is from.

Bae: You two look cute together.

I take a small sip of coffee to get my brain going and then call Santiago. “And you need to stop cyber-stalking us.”

“I’m not,” he counters, his sass off the charts today. “I have Google alerts set up. Don’t have to do anything.”

“Tell me you’re kidding.”

“Nope.”

“I feel violated.” A laugh bubbles up my throat and it takes me a good second to realize that only a few months ago I couldn’t joke about these things. There were words that triggered me, words I now find myself using again and not being scared.

“So… I’ve been thinking,” Santiago drawls. “You know how I’ll be going to New York in January?”

“Yeah?”

“I should throw a party. Bebe says she can get us a warehouse and I can ask Layla to DJ.”

“That sounds like fun.” There’s a part of me that’s already missing him, but I knew that sooner or later, he’d be going places. The spot on Ada’s tour was a lucky coincidence. One of her regular dancers injured his ankle and management needed to find a replacement fast. Someone who had the look, the right moves, and was available on short notice to go to New York for six weeks to practice before the tour.

Finally, the stars have aligned for Santiago.

“Let’s go for a hike this weekend. I found a new place in Malibu,” he says.

“I can’t. I’m going out of town.”

“Where?”

“Laguna Beach.”

“Laguna Beach is for old, boring people.”

“I’m going to stay at Zander’s.”

“Ohhh…” Santiago’s voice takes on a curious tone. “Well, then I guess I take it back. Have fun. Don’t forget, condoms are your best friend.”

“Asshole.” I snicker.

“Your favorite asshole.”

“That you are.”

When we finally finish our chat, my coffee is lukewarm and I have to microwave it.

It’s almost noon when I get a phone call from the security guard downstairs, but it’s not Bidal, who usually works second or graveyard shift.

“Ms. Kadence.” The man clears his throat. “This is Danny from downstairs. There are two police officers here to see you. Badges checked out.”

My entire body shudders. And here I thought I was finally moving on. “Yeah, let them up.” I’d completely forgotten about a follow-up interview discussion and was under the impression I’d be called in to the station for it.

---