Page 154 of Deliverance

The difference between now and then is that my life makes total sense with Drew in the picture. Sometimes, it seems as if my entire existence is defined by that one moment the morning after we both woke up in my bed, exhausted and naked, and she said to me, “You don’t mind if I give this stunning kitchen of yours a quick test run?”

She cooked scrambled eggs for breakfast and I made coffee and then we spent the entire day lounging in the sun on the terrace, talking about drums and paint.

It felt wonderful—twining our fingers together to hold her hand and then burying myself into her later that evening again and again while she moaned my name as though it was a prayer.

Christmas came and went, and January was fast approaching when Justice called and asked me if I wanted to come over to his place for New Year’s.

“Bring Drew,” he said.

A couple of hours later, she texted me that Hazel had offered the same thing. We had a good laugh about the obvious conspiracy and decided to accept the invitation since the party was small. Just the four of us and Cruz and Wendy. Nothing elaborate.

Now that we’re halfway to Santa Barbara and the realization that we’ll have to deal with at least four little monsters has finally settled in, I’m rethinking my decision. I’m seriously considering pulling over somewhere at the beach to spend the next twelve hours in the back seat of my Jeep between Drew’s legs.

That is, if she shares my enthusiasm, of course.

Yet something tells me she does. These past couple of weeks have been filled with so much of her that the mere idea of letting Drew go to the East Coast in a few months scares me more than anything.

“Did I already mention that I spoke to Sienna the other day?” she says out of the blue.

Leo’s been quiet over the holidays and I didn’t want to poke the sleeping bear and bring up the cover until he’s ready to talk about it himself. “No, you didn’t.” My pulse hitches.

“She’ll do it.”

“She will?”

“She’s talking to a lawyer right now, but she sounded thrilled on the phone.”

Excitement rolls through my body and I give her knee a squeeze. “Trust me. Leo’s one of the good guys. He wouldn’t have reached out to Sienna if he wasn’t sure he could do right by her brother.”

Drew nods. “I know. I could tell from the demo that he really felt the song.”

Leo motherfucking Propaganda broke himself apart while recording that track. “Thank you.”

“For what?” She reaches for my shoulder, and her fingers get lost in my hair, her citrus scent taunting my nostrils.

“For making it happen.” I throw a quick glance at her, then return my attention to the road.

“I didn’t. I think you should thank Leo. He’s the one who took a chance on some unknown indie outfit.”

“But you gave me the vinyl. If it weren’t for your amazing taste in music, he would have never heard of Cash Webster.”

Drew doesn’t respond. There’s a flash of sadness in her eyes as she gazes at the scenery up ahead. The winding spread of the foggy highway. The heavy clouds hiding most of the sunshine. The ragged hilltops running along the coast.

For a while, we just continue to drive in silence. No words are said and no music is played. And strangely, I’m content with the lack of noise. Probably for the first time in my wretched life.

When my Jeep finally pulls up to the Casa Cross property entrance, I’m greeted with the smell of grilling beef that makes my mouth water.

We roll through the gate and over to the neat line of cars, and I park my ride in the empty spot next to Cruz’s Range Rover.

The front door of the house slams open and Aiden’s small frame rushes over. He’s wearing a Darth Vader costume, minus the helmet. The kid’s a riot, and I’m already terrified of the man he’s growing into.

Drew steps out and gives him a tight hug. “Hey, slugger. Happy New Year.” She studies his outfit. “Who are you?”

Aiden points his finger at her and roars. “You don’t know the power of the dark side!”

“Okay then.” She shoots me a glare that’s half-disturbed and half-amused. “I suppose you’ll show me later.”

“It’s from the movie,” the boy explains in a normal voice as he rounds the vehicle and holds up his tiny palm for a high five, which I gladly grant him.

---